JPH1184751A - Automatic document carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a document from being deviated when a transfer plate is retreated, by forming the document pressing surface of the transfer plate abutting on the trailing edge of the document so that it is inclined almost in parallel with the stopper part of a document set stopper. SOLUTION: When a document returned to a document placing plate 21 is transferred to a set position, the leading edge thereof is made to abut on the stopper part 231 of the document stopper 23. At this time, since the document pressing surface 922 of the transfer plate 90 is formed almost in parallel with the inclined surface of the stopper part 231, the upper-side document is not deflected. When the document returned to the placing plate 21 is transferred to the prescribed set position by actuating a document transfer means 85, a pressuring plate 32 is positioned at a pressuring position by actuating a document pressure means 30 so as to press the upper surface of the document transferred to the set position. Thus, the upper-side document is not deviated when the plate 90 of the transfer means 85 is retreated toward a home position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document processing machine such as an electrostatic copying machine, which feeds a document set at a document setting position of a document placing means to a document transport path, and sends the document along the document transport path. The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder configured to return the document to the document placing means after the document is conveyed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the speeding up and automation of copying processing, a copying machine automatically moves a plurality of documents set at a document setting position of a document placing means to a document exposure position on the upper surface of a transparent plate. An automatic document feeder for feeding has been provided. This type of automatic document feeder includes a document placing means for placing a document, a document feeding means for feeding a document set at a document setting position of the document placing means to a document transport path, and a document feeding means. A pair of registration rollers disposed downstream of the unit and temporarily stopping the original conveyed by the original feeding unit and conveying the stopped original toward the exposure position; and A document conveying means for conveying the document to the document exposing position, and a document discharging means for returning the document subjected to the exposure processing at the document exposing position to the document placing means. Then, the original returned to the original placing plate means is transferred to the original setting position of the original placing means again by operating the transport plate of the original transport means, and a so-called circulating automatic original feeder capable of repeatedly processing. Transmission devices have also been put to practical use.

[0003]

In the conventional automatic document feeder described above, a document set stopper is provided at the front end of the document set position, and the stopper portion of the document set stopper is mounted on the document placing means. In the case where the placed document layer is sent out from the lower document,
Generally, it is configured to be inclined toward the upstream side in the document conveying direction as it approaches the upper end. The inclination angle of the stopper portion is set to 10 to 30 ° on the upstream side in the document transport direction with respect to the direction perpendicular to the document transport direction. Therefore, when the original transferred to the original set position by the original transferring means is brought into contact with the original set stopper along the stopper portion, the upper original is bent. The document is repelled by the elastic force, and the upper document is shifted to the document discharge side. If the document transferred to the document setting position is displaced in this way, it causes a document feeding failure. On the other hand, if the movement of the document layer by the document transfer means is set to the amount by which the document above the document layer comes into contact with the stopper portion of the document set stopper, the above problem does not occur, but the state in which the front ends of the document layer are aligned And the document is simultaneously sent to the document separating means, the load on the document separating means is increased, and there is a possibility that document separation failure may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a main technical problem thereof is that when the original returned to the original placing means is transported to the original set position again by the original transporting means, the upper original is placed. Without causing deflection
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic document feeder capable of positioning a front end of a document layer along an inclined surface of a stopper portion of a document set stopper.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to attain the above-mentioned main technical problems, a document placing means for placing a document, and a document set at a document setting position of the document placing means. A document feeding means for feeding a document to a document carrying path; a stop position disposed at a front end of the document setting position to abut a front end of the document placed on the document placing means; A document set stopper operable to a retracted position that allows the transport of a document, and a document feeder disposed downstream of the document feeder and separating the document fed by the document feeder to a lowermost position. Original separating means for transporting the original to the original exposure position, original discharging means for returning the original, which has been subjected to the exposure processing at the original exposure position, to original mounting means, and reseating the original returned to the original mounting means again. Original transfer to transfer to the original set position In the automatic document feeder comprising: means, a stopper portion allowed to contact the front end of the document in the document setting stopper is configured to be inclined toward the document conveying direction upstream side as it goes to the upper end,
The document transfer means includes a transfer plate having a document pressing surface abutting on the rear end of the document returned to the document placing means, and the document pressing surface of the transfer plate is inclined substantially parallel to the stopper portion. There is provided an automatic document feeder configured as described above.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an automatic document feeder constructed according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the upper end of an electrostatic copying machine 2 and an automatic document feeder 3 mounted thereon. The electrostatic copying machine 2 has a housing 4, and a transparent plate 5 (FIG. 2), which may be a glass plate, is provided on an upper surface of the housing 4. A document positioning member 6 for determining a document exposure reference position G is provided on one side (the left side in FIG. 2) of the transparent plate 5, and a stationary mounting member 7 is provided on the other side (the right side in FIG. 2). . The document positioning member 6 is configured to be operable between a restriction position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2 and a retracted position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. When the document positioning member 6 is located at the regulating position, its leading edge (right edge in FIG. 2) protrudes above the upper surface of the transparent plate 8. Is lowered below the upper surface of the transparent plate 5. This document positioning member 6
An electromagnetic solenoid 8 (SO
L1), and when the electromagnetic solenoid 8 (SOL1) is de-energized, it is positioned in the above-described operating position, and the electromagnetic solenoid 8
When (SOL1) is energized, it is positioned at the retracted position.

The automatic document feeder 3 constructed in accordance with the present invention is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 4 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 so as to be openable and closable about a pivot axis extending along the rear edge of the transparent plate 5. ing. When a document is manually placed on the transparent plate 5 of the electrostatic copying machine 2, the automatic document feeder 3 is turned upward from the closed position shown to expose the transparent plate 5, and the transparent plate 5 is exposed. The document is placed at a required position on the document 5, and the automatic document feeder 3 is positioned at the closed position shown to cover the transparent plate 5 and the document placed thereon. When placing the original on the transparent plate 5, the original is brought into contact with the leading edge of the original positioning member 6 so that the original is positioned at the original exposure reference position G. It can be positioned at the exposure position. When the automatic document feeder 3 is used to automatically load a document onto the transparent plate 5 and automatically discharge it from the transparent plate 5, the automatic document feeder 3 is positioned at the closed position shown in the figure. .

The illustrated automatic document feeder 3 includes a front cover 10 and a rear cover 11 which are disposed at an interval in the front-rear direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2).
The front cover 10 and the rear cover 11 can be formed from an appropriate synthetic resin. A rear support substrate (not shown) is provided in the rear cover 11, and such a rear support substrate is connected via a mounting mechanism (not shown) which may itself be a known form. It is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 4 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 so as to be openable and closable. Various components of the automatic document feeder 3 are directly or indirectly supported by the rear support substrate. A left end cover 12 is disposed between the left ends of the front cover 10 and the rear cover 11, and a right end cover 13 is disposed between the right ends. In addition, on the front upper surface of the housing 4,
An operation unit 14 and a display unit 15 are provided. The operation unit 14 includes copy operation keys such as a copy start key, a copy number designation key, a double-sided copy designation key, and a copy operation stop key, and inputs copy information to a control unit (to be described later) of the electrostatic copying machine 2. . The display means 15 displays copy information, failure information, and the like.

A document placing means 20 is provided between the front cover 10 and the rear cover 11. The document placing means 20 includes a document placing plate 21 formed of a synthetic resin.
Stipulated by In the illustrated embodiment, the original placing plate 21 is formed such that a left end portion (downstream in the original transporting direction) in FIG. A pair of width regulating members 22 are mounted at the center of the document placing plate 21 so as to be movable in the width direction along guide grooves 211 provided on the document placing plate 21. The pair of width regulating members 22 are connected to each other below the document placing plate 21 via a well-known rack and pinion mechanism (not shown). Are moved in a direction approaching and apart from each other.

At the front end of the set position of the original placing plate 21 constituting the original placing means 20, a stop position at which the front end of the original placed on the original placing plate 21 at the time of setting the original is brought into contact with the original set. A document stopper 23 operably configured to be in a retracted position that allows conveyance of a document placed at the position.
Are arranged. The document stopper 23 is disposed below the document placing plate 21, and its base end is fixed to a rotating shaft 24 disposed in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2), Are arranged through an opening formed in the original placing plate 21. The leading end of the document stopper 23 projecting upward from the document placing plate 21 is formed so as to be inclined toward the upstream side (rightward in FIG. 2) in the document conveying direction toward the upper end, and constitutes a stopper portion 231. ing. The inclination angle (θ) of the stopper portion 231
1) (see FIG. 4) is formed at an angle of 10 to 30 degrees with respect to a direction perpendicular to the document conveying direction in the illustrated embodiment. The rotation shaft 24 to which the document stopper 23 is attached is configured to be operated by an electromagnetic solenoid 25 (SOL2). The electromagnetic solenoid 25 (SO
L2), a document stopper 23 attached to a rotating shaft 24 operated by an electromagnetic solenoid 25 (SOL
When 2) is deenergized, it is positioned at the stop position indicated by the solid line in FIG.
When 5 (SOL2) is energized, it is positioned at the retracted position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

A document feeding means is provided below the front end of the document placing plate 21 constituting the document placing means 20. 2
A plurality of advance rollers 26 and 27 are provided. The forward feed rollers 26 and 27 are disposed at an interval in the document transport direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 2), and each partially protrudes upward from an opening formed in the document placing plate 21. Have been. These forward rollers 26 and 2
7 is an electric motor 28 via a power transmission mechanism (not shown).
(M1) and is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. The electric motor 28
(M1) includes a rotation amount detection unit 2 such as a rotary encoder or a frequency generator that constitutes the document conveyance amount detection unit.
81 (FG1) is attached, and outputs a pulse signal, which is a detection signal, to control means described later. An original pressing unit 30 is provided above the forward feed roller 27 on the downstream side (the left side in FIG. 2) in the transport direction of the two forward feed rollers.
Are arranged. The document pressing means 30 includes a rotating shaft 31 disposed in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2).
And a pressure plate 32 having one end fixed to the rotating shaft 31 and the other end acting on a set original placed on the original placing plate 21 above the forward feed roller 26. The rotating shaft 31 constituting the document pressing unit 30 is configured to be operated by an electromagnetic solenoid 33 (SOL3). When the electromagnetic solenoid 33 (SOL3) is deenergized, the pressure plate 32 attached to the rotating shaft 31 operated by the electromagnetic solenoid 33 (SOL3) is located at a retracted position shown by a solid line in FIG. When the electromagnetic solenoid 33 (SOL3) is energized, it is positioned at the pressing position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

An original is placed on the original placing plate 21 as shown in FIG. 1 in front of the forward feed roller 26 on the upstream side in the transport direction (right side in FIG. 2) of the two forward feed rollers. A preset switch 35 (SW1) for detecting that the operation has been performed is provided. The preset switch 35 (SW1) is turned ON when a document is placed on the document placing plate 21 by the operator, and sends an ON signal to a control means described later. Then, the control means described later drives the electric motor 28 (M1) to rotate the forward rollers 26 and 27. By rotating the forward feed rollers 26 and 27, the original placed on the original placing plate 21 is transported downstream (to the left in FIG. 2) in the original transport direction. A set switch 36 (SW2) is arranged on the downstream side of the front feed roller 27 in the transport direction (left side in FIG. 2) of the two front feed rollers. This set switch 36 (SW2)
When the original placed on the original placing plate 21 as described above is transferred by the forward feed rollers 26 and 27,
It is turned on by the action of the leading edge of the conveyed document, and the ON signal is sent to control means described later. And
The control means, which will be described later, controls the electric motor 28 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the set switch 36 (SW2) was turned on.
The driving of (M1) is stopped. Thereby, the original placing plate 2
The document placed on the document 1 is set at a predetermined set position, with its front end in contact with the stopper portion 231 of the document stopper 23. When a document is set at a predetermined set position on the document placing plate 21 and the copy start key of the operation means 14 is pressed, as shown in FIG.
(SOL2) is biased to position the document stopper 23 at the retracted position, and the electromagnetic solenoid 33 (SO
L3) is urged, and the pressing plate 32 of the document pressing means 30 is positioned at the pressing position. The electric motor 28
(M1) is driven, and the advance rollers 26 and 27 are rotationally driven. As a result, the document D placed on the document placing plate 21 is fed toward a document carrying path 40 constituting a document carrying path described later.

The automatic document feeder 3 in the illustrated embodiment is provided with a partition unit 37 that can be appropriately moved along the rear cover 11. The partition unit 37 includes a support member 38 that is moved along the rear cover 11, and a partition member 39 whose base end is swingably supported by the support member 38. Support member 38
Is positioned at a home position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2 when the document conveying operation is not performed. When the copy start key 15 is pressed, the document set on the document placing plate 21 by a driving unit (not shown). Are moved to the upstream side (rightward direction in FIG. 2) in the document conveying direction by a distance corresponding to the size of the document as indicated by a two-dot chain line. The partition member 39 is in a non-operating state retracted into the support member 38, and the leading end indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
Alternatively, it is activated to operate on the original set on the original placing plate 21. This partition member 3
Numeral 9 is configured to be operated by an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown). When the electromagnetic solenoid is deenergized, it is kept in an inactive state, and is activated when the electromagnetic solenoid is energized. During the document conveying operation, the partition member 39 is operated to operate, and in this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the front end of the document returned to the document placing plate 21 by the document discharging means described later is regulated and aligned. The transport document and the return document are distinguished from each other.

The automatic document feeder 3 in the illustrated embodiment has a document carrying path 40 for guiding the document fed by the feed rollers 26 and 27 to the transparent plate 5. The document carrying path 40 and the document stopper 23
The document separating means 42 is disposed between the original document and the original document. The document separation means 42 includes a separation roller 43 and the separation roller 4.
3. A separation belt mechanism 44 disposed above and opposite to
It is composed of The separation roller 43 includes a rotating shaft 43.
1 and a plurality (for example, two) of rollers 432 attached to the rotating shaft 431 and provided at intervals. The roller 432 is formed of urethane rubber, is disposed below a guide plate integrally formed with the document placing plate 21, and is projected upward through an opening formed in the guide plate. ing. The rotation shaft 431 to which the roller 432 is mounted is operatively connected to the electric motor 28 (M1) via a power transmission mechanism (not shown).
Is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow.

The separation belt mechanism 44 includes a driving roller 4
5, a driven roller 46 disposed in parallel with the drive roller 45 at an interval, and the drive roller 45 and the driven roller 46
And a tension roller 48 that presses the upper surface of the separation belt 47. The driving roller 45 includes a rotating shaft 451 and a roller 452 formed of an elastic member such as urethane rubber mounted on the rotating shaft 451.
1 is an electric motor 2 via a power transmission mechanism (not shown).
8 (M1), and is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. The driven roller 46 includes a support shaft 461 and a roller 462 formed of a polyacetal resin rotatably mounted on the support shaft 461. The separation belt 47 is constituted by an endless belt in which rubber is coated on the surface of a cloth. Both ends of the tension roller 48 are rotatably supported by a pressing mechanism (not shown), and press the upper surface of the separation belt 47. When the drive roller 45 is rotationally driven by the electric motor 28 (M1) in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, the separation belt 47 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. Activated.

The document separating means 42 constructed as described above
The separation roller 43 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 and the separation belt 47 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.
Only the lowermost document is separated from the document layer sent out by the advance rollers 26 and 27, and the document
Is to be fed to.

Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 2, below the original placing means 20, a transport belt mechanism 60 constituting the original transport means is provided. Hereinafter, the transport belt mechanism 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. The transport belt mechanism 60 is arranged above the transparent plate in the transport direction (FIG. 2).
, A drive roller 61 and a driven roller 62 disposed at an interval in the left-right direction, and an endless transport belt 67 wound around the drive roller 61 and the driven roller 62.
It includes a plurality of pressing rollers 66 disposed between the driving roller 61 and the driven roller 62 and for urging the endless transport belt 67 toward the transparent plate 5 side. Endless conveyor belt 6
The lower traveling portion 7 extends along the transparent plate 5 of the electrostatic copying machine 2, and a document transport path 68 constituting a document transport path is defined therebetween. The drive roller 61 of the transport belt mechanism 60 thus configured is operatively connected to the electric motor 69 (M2) via a power transmission mechanism (not shown), and is rotated in a forward direction indicated by a solid arrow in FIG. It is driven to rotate in the reverse direction shown. The electric motor 69 (M2) is provided with a rotation amount detecting means 691 (FG2) such as a rotary encoder or a frequency generator which constitutes a document conveying amount detecting means. Output to the control means.

In the document carrying path 40 formed between the document separating means 42 and the document carrying path 68, a reversing / registration roller 70 and a registration roller 71 are arranged in contact with each other. The reversing / registration roller 70 is operatively connected to an electric motor 72 (M3) via a power transmission mechanism (not shown), and is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. The electric motor 72 (M3) is provided with a rotation amount detecting means F721 (FG3), such as a rotary encoder or a frequency generator, which constitutes a document conveying amount detecting means. Output to the control means. The registration roller 71 is
It is driven in contact with the inversion / registration roller 70 and functions as a driven roller. Inversion / registration roller 7
0, the document feed path 68 and the document feed path 4
A document reversing path 73 that communicates with 0 is formed. In addition,
Reversal / registration roller 70 in the document carrying path 40
And a reflection type optical original detector 7 comprising a light emitting element and a light receiving element on the upstream and downstream sides of the registration roller 71.
4 (SW3) and 75 (SW4) are provided,
Each of these document detectors 74 (SW3) and 75 (SW
4) detects a document passing through the document carrying path 40 and sends out a detection signal to a control means described later.

On the right side of the document conveying path 68, a document discharging means 7
7 are provided. The document discharge means 77 is a document forming a document transfer path formed between the document transfer path 68 and a document discharge port 78 provided above the document mounting plate 21 on the upstream side in the document transfer direction. A carry-out path 79 is provided. A document conveying roller pair 80 including a driving roller 801 and a driven roller 802 is disposed in the document discharging path 79. A document discharge roller pair 81 including a drive roller 811 and a driven roller 812 is provided at a downstream end of the document discharge path 79 in the document conveyance direction. The drive rollers 801 and 811 of the document transport roller pair 80 and the document discharge roller pair 81 are operatively connected to an electric motor 82 (M4) via a power transmission mechanism (not shown), and are respectively driven to rotate in directions indicated by arrows in FIG. I'm sick. The electric motor 82 (M4) is provided with a rotation amount detecting means F821 (FG4) such as a rotary encoder or a frequency generator which constitutes a document conveying amount detecting means, and a pulse signal as a detection signal thereof is described later. Output to the control means. In the illustrated embodiment, a reflection type optical document detector 83 (SW5) including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is arranged on the document discharge path 79 on the upstream side of the document conveying roller pair 80. , The detector 83
(SW5) detects a document passing through the document output path 79 and sends a detection signal to a control unit described later.

The automatic document feeder 3 in the illustrated embodiment has a document transfer means 85 associated with the document discharge port 78. The document transfer means 85 is arranged below the document placing plate 21. Document transfer means 85
Is a drive shaft 86 disposed at an interval in the document conveying direction.
And a driven shaft 87. Two pulleys 861 are fixed to the drive shaft 86 at appropriate intervals in the axial direction. Similarly, two pulleys 871 are fixed to the driven shaft 87 at appropriate intervals in the axial direction. I have. An endless transfer belt 88 is wound around each of the pulleys 861 and 871 forming a pair. Endless transfer belt 88
A transfer plate 90 is fixed to each of the upper running portions. Each of the transfer plates 90 has a base 91 fixed to an endless transfer belt 88 and a document transfer section 92 projecting upward from the base 91. The guide surface 921 on the upstream side of the document transport section 92 is inclined upward toward the downstream side in the document transport direction at an inclination angle of, for example, about 35 degrees. On the other hand, each original pressing surface 922 on the downstream side of the original transport portion 92
Are formed so as to be inclined toward the upstream side in the document conveying direction (to the right in FIG. 2) toward the upper end. The inclination angle (θ2) of the document pressing surface 922 (see FIG. 4) is formed to be 10 to 30 ° with respect to a direction perpendicular to the document conveyance direction in the illustrated embodiment. Therefore, the original pressing surface 9
The stopper 22 and the stopper portion 231 of the document stopper 23 are formed substantially in parallel. The drive shaft 86 is operatively connected to an electric motor 94 (M5) via an appropriate power transmission mechanism. The electric motor 94 (M5) drives the endless transfer belt 88 by appropriately rotating the drive shaft 86 in the normal rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction, thereby moving the transfer plate 90 to the retracted position (home position) shown by a solid line in FIG. )
The document is reciprocated as appropriate in accordance with the size of the document between the position and the most advanced position indicated by the two-dot chain line. The electric motor 94
(M5) includes a rotation amount detecting means F such as a rotary encoder or a frequency generator which constitutes the document conveying amount detecting means.
941 (FG5) is attached, and outputs a pulse signal, which is a detection signal, to control means described later. At the retreat position of the transfer plate 90, a home position sensor 95 (SW6) for detecting that the transfer plate 90 is located at the retreat position (home position) is provided. Outputs a detection signal to the control means described later.

The automatic document feeder includes a control unit 1 shown in FIG.
00 is provided. The control means 100 is constituted by a microcomputer, and includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101 for performing arithmetic processing according to a control program, a read-only memory (ROM) 102 for storing a control program and a control map, and storing arithmetic results and the like. A random access memory (RAM) 103, a timer 104, a counter 105, an input interface 106 and an output interface 107. The input interface 106 of the control means 100 having such a configuration is provided with the preset switch 35.
(SW1), set switch 36 (SW2), document detectors 74 (SW3), 75 (SW4), and 83 (SW
5), home position sensor 95 (SW6), rotation amount detecting means 281 (FG1), 691 (FG2), 721
(FG3), 821 (FG4) and 941 (FG5)
The detection signal is input from the
From the electric motors 288 (M1), 69 (M2), 7
2 (M3), 82 (M4) and 94 (M5), electromagnetic solenoids 8 (SOL1), 25 (SOL2) and 33
(SOL3) and the like. Further, the control unit 100 is connected to the control unit 110 of the electrostatic copying machine 2, and exchanges control signals between the two. The control means 110 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 is connected to the operation means 14 and the display means 15 provided in the housing 4. The control unit 110 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 inputs copy information from each operation key of the operation unit 14 and displays copy information, failure information, and the like on the display unit 15.

The automatic document feeder according to the illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation procedure will be described below with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.
6 and 7 are a main routine, FIG. 8 is a subroutine for primary paper feeding, FIG. 9 is a subroutine for secondary paper feeding,
FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show a subroutine for reverse sheet feeding, FIG.
Indicates a subroutine for document transfer control.

In performing the copying operation, first, when the original D to be copied is placed on the original placing plate 21 with the first page facing upward, the preset switch 35 (SW1) is turned on.
Then, the control means 100 drives the electric motor 28 (M1) based on the ON signal. When the electric motor 28 (M1) is driven, the forward feed rollers 26 and 27 are rotated, and the original placed on the original placing plate 21 is moved downstream (to the left in FIG. 2) in the original transport direction. Be transported. When the document is transported downstream in the document transport direction and reaches the set switch 36 (SW2), the set switch 36
(SW2) is turned ON, and this ON signal is sent to the control means 100. The control means 100 controls the set switch 36 (SW
After the elapse of a predetermined time since 2) is turned on, the driving of the electric motor 28 (M1) is stopped. Thus, the original placed on the original placing plate 21 has its front end abutting on the stopper portion 231 of the original stopper 23 and is set at a predetermined original setting position. When a document is set in this way, the automatic document feeder operates as follows.

In the main routine shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the control means 100 first checks whether or not a copy start signal has been sent from the control means 110 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 in step S1. This copy start signal is sent from the control means 110 to the control means 100 when the operator inputs the copy start signal using the copy start key of the operation means 14. Therefore, if the copy start signal has not been sent, there is no need to copy, so the process waits. Step S
If the copy start signal has been sent in step 1, the process proceeds to step S2, where the set switch 36 (SW2) is turned on.
Check if you are. That is, it is determined whether or not a document is placed at the document setting position on the document placing plate 21. If the set switch 36 (SW2) is not turned on, it is determined that no original is placed on the original set position of the original placing plate 21, and the process returns to step S1. In step S2, the set switch 36 (SW2) is turned on
If so, it is determined that a document is placed at the document setting position on the document placing plate 21, and the process proceeds to Step P0 to execute a primary paper feeding subroutine. When a copy start signal is sent, the control unit 100 drives a drive unit (not shown) to move the partition unit 37 from the home position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2 to the size of the original set on the original placing plate 21. Is moved to the upstream side (rightward direction in FIG. 2) in the document conveying direction by the distance indicated by a two-dot chain line. Then, the control means 100 urges an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown) to operate the partition member 39 in an operating state.

Next, the subroutine for primary paper feeding shown in FIG. 8 will be described. The control means 100 energizes the electromagnetic solenoid 25 (SOL2) and the electromagnetic solenoid 33 (SOL3) in step P1, and
8M1 is driven. When the electromagnetic solenoid 25 (SOL2) is energized, the original stopper 23 is positioned at the retracted position, and when the electromagnetic solenoid 33 (SOL3) is energized, the pressing plate 32 of the original pressing means 30 is positioned at the pressing position. Can be When the pressing plate 32 is positioned at the pressing position, the pressing plate 32 acts on the upper surface of the original placed on the original placing plate 21 to press the original. And
When the electric motor 28M1 is driven, the forward rollers 26 and 27 are driven to rotate, and the original placed on the original placing plate 21 is fed from the lowermost original to the original separating means 42. The document fed toward the document separating means 42 is separated by the separating action of the feed roller 43 and the separation belt mechanism 44 so that only the lowermost document is separated from the document layer sent out by the feed rollers 26 and 27. The document is fed to the document carrying path 40.

When only the lowest document is separated from the document layer placed on the document placing plate 21 and fed to the document carrying path 40 in this way, the control means 100 proceeds to step P2 and proceeds to step P2. It is checked whether or not the detector 74 (SW3) has been turned on, that is, whether or not the leading edge of the document fed to the document carrying path 40 has reached the document detector 74 (SW3). If the document detector 74 (SW3) is not turned on in Step P2, the process waits. If the document detector 74 (SW3) is turned on, the control means 100 proceeds to Step P3 and proceeds to the forward rollers 26 and 27 and the paper feed roller 43. Rotation amount detecting means 281 (F) attached to the electric motor 28 (M1) for driving
The counting of the pulse signal PSA from G1) is started.
If the pulse signal PSA starts to be counted in step P3, the control means 100 proceeds to step P4 to check whether the pulse signal PSA has reached the set pulse number PS1. The set pulse number PS1 is set to an amount corresponding to a slightly longer transport distance from the document detector 74 (SW3) to the nip portion between the inversion / registration roller 70 and the registration roller 71. The control means 100
If the pulse signal PSA has not reached the set number of pulses PS1 in step P4, the conveyance is continued after waiting. If the pulse signal PSA has reached the set number of pulses PS1, the front end of the document is inverted / registered with the registration roller 70 and the registration roller 71. Is determined to have reached the nip portion of step P5.
To stop the electric motor 28 (M1) and clear the count of the pulse signal PSA from the rotation amount detecting means 281 (FG1). The original fed into the original feed path 40 by the advance rollers 26 and 27 and the original separating mechanism 42 by the primary paper feeding operation is a nip between the reversing / registration roller 70 and the registration roller 71 whose front ends are inactive. The state is brought into contact with the part, and the primary sheet feeding is completed.

Returning again to the main routine shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the primary paper feeding is completed as described above, the control means 100 proceeds to step Q0 and executes a secondary paper feeding subroutine. The subroutine of the secondary paper feed will be described with reference to FIG. The control means 100 drives the electric motor 72 (M3) and drives the electric motor 69 (M2) to rotate forward in step Q1. As a result, the reversal / registration roller 70 and the conveyance belt mechanism 60 are operated, and the original conveyed to the nip portion between the reversal / registration roller 70 and the registration roller 71 in the primary paper feed is transparent to the electrostatic copying machine 2. The document is conveyed toward a document conveying path 68 extending along the plate 5. Control means 100
If the electric motor 72 (M3) is driven and the electric motor 69 (M2) is driven to rotate forward in step Q1, the process proceeds to step Q2 to determine whether or not the document detector 75 (SW4) is turned on after being turned on. Check. That is, whether or not the trailing end of the document that has been primary-fed and conveyed toward the document conveyance path 68 by the operation of the reversing / registration roller 70 and the registration roller 71 has passed the document detector 75 (SW4). Check if. The control means 100 executes step Q
In O2, after the document detector 75 (SW4) is turned on,
If not FF, wait, document detector 75 (SW4) is ON
And then turned off, the trailing edge of the document is
(SW4), the process proceeds to step Q3, and the rotation amount detecting means 6 attached to the electric motor 69 (M2) for driving the driving roller 61 of the transport belt mechanism 60.
The counting of the pulse signal PSB from 91 (FG2) is started, and the electric motor 72 (M3) is stopped.
If the pulse signal PSB starts to be counted in step Q3, the control means 100 proceeds to step Q4 to check whether the pulse signal PSB has reached the set pulse number PS2. The set pulse number PS2 is set to an amount corresponding to a transport distance that is longer by a predetermined amount than the document detector 75 (SW4) and the document exposure reference position G. If the pulse signal PSB does not reach the set number of pulses PS2 in step Q4, the control means 100 continues the conveyance after waiting. If the pulse signal PSB reaches the set number of pulses PS2, the control means 100 extends along the transparent plate 5. FIG.
It is determined that the rear end of the original conveyed from left to right has reached a position overrunning the original exposure reference position G by a predetermined distance to the right in FIG. 2, and the process proceeds to step Q5 where the electric motor 69 ( M2) is stopped, and the count of the pulse signal PSB from the rotation amount detecting means 691 (FG2) is cleared.

Next, the control means 100 proceeds to step Q6 and checks whether or not a double-sided copy signal is being sent.
This double-sided copy signal is transmitted from the control unit 11 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 by the operator using the double-sided copy designation key of the operation unit 14
0, and is sent from the control means 110 to the control means 100 based on this input signal. If there is a double-sided copy signal in step Q6, the flow advances to step R0 to execute a subroutine of reverse sheet feeding. The reversal sheet feeding subroutine will be described later. If there is no double-sided copy signal in step Q6, that is, if only one side of the document is copied, the process proceeds to step Q7, where the electric motor 6
9 (M2) While rotating in reverse, the rotation amount detecting means 69
The counting of the pulse signal PSB from 1 (FG2) is started. As a result, the transport belt mechanism 60 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, and the document transported onto the transparent plate 5 is transported from right to left in FIG. If the counting of the pulse signal PSB is started in step Q7, the control means 100 proceeds to step Q8 and checks whether or not the pulse signal PSB has reached the set pulse number PS3. The set pulse number PS3 is set to an amount corresponding to the transport distance from the rear end of the original overrun due to the transport of the original to the original exposure reference position G or a transport distance slightly longer than the transport distance. If the pulse signal PSB does not reach the set number of pulses PS3 in step Q8, the control means 100 continues the conveyance after waiting. If the pulse signal PSB reaches the set number of pulses PS3, the rear end of the document is set to the document exposure reference. When it is determined that the document has reached the position G and has come into contact with the document positioning member 6, the process proceeds to step Q9 to stop the electric motor 69 (M2), and to count the pulse signal PSB from the rotation amount detecting means 691 (FG2). Clear In this way,
When the document is positioned at the predetermined document exposure position, the control unit 100 proceeds to step Q8 and outputs a print signal, that is, an exposure start preparation completion signal, to the control unit 110 of the electrostatic copying machine 2.

Next, the operation when a double-sided copy signal is sent in step Q6 will be described with reference to the reverse sheet feeding subroutine shown in FIGS. In addition,
When the reverse sheet feeding is performed, the document is positioned at a position overrun by a predetermined distance from the document exposure reference position G on the transparent plate 5 to the right in FIG. In step R1, the control means 100 sets the electromagnetic solenoid 8 (SO
L1) is energized to drive the electric motor 69 (M2) in the reverse direction and to drive the electric motor 72 (M3). When the electromagnetic solenoid 8 (SOL1) is energized, the document positioning member 6 is positioned at the retracted position. Then, when the electric motor 69 (M2) is driven to rotate in the reverse direction and the electric motor 72 (M3) is driven, the transport belt mechanism 60 is operated to rotate in the reverse direction and the reversal / registration roller 70 is rotated to be positioned on the transparent plate 5. The document is sent from the right side to the left side in FIG. 2 as described above, and is conveyed along the document reversing path 73. The document sent from the transparent plate 5 toward the document reversing path 73 is conveyed along the document reversing path 73 so that the document is turned upside down and conveyed to the document carrying path 40. When the document positioned on the transparent plate 5 is sent out toward the document reversing path 73 in this way, the control unit 100 proceeds to step R2 and checks whether the document detector 75 (SW4) is turned on. . That is, it is determined whether or not the front end of the document has reached the document detector 75 (SW4). The control unit 100 waits if the document detector 75 (SW4) is not turned on, and waits for the document detector 75 (SW4).
If (SW4) is turned on, the front end of the original is detected by the original detector 7.
5 (SW4), the process proceeds to step R3, and the electric motor 69 (M2) is driven to rotate forward. Then, the control unit 100 proceeds to step R4 and checks whether or not the document detector 75 (SW4) is turned off.
That is, it is determined whether or not the rear end of the document has passed the document detector 75 (SW4). The control means 100 determines in step R4
If the document detector 75 (SW4) is not turned off, the process waits. If the document detector 75 (SW4) is turned off, it is determined that the rear end of the document has passed the document detector 75 (SW4). To start counting the pulse signal PSB from the rotation amount detector 691 (FG2) mounted on the electric motor 69 (M2) that drives the transport belt mechanism 60, and stops the electric motor 72 (M3). If the pulse signal PSB starts counting in step R5, the control means 100 proceeds to step R6 and checks whether the pulse signal PSB has reached the set pulse number PS2. Then, the control means 100 determines that the pulse signal PSB is equal to the set pulse number P in step R6.
If the pulse signal PSB has not reached S2, the conveyance is continued.
The document feed path 68 extending along the path of FIG. 2 is such that the rear end of the document conveyed from left to right in FIG. 2 has reached a position overrun from the document exposure reference position G by a predetermined distance to the right in FIG. When the determination is made, the process proceeds to step R7 to stop the electric motor 69 (M2), and the rotation amount detecting means 691
(FG2), the count of the pulse signal PSB is cleared, and the electromagnetic solenoid 8 (SOL1) is deenergized to position the document positioning member 6 at the operation position.

Next, the control means 100 proceeds to step R8 to drive the electric motor 69 (M2) of the transport belt mechanism 60 to rotate in the reverse direction, and to execute the rotation amount detection means 691 (FG).
The counting of the pulse signal PSB from 2) is started. As a result, the transport belt mechanism 60 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, and the document transported onto the transparent plate 5 is transported from right to left in FIG. If the pulse signal PSB starts counting in step R8, the control means 100 proceeds to step R9 to check whether the pulse signal PSB has reached the set pulse number PS3. If the pulse signal PSB does not reach the set number of pulses PS3 in step R9, the control means 100 continues the conveyance after waiting. If the pulse signal PSB reaches the set number of pulses PS3, the trailing end of the original is When it is determined that the exposure reference position G has been reached and the original positioning member 6 has been contacted,
Proceeding to 10, the electric motor 69 (M2) is stopped, and the count of the pulse signal PSB from the rotation amount detecting means 691 (FG2) is cleared. In this manner, the back side of the document is positioned at the predetermined document exposure position. Then, the control unit 100 proceeds to step R11 to output a print signal, that is, an exposure start preparation completion signal, to the control unit 110 of the electrostatic copying machine 2.

When the print signal is output to the control unit 110 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 as described above, the control unit 100 proceeds to step R12 and outputs a print end signal from the control unit 110 of the electrostatic copying machine 2. Check if it was sent. That is, by executing the steps up to step R10, it is confirmed whether or not the exposure of the back surface of the document positioned at the predetermined set position is completed. Control means 10
If the print end signal has not been sent in step R12, the process waits. If the print end signal has been sent, it is determined that the exposure of the back side of the document has been completed, and the process proceeds to step R13 and subsequent steps. Then, an operation of positioning the front surface of the document whose exposure on the back surface is completed at a predetermined set position is performed.

When exchanging the front and back of the original, the control means 10
0 drives the electric motor 69 (M2) forward in step R13, and the rotation amount detecting means 691 (FG).
The counting of the pulse signal PSB from 2) is started. When the electric motor 69 (M2) is driven to rotate forward, the transport belt mechanism 60 is driven to rotate forward, and the document positioned at the predetermined set position on the transparent plate 5 is turned from left to right in FIG. Transported. In this way,
When the document positioned at the predetermined document exposure position on the transparent plate 5 is conveyed in a direction away from the document positioning member 6, the control means 100 proceeds to step R12 to determine whether the pulse signal PSB has reached the set pulse number PS4. Check if. The set number of pulses PS4 is obtained only when the end of the document positioned at a predetermined document exposure position on the transparent plate 5 is sandwiched between the document positioning member 6 and the transparent plate 5. Is set to an amount corresponding to the carry amount of If the counting of the pulse signal PSB has begun in step R13, the control means 100 proceeds to step R13.
Proceeding to 14, it is checked whether the pulse signal PSB has reached the set pulse number PS4. And the control means 100
If the pulse signal PSB does not reach the set pulse number PS4 in step R14, the transfer is continued after waiting, and if the pulse signal PSB reaches the set pulse number PS4,
It is determined that the rear end of the document has been separated from the document positioning member 6 by a predetermined amount to the right in FIG. 2, and the process proceeds to step R15 to stop the electric motor 69 (M2).
The count of the pulse signal PSB from 91 (FG2) is cleared. In this manner, the rear end of the original is positioned by the original positioning member 6.
Therefore, even if the end of the document is sandwiched between the document positioning member 6 and the transparent plate 5, this can be reliably removed, and the document positioning member 6 can be removed before the document is turned over. When the document is positioned at the evacuation position, the rear end of the document is not pinched between the document positioning member 6 and the transparent plate 5 due to the downward movement of the document positioning member 6. When the rear end of the document is separated from the document positioning member 6 by a predetermined amount in this manner, the control means 100 proceeds to step R
By executing steps 16 to R25, the original is turned upside down and its surface is positioned at a predetermined original exposure position on the transparent plate 5. Steps R16 to R25 are substantially the same as steps R1 to R10. By executing steps R16 to R25, if the front and back of the document are reversed and the surface thereof is positioned at a predetermined document exposure position on the transparent plate 5,
The control means 100 proceeds to step R26 and proceeds to the electrostatic copying machine 2
A print signal, that is, an exposure start preparation completion signal.

Next, returning to the main flow of FIGS. 6 and 7, the description will be continued. As described above, the primary paper feed subroutine P
0, if the secondary paper feed subroutine Q0 and the reverse paper feed subroutine R0 have been executed, the control means 100 determines whether or not the set switch 36 (SW2) is ON in step S3, Check whether it remains. If the set switch 36 (SW2) is ON, the control means 100 proceeds to step S4, sets a document flag, and executes the primary paper feed subroutine P0 again. The primary paper feed subroutine P0 is performed while the surface of the document previously conveyed on the transparent plate 8 is being exposed. When the primary paper feed subroutine P0 is executed again in this way, the control unit 100 proceeds to step S5 and checks whether or not a print end signal has been sent from the control unit 210 of the electrostatic copying machine 2. This print end signal is sent from the control unit 110 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 to the control unit 100 when the exposure of the front surface of the document previously conveyed on the transparent plate 5 is completed. If the set switch 36 (SW2) has not been turned on in step S3, the control means 100 determines that there is no document to be copied on the document placing plate 21 and proceeds to step S6. The flag is cleared, the electromagnetic solenoid 33 (SOL3) is deenergized, and the pressing plate 32 of the document pressing means 30 is positioned at the retracted position shown by the solid line in FIG.
Then, the control unit 100 proceeds to the step S5.

In step S5, the control means 100
Waits if a print end signal is not sent from the control unit 210 of the electrostatic copying machine 2, and executes an original discharge operation if the print end signal is sent. That is, the control unit 100 determines in step S7 that the electric motor 69 (M
2) is driven forward and the electric motor 82 (M4)
Drive. When the electric motor 69 (M2) is driven to rotate forward and the electric motor 82 (M4) is driven, the transport belt mechanism 60 rotates forward and the document transport roller pair 80 and the document discharge roller pair 81 are activated. . As a result, the document positioned on the transparent plate 5 as described above is conveyed to the document discharge path 79, and further conveyed toward the document discharge port 78 by the document conveyance roller pair 80 and the document discharge roller pair 81. When the electric motor 69 (M2) is driven to rotate forward and the electric motor 82 (M4) is driven in step S7, the control unit 100 proceeds to step S8 to determine whether or not the document detector 83 (SW5) is turned on after being turned on. Check if. That is, it is checked whether or not the trailing end of the document conveyed from the transparent plate 5 to the document discharge path 79 as described above has passed the document detector 83 (SW5). The control means 100 waits if the document detector 83 (SW5) does not turn off after being turned on in step S8, and turns off after the document detector 83 (SW5) turns on.
If so, it is determined that the rear end of the document has passed the document detector 83 (SW5), and the flow advances to step S9 to set the timer T
Is set to T1. The set time T1 is set to a time required for the document that has passed the document detector 83 (SW5) to be discharged from the document discharge port 78 onto the document placing plate 21. Further, the control means 100 controls the electric motor 69 for driving the transport belt mechanism 60 in step S9.
(M2) is stopped. Next, the control unit 100 proceeds to step S10 to check whether or not the elapsed time T0 after setting the timer T to T1 has reached the set time T1, and the elapsed time T0 has not reached the set time T1. If the elapsed time T0 has reached the set time T1, it is determined that the original has been discharged onto the original placing plate 21, and the flow advances to step S11 to proceed to step S11.
And an electric motor 82 for driving the document discharge roller pair 81
(M4) is stopped. The original returned to the original placing plate 21 as described above is transferred to the partition member 39 of the partition unit 37 whose front end is positioned at the middle of the original placing plate 21 as shown in FIG. The front edge is aligned so as to be in contact with the original, and is placed separately from the unconveyed original.

As described above, when the original positioned on the transparent plate 5 and having been exposed is discharged onto the original placing plate 21, the control means 100 proceeds to step S12 to determine whether or not the original flag is set. It is checked if the document flag is set, the primary paper has already been fed, and the process proceeds to step Q0 to execute the secondary paper feeding operation. If the document flag is not set in step S12, the document to be copied does not remain on the document placing plate 21 and the primary sheet feeding is not performed.
Then, the process proceeds to step 13 to check whether the set number of copies has been completed. If the number of copies set in step S13 is completed, the process is terminated. If the set number of copies is not completed, the control unit 100 proceeds to step U0 to execute document transfer control, and then proceeds to step S2. Transition.

Next, the document transfer operation will be described based on the document transfer subroutine shown in FIG. When the original is returned on the original placing plate 21 as described above, the control unit 100 positions the partition member 39 of the partition unit 37 with which the front end of the original is in contact with the non-operating state. Next, the control means 100 drives the electric motor 94 (M5) to rotate forward in step U1. Electric motor 94 (M
When 5) is driven forward, the drive shaft 86 of the document transfer means 85 is driven.
Is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the solid arrow, and the endless transfer belt 88 is operated in the direction indicated by the solid arrow. Accordingly, the transfer plate 90 fixed to the endless transfer belt 88 and located at the retreat position (home position) indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2 moves leftward in FIG. For this reason, the pressing surface 92 constituting the document transfer portion 92 of the transfer plate 90
2 comes in contact with the rear end of the original returned on the original placing plate 21 and transports the original toward the set position. Also,
The control means 100 sets the electric motor 9 in step U1.
4 (M5), the rotation amount detecting means 941 (FG)
The counting of the pulse signal PSE from 5) is started. If the pulse signal PSE starts counting in step U2, the control means 100 proceeds to step U2 and checks whether the pulse signal PSE has reached the set pulse number PS5. The set pulse number PS5 is set in accordance with the size of the original returned on the original placing plate 21. If the pulse signal PSE does not reach the set number of pulses PS5 in step U2, the control means 100 continues document transfer after waiting. If the pulse signal PSE reaches the set number of pulses PS5, the document is moved to the set position. When it is determined that the transfer has been performed, the process proceeds to step U3 to stop the electric motor 94 (M5) and clear the count of the pulse signal PSB from the rotation amount detection means 941 (FG5). When the original returned to the original placing plate 21 is transferred to the set position, the front end thereof is brought into contact with the stopper portion 231 of the original stopper 23 as shown in FIG. At this time, since the original pressing surface 922 of the transfer plate 90 is formed substantially parallel to the inclined surface of the stopper 231, the upper original is not bent.

When the original returned to the original placing plate 21 has been transferred to a predetermined set position, the control means 100 proceeds to step U4 to energize the electromagnetic solenoid 33 (SOL3), as shown in FIG. The pressing plate 32 of the document pressing means 30 is positioned at the pressing position. As a result, the pressing plate 32 acts on the upper surface of the document transferred to the predetermined set position to press the document. Next, the control unit 100 proceeds to step U5 and drives the electric motor 94 (M5) in the reverse direction. When the electric motor 94 (M5) is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, the drive shaft 86 of the document transfer means 85 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the dashed arrow, and the endless transfer belt 88 is operated in the direction indicated by the dashed arrow. Therefore, the transfer plate 9 fixed to the endless transfer belt 88
0 moves rightward in FIG. 2, that is, toward the retreat position (home position). Thus, the electric motor 94
If (M5) is driven in reverse to move the transfer plate 90 toward the home position, the control means 100 proceeds to step U
Proceed to 6 and the home position sensor 95 (SW6)
Check if N. If the home position sensor 95 (SW6) is not turned on, the retreating operation of the transfer plate 90 is continued, and the home position sensor 95 (SW6) is turned off.
If N, the control means 100 determines that the transfer plate 90 has reached the home position, proceeds to step U7, stops the electric motor 94 (M5), and outputs a signal from the rotation amount detection means 941 (FG5). Clear the count of the pulse signal PSE. Next, the control means 100 proceeds to step U8 and sets the timer T to T2. The set time T2 is set to a length, for example, 1 sec, at which the air between the originals of the original bundle pressed by the pressing plate 32 at the set position is removed. Next, the control means 100 proceeds to step U9 and checks whether or not the elapsed time T0 after setting the timer T to T2 has reached the set time T2, and the elapsed time T0 has not reached the set time T2. If the elapsed time T0 has reached the set time T2, the routine proceeds to step U10, where the electromagnetic solenoid 3
3 (SOL3) is released, and the pressing of the original by the pressing plate 32 is released. As described above, when the original returning means 85 is operated to transfer the original returned to the original placing plate 21 to a predetermined set position, the original pressing means 30 is operated to press the pressing plate 32.
Is positioned at the pressing position and presses the upper surface of the document transferred to the set position, so that when the transfer plate 90 of the document transfer means 85 moves backward toward the home position, the upper document does not shift. That is, in the embodiment in which the feeding portion 210 on the downstream side of the document placement direction of the document placing plate 21 is formed to be inclined upward as in the illustrated embodiment, the document transferred to the set position as described above is provided. If air exists between the originals in the layer, the upper original is likely to shift to the upstream side in the original transport direction when the transport plate 90 of the original transport unit 85 is retracted toward the home position. Since the original is pressed by the pressure plate 32 for a predetermined time after reaching the position, the air does not leak between the originals during this time, so that no deviation occurs.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but may be applied to other document processing machines such as facsimile machines. Can be.

[0040]

The present invention is configured as described above.
Document transfer means for transferring the document returned to the document placing means to the document setting position again includes a transfer plate having a document pressing surface abutting on the rear end of the document, and the document pressing surface of the transfer plate is inclined. The document setting stopper is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the stopper portion, so that the document pressing surface of the transfer plate abuts against the rear end of the document returned to the document placing means and is transported toward the document setting position. At this time, even if the front end of the document abuts against the inclined surface of the stopper portion of the document stopper, the upper document is not bent. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the document from being shifted when the transfer plate is moved backward.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an automatic document feeder configured according to the present invention is mounted on an electrostatic copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the automatic document feeder shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a document sent out to a document placing plate of the automatic document feeder shown in FIG. 1 is returned.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a document returned to a document placing plate of the automatic document feeder shown in FIG. 1 has been transferred to a document setting position by document transfer means.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of control means provided in the automatic document feeder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

6 shows a processing procedure of the control means shown in FIG. 5,
9 is a flowchart showing a part of a main routine.

7 shows a processing procedure of the control means shown in FIG. 5,
9 is a flowchart showing a part of a main routine.

8 shows a processing procedure of the control means shown in FIG. 5,
9 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine for primary paper feeding.

9 shows a processing procedure of the control means shown in FIG. 5,
9 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine for secondary paper feeding.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control means shown in FIG. 5, and showing a subroutine of reverse sheet feeding.

11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control means shown in FIG. 5, and showing a subroutine of reverse sheet feeding.

12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control means shown in FIG. 5, and showing a subroutine of electrical work transfer control.

[Explanation of symbols]

2: Electrostatic copying machine 3: Automatic document feeder 4: Housing of electrostatic copying machine 5: Transparent plate 6: Document positioning member 8: Electromagnetic solenoid (SOL1) 14: Operating means 15: Display means 20: Document placing means 21: Document Placement Plate 210: Document Feeding Plate Feeding Section 22: Width Control Member 23: Document Stopper 231: Stopper 25: Electromagnetic Solenoid (SOL2) 26: Forward Feed Roller 27: Forward Feed Roller 28: Electric Motor ( M1) 281: Rotation amount detecting means (FG1) 30: Document pressing means 32: Pressing plate 33: Electromagnetic solenoid (SOL3) 35: Preset switch (SW1) 37: Partition unit 38: Support member 39: Partition member 40: Document Loading path 42: Document separation means 43: Separation roller 44: Separation belt mechanism 45: Drive roller of separation belt mechanism 46: Separation Driven roller of belt mechanism 47: Separation belt of separation belt mechanism 48: Tension roller of separation belt mechanism 60: Transport belt mechanism 61: Drive roller of transport belt mechanism 62: Driven roller of transport belt mechanism 66: Press roller of transport belt mechanism 67: Endless transport belt of transport belt mechanism 69: Electric motor (M2) 691: Rotation amount detection means (FG) of electric motor (M2)
2) 70: Inversion / registration roller 71: Registration roller 72: Electric motor (M3) 721: Electric motor rotation amount detecting means F (FG3) 74: Document detector (SW3) 75: Document detector (SW4) 77: Document discharge means 78: Document discharge port 79: Document discharge path 80: Document conveyance roller pair 82: Electric motor (M4) 821: Electric motor rotation amount detection means F (FG4) 83: Document detector (SW5) 85: Document Transfer means 86: Drive shaft of document transfer means 87: Driven shaft of document transfer means 88: End transfer bell of document transfer means 90: Transfer plate 92: Document transfer portion of transfer plate 921: Guide surface of transfer plate 922: Transfer plate Pressing surface 94: electric motor (M5) 941: rotation amount detecting means F (FG5) of electric motor 95: home position sensor (SW6) of transfer plate 100: automatic original Control means for manuscript conveying device 110: Control means for electrostatic copying machine

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kobayashi 1-2-28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Mita Corporation (72) Inventor Masahiro Sako 1-2-28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toru Nibu 1-2-28 Takuma, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A document placing means for placing a document, a document feeding means for feeding a document set at a document setting position of the document placing means to a document carrying path, and a document feeding means disposed at a front end of the document setting position. A document set stopper configured to be operable at a stop position where the front end of the document placed on the document placing means abuts and a retract position allowing the transport of the document placed on the document placing means; Document separating means disposed downstream of the document feeding means for separating the document fed by the document feeding means and transporting the lowest-order document toward the document exposure position; An automatic document feeder, comprising: a document discharging means for returning the processed document to the document placing means; and a document transferring means for transferring the document returned to the document placing means to a document setting position again. Original set stopper The stopper portion for abutting the front end of the original in the document is configured to be inclined toward the upstream side in the original conveyance direction toward the upper end, and the original transport means is a rear end of the original returned to the original placing means. An automatic document feeder, comprising: a transfer plate having a document pressing surface abutting against the stopper, the document pressing surface of the transfer plate being inclined substantially parallel to the stopper portion.