JP2005170637A - Sheet transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet transport device equipped with a transport path mechanism having a transport path with two different surfaces directed oppositely to each other and capable of simply removing a jam generated in the transport path mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet transport device is structured so that an over-part unit 142 of a middle unit 115 arranged in the upper part of a lower unit 119 is moved in the direction of Arrow 162 after an upper unit, not illustrated, of the device is opened. A joint arm 151 arranged approximately parallel with a return guide 143 is rotated approximately to the vertical position, and then moves the under-part unit 144 in linkage with the over-part unit 142. Because the spacing between the over-part unit 142 and the under-part unit 144 widens in accordance with the length of the joint arm 151 in the condition that the middle unit 115 is opened, the jam generated inside it can be removed easily. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper transport device for transporting paper such as a document used in a copying machine, a scanner, a facsimile machine, and the like, and more particularly, a device that reads image information on both sides of a sheet-like document one by one. The present invention relates to a paper transport device in which a mechanism for removing a paper jam is devised.

  Many sheet-like originals such as printed matter often have image information printed or recorded on both sides thereof. In view of this, various paper conveyance devices that can read image information on both sides of a document have been proposed. Many of such document reading paper conveying apparatuses are configured to read the image information by a raster scan method using a one-dimensional image sensor by moving the reading surface of the document on the platen glass. In order to read image information on both sides of a document with this type of paper conveying device, it is necessary to move the other reading surface facing the platen glass after the reading of one reading surface of the document is completed. For this reason, an apparatus that automatically reads both sides of a document needs to include a reversing mechanism that reverses the reading surface after the reading of one side of the document is completed.

  By the way, a normal document reading sheet conveying apparatus targets various types of documents for conveyance. Accordingly, it is impossible to eliminate the danger of causing a paper jam (jam) in the document inside the transport mechanism. A paper conveyance device having a reversing mechanism for reversing the reading surface of a document has a complicated conveyance path and a higher risk of jamming than a paper conveyance device that reads only one side of a document. In view of this, paper conveyance devices with various jamming countermeasures have been proposed.

  For example, a first proposal (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) has been made in which when a document causes a jam, reverse conveyance is performed to cancel the jam. In this first proposal, when a document stays in the reverse return path, the original is once reversely conveyed from the reverse return path and then discharged onto the paper discharge table without passing through the reverse return path. The document is easily removed from the return path. In addition, when a document non-feed jam occurs, the document is transported in the reverse direction and forcibly discharged onto a sheet discharge table.

  However, this first proposal is premised on the occurrence of a slight jam that can transport the document in the reverse direction. Therefore, if the document itself cannot be conveyed even if it is attempted to convey the document in the reverse direction as in the case where the document is wound around the conveyance roller, the document having the jam cannot be deleted. Of course, even when a part of the document is torn off at the time of occurrence of the jam, it is natural that the torn pieces cannot be removed by conveying the document in the reverse direction.

Therefore, the conveyance path is divided into several conveyance path mechanisms in the vertical direction, and when a jam occurs, the conveyance path mechanism located on the upper side is opened around a predetermined fulcrum, and the lower conveyance path mechanism is opened. The 2nd proposal made to expose is performed (for example, refer patent document 2). In the second proposal, a paper discharge cover (not shown) surrounding the uppermost part and the side part of the conveyance path is opened, and then a paper discharge guide arranged at an intermediate position is opened in the opposite direction and arranged at the lowermost part. The conveyed transport path mechanism is exposed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-147634 (paragraph 0009, FIG. 1) JP 2002-348052 A (paragraph 0039, FIG. 21)

  As described above, in the second proposal, the conveyance path is divided into three regions when viewed in the vertical direction, and the uppermost conveyance path mechanism and the conveyance path mechanism arranged at the intermediate position are sequentially opened in opposite directions. The transport path mechanism arranged at the bottom is exposed. Thus, the document jammed in the conveyance path provided between the uppermost conveyance path mechanism and the intermediate position conveyance path mechanism, and the intermediate position conveyance path mechanism and the conveyance path mechanism arranged at the lowermost position are provided. Documents jammed in the conveyed path can be easily removed together. However, when paying attention to the conveyance path mechanism at the intermediate position, the conveyance path mechanism includes a roller for conveying a document to the conveyance path facing the uppermost conveyance path mechanism, and a lowermost conveyance path mechanism. Rollers for transporting the document are arranged on the transport path. In other words, the transport path mechanism at the intermediate position has transport rollers attached to both the position close to the upper side and the position close to the lower side. For this reason, depending on the form of the jam, a part of the original may enter the intermediate position between the upper and lower rollers. In this case, there is a problem that it is difficult to remove the original with the jam.

  Of course, in order to solve such a problem, it is also conceivable to further divide the conveyance path mechanism at the intermediate position into two regions by dividing the conveyance path in the vertical direction and to open and close each separately. However, dividing the transport path into four transport path mechanisms in the vertical direction with a small paper transport device, in particular, complicates the mechanism and counters the demand for miniaturization, as well as reducing costs. It becomes difficult. In addition, when a jam occurs on the lowermost side of the conveyance path, an operator of the paper conveyance device needs to open more conveyance path mechanisms and to close these after removing the jam. Is troublesome.

  Although the paper conveying apparatus that reads an original has been described above, the same problem occurs in other paper conveying apparatuses such as a paper conveying apparatus of a recording apparatus that records images on both sides.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper transport device that includes a transport path mechanism in which two surfaces facing in opposite directions form different transport paths, and can easily remove a jam inside the transport path mechanism. Is to provide.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, (a) two boundary surfaces which are composed of different members and face the opposite directions of these members are respectively one boundary surface of different conveyance paths for conveying the same sheet. In addition, the lower boundary surface among the boundary surfaces of these members and the other disposed below them are rotated by rotating these members in a predetermined direction with one end side of each member as a rotation center. A first transport path unit that opens a space above the transport path formed by the upper boundary surface of the member, and (b) a member that connects the first and second transport path units to each other. When the first transport path unit disposed on the upper side of the first and second transport path units is given a rotational force in the predetermined direction, the second transport disposed on the lower side. Road unit, To and a link member that moves so as to follow the first conveying route unit as unfolded the angle of the first and second conveying route unit these to the sheet conveying device.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first conveying path unit disposed below at least the uppermost layer of the sheet conveying apparatus and one end side of the members constituting the second conveying path unit disposed below the first conveying path unit are provided. Both of the first and second transport path units can be rotated in a predetermined direction as a rotation center, and are connected by a link member that widens the interval between the units during the rotation. Therefore, if the upper first transport path unit is rotated in a predetermined direction in order to secure a space for removing paper, etc., the second transport path unit is also rotated in this direction. The angle formed by the units is widened, and jammed paper between the first and second transport path units can be easily removed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper conveying apparatus according to the first aspect, the rotation center is located at a different position for each of the first and second conveying path units, and the link member has two end portions. One of the first and second transport path units is a bar-like member that is rotatably held with each corresponding one.

  That is, the invention according to claim 2 deals with a case where the link member is a rod-shaped member. In order to increase the distance between the first and second transport path units by rotating the link member of the rod-shaped member, the rotation centers of the first and second transport path units are at different positions. Yes.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper conveying apparatus according to the first aspect, the link member is a telescopic member whose end is attached to a corresponding one of the first and second conveying path units. It is characterized by being.

  That is, the invention according to claim 3 deals with a case where the link member is a stretchable member. In this case, the link member extends when the second transport path unit follows the first transport path unit against some friction or gravity, so that the first and second transports are the same as in the second aspect of the invention. The interval between the road units is widened, and it is easy to remove the jam in the space between them. In the case of the invention described in claim 3, the rotation centers of the first and second transport path units may be exactly the same.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper conveyance device according to the second or third aspect, the link member is detachable from at least one of the first and second conveyance path units.

  That is, in the invention described in claim 4, since the link member is removable from at least one of the first and second transport path units, the first and second transport path units are further removed by removing the link member. The angle formed can be further expanded. Thereby, for example, the operation of exchanging the transfer rollers attached to these units can be easily performed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paper conveyance device according to the first aspect, the first and second conveyance path units are arranged in an upper position with respect to the upper unit, and are positioned with respect to the upper unit. It is characterized in that it constitutes a middle unit that is sandwiched in the vertical direction by a lower unit arranged on the lower side.

  That is, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, as an example, the middle unit in the case where the sheet conveying apparatus is composed of the upper unit, the middle unit, and the lower unit from the top to the bottom is composed of the first and second conveying path units. Is shown.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the paper conveying device according to the fifth aspect, the upper unit is provided with a main feed roller for feeding paper into the device as a drive roller, and the middle unit includes the main feed roller and It is characterized in that at least a separation roller provided with a rotational force that rolls and rotates in the opposite direction is disposed.

  That is, in the invention described in claim 6, as an example, in the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 5, a pair of rollers for feeding sheets into the apparatus is arranged in the first conveying path unit of the upper unit and the middle unit. Show. In this case, in order to prevent double feed, the upper unit is provided with a main feed roller as a drive roller, and the first transport path unit is subjected to a rotational force that rolls in contact with the main feed roller and rotates in the opposite direction. A given separation roller is arranged. The arrangement may be reversed. In addition, depending on the configuration of the sheet conveying device, these roller pairs can also constitute a discharge roller.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the paper transport device of the first aspect, the lower boundary surface of the second transport path unit is formed by a guide member that guides the transport of the paper. For this reason, compared with the case where the roller is simply arranged, the sheet can be transported stably, and the occurrence rate of jam can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the unit that is originally configured as one transport path unit is configured by the first and second transport path units, and is rotated and opened in a predetermined direction. Since the angle formed by the first transport path unit and the second transport path unit is sometimes increased, the sheet can be easily removed even when a jam occurs inside these units. Moreover, since the first and second transport path units rotate as a unit, the opening / closing operation is not complicated.

  Further, by forming a guide surface on the second transport path unit, it is possible not only to reduce the occurrence rate of jam, but also to compare with a mechanism that transports paper without forming a guide surface in this portion. Thus, the configuration of the entire unit including the first and second transport path units can be simplified.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a document conveying apparatus as an example of a sheet conveying apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. The document conveying device 101 is an upper portion of the document reading device, and includes a scanner module including an optical system for reading a document, an image processing circuit, a power supply circuit, and the like, which are arranged below the document reading device. The illustration of the apparatus main body is omitted.

  The document conveying apparatus 101 includes a stacker 102 that extends horizontally so as to be placed on the upper part of the apparatus main body. The stacker 102 is a place where a document (not shown) that has been read is stacked, and has two rod-shaped protrusions 104 protruding from the bottom surface along the document discharge direction indicated by an arrow 103. A document tray 105 is disposed on the stacker 102 at a predetermined interval, and a document (not shown) is set so that the leading end is inserted into the document insertion slot 106. A document guide 107 that is movable in the width direction of the document is attached in front of the document insertion opening 106 of the document tray 105.

  An openable and closable upper unit 108 is disposed at the upper back side of the document insertion opening 106. The upper unit 108 can be rotated around a predetermined fulcrum (not shown) by lifting a handle 109 located above the center of the document insertion slot 106, so that an internal space near the entrance of the document insertion slot 106 can be obtained. Can be opened. Thereby, a paper jam (jam) inside the apparatus can be removed.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the document feeder. The document transport apparatus 101 includes three units for forming a document transport space. At the top of the figure, the upper unit 108 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged. The upper unit 108 has a guide roll 112 for guiding the leading edge of the document to be inserted in order from the document insertion opening 106 on the upper surface side of the document fed in the direction of the arrow 111 along the document tray 105, and main feed for feeding the document to the inside. A total of three rollers, a roller 113 and a transport roller 114, are arranged.

  A middle unit 115 is disposed immediately below the upper unit 108. The middle unit 115 also has a mechanism that rotates around another fulcrum as will be described later. The middle unit 115 includes a retard roller 116 that is in rolling contact with the main feed roller 113 of the upper unit 108, and a discharge side that discharges the document to the stacker 102 side or feeds the document again into the apparatus when reading both sides of the document. A roller 117 is provided. The discharge side roller 117 is a drive roller that is driven by a drive source (not shown).

  A lower unit 119 is disposed further below the middle unit 115. A platen glass 121 is disposed in the opening at the bottom of the lower unit 119. An optical system and a reading element are arranged in an apparatus main body (not shown) below the platen glass 121 so as to read image information of a document passing over the platen glass 121. In the lower unit 119, a conveyance roller 122 that is in rolling contact with the conveyance roller 114 of the upper unit 108, a discharge side roller 123 that is in rolling contact with the discharge side roller 117, and two other conveyance roller pairs 124 and 125 are disposed. Further, a flapper 126 having a wedge-shaped cross section for switching the document transport direction is disposed at a position in front of the discharge side roller 123 in the lower unit 119.

  A state of document conveyance with the document conveyance device 101 having such a configuration will be briefly described. First, an operation for reading only one side of a document (not shown) will be described. A document (not shown) set on the document tray 105 is sent down toward the nip region between the main feed roller 113 and the retard roller 116 by rotating and rotating until the guide roll 112 contacts the uppermost layer of the document. Then, the main feed roller 113 and the retard roller 116 feed one by one into the apparatus. The retard roller 116 rotates in the direction opposite to that of the main feed roller 113, and prevents double feed during feeding.

  The document that has passed between the main feed roller 113 and the retard roller 116 passes between the pair of transport rollers 114 and 122, further passes through the transport roller pair 124, and is transported on the platen glass 121. At this time, image information on the first side of the document is read using the reading element described above. The original passes through the pair of conveying rollers 125, pushes up the valve-shaped flapper 126 from below, passes between the pair of discharge-side rollers 117 and 123, and is discharged onto the stacker 102. In this way, the originals set on the original tray 105 are sent one by one into the original conveying apparatus 101, and image information on each side (the upper side of the original set on the original tray 105) is sent. Is read.

  Next, a case where both sides of a document are read will be described. In this case, the image information on the first surface of the document fed from the document tray 105 into the document conveying apparatus 101 is read as described above. As the reading progresses, the original is fed into the stacker 102 by a pair of discharge rollers 117 and 123 from the front end. At this time, the first surface that has been read is disposed below the document.

  When the trailing edge of the document reaches the nip region between the pair of discharge rollers 117 and 123, the pair of discharge rollers 117 and 123 starts reverse rotation at that timing. Then, the trailing edge of the document passes through the upper surface of the flapper 126, travels in a substantially horizontal direction at the boundary between the middle unit 115 and the lower unit 119, and passes between the pair of transport rollers 114 and 122. Then, it passes again through the pair of conveying rollers 124 and is conveyed on the platen glass 121. At this time, the reading element reads image information on the second side of the document. The original passes through the pair of conveying rollers 125, pushes up the valve-shaped flapper 126 from below, passes between the pair of discharge-side rollers 117 and 123, and is discharged onto the stacker 102. . In this way, the image information on both sides of the document is read.

  By the way, in the document conveying apparatus 101 of the present embodiment, the upper unit 108 and the middle unit 115 can be opened upward in order like a double door, and in this state, the jam of the document can be easily removed, parts can be replaced, etc. Maintenance can be performed. This will be described next with a focus on the mechanism of the middle unit 115.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the upper space of the lower unit of the document feeder shown in FIG. 2 is opened. That is, the upper unit 108 rotates in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by an arrow 131 with a fulcrum (not shown) located at the lower part of the upper unit 108 as a rotation center in this figure by applying a force to lift the handle 109 upward. Can be made. As a result, the upper unit 108 can be stationary as a whole as if it is stood on the upper left in the figure. The middle unit 115 rotates the upper unit 108 in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow 132 with the two rotating shafts 133 and 134 as the center while the upper unit 108 is stationary as if it is stood on the upper left as shown in FIG. Can do. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, it can be made to stand still as if it was set up at the upper right.

  The middle unit 115 is provided with a retard roller 116 in a paper feed guide 141 and rotates around a rotation shaft 134. The middle unit 115 includes a discharge roller 117 and a return guide 143, and a lower unit that rotates around a rotation shaft 133. 144. The upper unit 142 and the lower unit 144 are connected by a link not shown in the figure, and when the operator lifts the paper feed guide 141 upward, both move in the direction of the arrow 132. . The rotating shaft 133 also serves as a transmission shaft that transmits a load obtained by a solenoid (not shown) as torque.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a document jammed between the upper unit 108 and the middle unit 115 in a state where the upper unit 108 and the middle unit 115 are spread apart, or a document jammed between the middle unit 115 and the lower unit 119. Can be easily removed. A document jammed in a lower region of the lower unit 119 such as between the lower unit 119 and the platen glass 121 can be grasped and removed if at least a part thereof exists in the upper space.

  FIG. 4 shows a state where the middle unit is disassembled. The middle unit 115 includes an upper unit 142 and a lower unit 144, and a joint arm 151 that is detachable to connect them. A first arm support portion 152 is formed on the surface of the paper feed guide 141 that constitutes the upper unit 142 at a substantially central portion facing the lower unit 144. The first arm support portion 152 is provided with a long hole 154 into which one end portion (upper end portion in the drawing) of the joint arm 151 is inserted into the first protrusion 153 protruding in the direction perpendicular to the surface direction.

  In addition, a second arm support portion 155 is formed on the surface of the return guide 143 constituting the lower unit 144 of the middle unit 115 on the side facing the upper unit 142. The second arm support portion 155 is provided with a hole 157 into which the second protrusion 156 protruding in the direction perpendicular to the surface direction is inserted into the other end portion (lower end portion in the drawing) of the joint arm 151.

  The joint arm 151 is in a state in which both the first arm support portion 152 and the second arm support portion 155 are connected except for a specific case. Here, the specific case means that when the discharge roller 117 attached to the upper unit 142 of the middle unit is worn, it is replaced with a new one, or a piece of paper generated when a jammed document (not shown) is removed. This is a case of removing this when it enters the middle unit 115.

  FIG. 5 shows an arrangement relationship with the lower unit in the use state of such a middle unit, and FIG. 6 shows a state in which the middle unit is opened so as to be almost vertical as described in FIG. Is. The middle unit 115 has a structure in which an upper unit 142 and a lower unit 144 are rotatable about separate rotating shafts 134 and 133, respectively. Therefore, when the middle unit 115 is set on the lower unit 119 as shown in FIG. 5, the joint arm 151 is substantially parallel to the stacker 102, and the upper unit 142 and the lower unit 144 are generally close to each other. It is in a state.

  It is assumed that the left end upper portion 161 is grasped and lifted from the stationary state as shown in FIG. As a result, only the upper unit 142 starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow 162 (clockwise) about the rotation shaft 134 as a fulcrum. At the same time, the right end side of the joint arm 151 shown in FIG. 5 moves upward, and eventually the lower unit 144 rotates and moves in the direction of the arrow 162 with the rotary shaft 133 as a fulcrum so as to follow the movement of the joint arm 151. Start.

  Therefore, when the middle unit 115 is opened most widely as shown in FIG. 6, the angle formed by the upper unit 142 and the lower unit 144 is maximized. In this state, the operator can remove the jam of the document using the space generated in the upper part of the lower unit 119. Further, by removing at least one of the joint arms 151, the angle formed by the upper unit 142 and the lower unit 144 can be further expanded. As described above, it is easy to perform operations such as removing a piece of paper that has entered the units 142 and 144 in this state.

  FIG. 7 is a top view of the upper unit of the middle unit. A pair of retard roller guides 171 and 172 having a U-shaped cross section are formed at a substantially central portion on the back surface of the paper feed guide 141 constituting the upper unit 115 so as to protrude from the periphery at a predetermined interval. Yes. Rotating shafts 173 and 174 of the retard roller 116 are separately pressed against predetermined inner surfaces of the retard roller guides 171 and 172 by a spring pressing force (not shown) through bearings not shown in the drawing. .

  One rotating shaft 173 is attached with one end of a driving shaft 175 that transmits a driving force thereto. The drive shaft 175 is rotatably supported by a bearing portion 177 that protrudes from the back surface of the left end portion in the drawing of the paper feed guide 141, and is illustrated from a rotational force transmission mechanism 178 such as a gear disposed immediately on the left side thereof. The rotational force of the drive source that is not transmitted is transmitted. Here, the retard roller 116 is supported by the two springs independently of the rotation shafts 173 and 174, and the thickness of the original inserted between the main feed roller 113 shown in FIG. The position and inclination of the central axis are changed by the change. However, the drive shaft 175 has a considerably longer distance from the bearing portion 177 to the rotating shaft 173 than the distance from the bearing portion 177 to the rotational force transmission mechanism 178. For this reason, even if the position and inclination of the retard roller 116 fluctuate, the rotational force transmission mechanism 178 is hardly affected by this, and the driving force can be smoothly transmitted.

  A pair of discharge rollers 117 and 117 to which a driving force is transmitted by the same drive shaft 181 are attached to the side of the upper unit 115 where the rotary shaft 134 is attached. The drive shaft 181 receives a drive force from another drive shaft 184 by a rotational force transmission mechanism 182 or 183 such as a gear. In the upper unit 115, a transmission shaft 185 is disposed in parallel with the drive shaft 184 at a substantially intermediate position between the drive shaft 184 and the retard roller 116. The transmission shaft 185 is for transmitting a torque load for separating the discharge side roller 117 and the discharge side roller 123 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a top view of the lower unit of the middle unit. The plate-like return guide 143 constituting the lower unit 144 has second arm support portions 155 formed at both ends located in the upper portion in this drawing. In addition, bearing portions 193 and 194 that support transmission shafts 191 and 192 that are coaxially connected to the two rotating shafts 133 and 133, respectively, are formed at both ends located at the lower portion.

  One of the transmission shafts 191 is a roller against the pair of the discharge side roller 117 and the discharge side roller 123, which is pressed by a spring (not shown) via the transmission shaft 185 shown in FIG. A torque load that separates them is transmitted. The other transmission shaft 192 transmits a driving force to the drive shaft 184 shown in FIG. 7 so as to rotate the pair of discharge-side rollers 117 and 117.

  In the document conveying apparatus 101 of this embodiment having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the document is fed to the main feed roller 113 in a state where the upper unit 108, the middle unit 115, and the lower unit 119 are arranged in order. And the retard roller 116. At this time, the main feed roller 113 rotates in the document transport direction, and the retard roller 116 rotates in the opposite direction with a predetermined torque. As described above, the original is fed between the upper unit 108 and the middle unit 115, and after passing through the lower unit 119, is read and then discharged onto the stacker 102. However, when both sides of the document are read, when the trailing edge of the document passes through the flapper 126, the trailing edge is detected by a sensor (not shown), and at this point, the discharge side roller 117 starts reverse rotation. As a result, the original passes through the gap between the flapper 126 and the return guide 143 (see FIG. 3) of the middle unit 115 and is again guided to the upper part of the platen glass 121 as described above to read the other side of the original. Is done. When the document passes over the flapper 126, the return guide 143 is arranged as a guide plate on the upper portion thereof, so that the occurrence of jam at this portion is small. The document for which the image information on both sides has been read is discharged onto the stacker 102.

  Note that the opening angle of the upper unit 142 and the lower unit 144 of the middle unit can be adjusted by changing the length of the joint arm 151 in the document conveying apparatus 101 described above. The longer the joint arm 151 is, the larger the angle can be, and the original that has entered between the upper unit 142 and the lower unit 144 can be easily removed. However, it is necessary to design such that the components do not interfere with each other between the units 142 and 144 due to the rotation of the joint arm 151.

  In the embodiment, the document conveying apparatus that conveys the document has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a sheet conveying apparatus that conveys a sheet other than the document by a similar mechanism.

  Further, in the embodiment, the joint arm 151 is attached between the upper unit 142 and the lower unit 144, and the upper unit 142 and the lower unit 144 rotate around different rotation axes, so that the upper unit 142 formed by the joint arm 151 It was decided to change the interval of the lower unit 144. Unlike this, the rotating shaft itself is the same, and even if an elastic member that can be expanded and contracted is disposed between the upper unit 142 and the lower unit 144, when the upper unit 142 is rotated in the opening direction, The interval can be increased.

  Further, in the embodiment, the present invention is applied to a sheet conveying apparatus including three units of the upper unit 108, the middle unit 115, and the lower unit 119. However, the present invention is not applicable to sheet conveying apparatuses having other units. It is possible as well.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a document conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of an original conveying apparatus according to an embodiment. It is sectional drawing showing the state which open | released the upper space of the lower unit of an Example. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which decomposed | disassembled the middle unit of the Example. It is sectional drawing showing arrangement | positioning in the use condition of the middle unit and lower unit of an Example. It is sectional drawing showing the state which opened the middle unit of the Example. It is a perspective view of the upper unit of the middle unit of an Example. It is a perspective view of the lower unit of the middle unit of an example.

Explanation of symbols

101 Document transport device (paper transport device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Stacker 108 Upper unit 113 Main feed roller 114 Conveyance roller 115 Middle unit 116 Retard roller 117 Discharge side roller 119 Lower unit 121 Platen glass 126 Flapper 133, 134 Rotating shaft 142 Upper unit 143 Return guide 144 Lower unit 151 Joint arm

Claims (7)

Each of these members is composed of different members, and two surfaces of these members facing in opposite directions form one boundary surface of different transport paths for transporting the same sheet, and one end side of each member. By rotating these members in a predetermined direction together with the rotation center as a rotation center, the lower boundary surface of the boundary surfaces of these members and the upper boundary surface of the other members disposed below the boundary surface are formed. First and second transport path units that open a space above the transport path,
A member for connecting the first and second transport path units to each other, and the first transport path unit disposed on the upper side of the first and second transport path units generates a rotational force in the predetermined direction. When given, the second transport path unit arranged on the lower side is moved following the first transport path unit in a state where the angle formed by the first and second transport path units is widened. A paper conveying device comprising a link member.   The rotation center is at a different position for each of the first and second transport path units, and the link member has two end portions each corresponding to one of the first and second transport path units. 2. A paper conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper conveying apparatus is a rod-like member held rotatably.   2. The paper conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the link members is a telescopic member attached to a corresponding one of the first and second conveying path units.   4. The sheet conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the link member is detachable from at least one of the first and second conveying path units.   The first and second transport path units are a middle unit sandwiched in the vertical direction by an upper unit that is positioned above these positions and a lower unit that is positioned below these positions. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   In the upper unit, a main feed roller that feeds paper into the apparatus is arranged as a drive roller, and the middle unit is given a rotational force that rolls in contact with the main feed roller and rotates in the opposite direction. 6. The paper conveying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least a separation roller is disposed.   2. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lower boundary surface of the second conveying path unit is formed by a guide member for guiding conveyance of the sheet.

Images