JPH08240942A - Automatic original feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate the exchanging operation of an endless belt in a carrying belt mechanism by elastically biasing a supporting member on the side to be driven and a supporting member on a follower side and locking both members so that they may be freely eleasable. CONSTITUTION: In the case of exchanging the endless belt 88, the supporting members 296 and 300 on the side to be driven and the supporting members 298 and 302 on the follower side are put in a shortened state over the entire length in a front side supporting means 292 and a rear side supporting means 294, and locked in this state by a locking means 312. Thus, the endless belt 88 is loosened over the entire width and is very easily detached, then the endless belt 88 is newly and very easily attached. Locking 312 in the shortened state over the entire length is released and the supporting members 296 and 300, 298 and 302 are elastically biased in a direction where they are extended over the entire length by the biasing action of an elastic biasing means, so that the belt 88 is made to be in a required tension state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder applied to an image processing machine such as an electrostatic copying machine or an image reader.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to automate the handling of originals in image copying operations or image reading operations, it is widely practical to equip an image processing machine such as an electrostatic copying machine or an image reading machine with an automatic document feeder. Has been done. A representative prior art document disclosing an automatic document feeder is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 53-53.
-91747, JP-A-60-118551 and JP-A-61-49348 can be mentioned.

An image processing machine such as an electrostatic copying machine or an image reading machine has a housing, and a transparent plate on which an original to be processed is placed is provided on the upper surface of the housing. The automatic document feeder usually includes a document carry-in section, a main section, and a document carry-out section. The document carry-in section includes a carry-in section frame body arranged on the upstream side of the transparent plate, and a document table extending from the carry-in section frame body to the upstream side. A document carry-in path extending from the document table toward the transparent plate is formed in the carry-in unit frame. A plurality of documents placed on the document table are sequentially sent to the document carry-in path one by one by the action of the document sending means, and are carried on the transparent plate through the document carry-in path by the action of the document carry-in means. . The main part of the automatic document feeder is a movable main part frame mounted so as to be pivotable between a closed position for covering the transparent plate and an open position for exposing the transparent plate, and the movable main part frame is for closing the closed part. And a document transporting unit for transporting the document along the transparent plate when the document is positioned. Such a document conveying means is usually composed of a conveying belt mechanism mounted on the movable main body frame. The document carry-out section includes a carry-out section frame body disposed on the downstream side of the transparent plate. A document carry-out path is formed in the carry-out frame. Further, a document re-carrying-in path which is branched from the document carrying-out path and extends toward the downstream end of the transparent plate is often formed. The document on the transparent plate is sent to the document carry-out path, conveyed by the document carry-out means through the document carry-out path, and discharged to the document receiving tray. Alternatively, it is introduced from the document carry-out path to the document re-carry-in path and is carried in again on the transparent plate. The original tray is arranged in the main portion or the unloading portion.

[0004]

However, the conventional automatic document feeder has the following problems to be solved.

First, the document feeding means in the main part of the automatic document feeding device is usually a driven roller and a driven roller which are arranged at intervals in the document feeding direction and endlessly wound around these rollers. It is composed of a conveyor belt mechanism including a belt. When such a transport belt mechanism is used, it is necessary to replace the endless belt when the endless belt is contaminated or broken, but in the conventional automatic document feeder, the endless belt replacement operation in the transport belt mechanism is performed. (Detachment and mounting operation) is not easy enough and is relatively complicated.

Secondly, when the automatic document feeder is used, it is important that the movable main body frame of the main body, which is rotatable, is securely held in the closed position. Therefore, the movable main body frame is equipped with a permanent magnet together with a gripping member on which the operator puts his / her fingers when opening / closing the movable main body frame, and when the movable main body frame is brought to the closed position, the image processing machine The permanent magnet is magnetically attracted to the magnetic member existing in the housing to hold the movable main portion frame body in the closed position. In addition, when the movable main body frame is swung from the closed position to the open position, it is relatively easy to overcome the magnetic attraction force of the permanent magnets and open the movable main body frame from the closed position. When the fingers of the hand are put on the gripping member to move the gripping member to some extent, the permanent magnet is tilted to some extent prior to the opening of the movable main body frame body, and thus the magnetic attraction force by the permanent magnet is generated. Is configured to be reduced. However, in the conventional automatic document feeder, a relatively complicated and expensive mounting mechanism (a mounting mechanism including a rotatable short shaft that is pivotally mounted) is used to enable the tilting of the permanent magnet. .

Thirdly, the movable main body frame in the main portion of the automatic document feeder is usually mounted on the housing of the image processing machine via a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism includes a stationary member mounted on the upper surface of the housing and a pivoting member pivotally connected to the stationary member. The movable main body frame is rotatably connected to the rotating member of the hinge mechanism so as to be stably positioned in a required relationship with the transparent plate. From the viewpoints of weight reduction and cost reduction, it is desired that the swing member of the hinge mechanism be made relatively short. However,
In this way, the connecting position between the turning member and the movable main part frame is
The movable main body frame and the components mounted on the movable main body frame (for example, the conveyor belt mechanism) are positioned considerably rearward (that is, on the stationary member side of the hinge mechanism). In this case, due to the weight of the movable main body frame itself and the components mounted on the movable main body frame body in the closed position of the movable main body frame body, the movable main body frame body has a hinge mechanism. A force for turning the movable main body frame in a specific direction acts on the turning member. Then, due to the force, the required positioning of the movable main body frame body and the components mounted on the movable main body frame body with respect to the transparent plate is damaged. In order to solve such a problem, the swinging member of the hinge mechanism is extended sufficiently forward so that the connecting position of the swinging member and the movable main body frame body is the movable main body frame body and the components mounted on the movable main body frame body. It is intended to match the center of gravity of the hinge, but this requires the pivoting member of the hinge mechanism to be fairly long, which adds significantly to the weight and cost.

Fourthly, the original tray for receiving the original discharged from the transparent plate is usually mounted so as to be movable in the original conveying direction, and is appropriately selected according to the size of the original discharged in the original tray in the conveying direction. A document stop piece positioned at the position is provided. The front edge of the document discharged to the document tray is brought into contact with the document stop piece and stopped on the document tray. The width of the document stop piece is usually considerably smaller than the width of the document brought into contact with it. On the other hand, in the so-called single-edge reference type automatic document feeder, a document conveyed through a transparent plate and discharged to the document tray is placed on the document tray with one edge positioned at a predetermined position regardless of the widthwise dimension. Is discharged to. In this case, the document stop piece is moved only in the transport direction, whereas the document is discharged with its one edge positioned at a predetermined position regardless of the widthwise dimension.
For example, a document having a size in the width direction that is considerably large or small is abutted on the document stop piece only at one side, not in the center in the width direction, and thus there is a tendency that the document is rotated and tilted from a substantially straight state in the transport direction. is there.

A first technical object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic original document in which the operation of replacing the endless belt in the conveyor belt mechanism constituting the original document conveying means in the main portion of the automatic original document conveying device is remarkably facilitated. A transport device is provided.

A second technical object of the present invention is to make the mounting manner of mounting the gripping member and the permanent magnet tiltably on the movable main body frame of the main portion of the automatic document feeder, remarkably simple and inexpensive. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic document feeder.

A third technical problem of the present invention is that the movable main body frame body in the main body of the automatic document feeder is located at a position considerably rearward of the center of gravity of the main body, and the swing member of the hinge mechanism and the movable main body frame. Despite being connected to the body, and therefore the pivoting member of the hinge mechanism is not unnecessarily extended, the main part is the positioning of the movable main body frame body and the document conveying means attached thereto with respect to the transparent plate. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic document feeder which is not damaged by the weight of the.

A fourth technical object of the present invention is that the widthwise center portion of the front edge of the discharged original is arranged in the original tray regardless of the conveying direction and the widthwise dimension of the original discharged to the original tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic document feeder of a so-called single-edge reference type in which a document feeding method is capable of reliably avoiding the rotation and tilt of a discharged document by being brought into contact with the existing document stopping piece.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned first technical problem, in the first aspect of the present invention, a front side supporting means and a rear side supporting means constituting a supporting means of a conveyor belt mechanism are provided. Driven side support member and driven side drive member combined so as to be relatively movable in the transport direction, and the driven side support member and the driven side support member are elastically extended in a direction of extending the entire length. The elastic biasing means and the shortened full length state in which the driven side support member and the driven side support member are relatively moved by a predetermined amount in the direction of shortening the total length against the elastic biasing action of the elastic biasing means. It is composed of a locking means that is releasably locked to.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, as an automatic document feeder for solving the above first technical problem,
An automatic document feeder applied to an image processing machine in which a transparent plate on which an original to be processed is placed is provided on the upper surface of a housing, and a closed position for covering the transparent plate and the transparent plate are exposed. A movable main body frame mounted movably between the open position and the main body for conveying a document along the transparent plate when the main body frame is positioned at the closed position. The document feeder has a main part including a document feeder mounted on a frame, and the document feeder has a front side supporting means and a rear side supporting means arranged at intervals in the width direction, the front side supporting means, and the front side supporting means. The transport belt mechanism includes a driven roller and a driven roller, which are mounted between the rear side supporting means at intervals in the document transport direction, and an endless belt wound around the driven roller and the driven roller. The front side support means and the rear side of the conveyor belt mechanism Each of the support means is a combination of a driven side support member and a driven side support member, a driven side support member and the driven side support, which are combined so as to be able to relatively move in the transport direction to change the overall length. Elastic biasing means for elastically biasing the member in the direction of extending the entire length, and a direction of shortening the overall length of the driven side supporting member and the driven side supporting member against the elastic biasing action of the elastic biasing means Locking means for releasably locking the entire length of the driven roller by a predetermined amount, the driven roller being mounted on the driven side supporting member, and the driven roller being mounted on the driven side supporting member. The endless belt is mounted and elastically biases the driven-side support member and the driven-side support member in a direction of extending the entire length of the endless belt so that the endless belt is tensioned. Member and subordinate When allowed to side support member 該全 length shortened state endless belt is brought into a relaxed state, the automatic document feeder is provided, characterized in that.

In order to solve the above second technical problem,
In the second aspect of the present invention, the gripping member and the permanent magnet are mounted on the movable main body frame of the main portion of the automatic document feeder via a leaf spring.

That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, as an automatic document feeder for achieving the second technical problem,
An automatic document feeder applied to an image processing machine in which a transparent plate on which an original to be processed is placed is arranged on the upper surface of a housing, and a closed position for covering the transparent plate and the transparent plate are exposed. A main part including a movable main part frame movably mounted between the open position and the main part frame is provided with a holding member and a permanent magnet. A magnetic member is provided, and when the main part frame is brought to the closed position, the permanent magnet is magnetically attracted to the magnetic member to magnetically move the main part frame to the closed position. The holding member and the permanent magnet are attached to the main part frame through a leaf spring, and the holding member and the permanent magnet are attached to the main part frame when the main part frame is in the closed position. When a finger is applied and a force is applied, the elastic deformation of the leaf spring causes the permanent magnet to tilt and the magnetic portion Magnetic attraction force of the permanent magnet is brought into reduction for automatic document feeder is provided, characterized in that.

In order to solve the above third technical problem,
According to the third aspect of the present invention, an elastic biasing means is interposed between the movable main body frame of the main portion of the automatic document feeder and the turning member of the hinge mechanism, and the movable main body frame is provided by the elastic biasing means. Add the required equilibrium rotation moment to.

That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, as an automatic document feeder for achieving the third technical problem,
An automatic document feeder applied to an image processing machine in which a transparent plate on which an original to be processed is placed is arranged on the upper surface of a housing, and a closed position for covering the transparent plate and the transparent plate are exposed. A movable main body frame mounted so as to be pivotally movable between an open position and the main body for conveying a document along the transparent plate when the main body frame is positioned at the closed position. A main part including a document conveying means mounted on the frame part;
The main body frame is mounted on the upper surface of the housing via a hinge mechanism, and the hinge mechanism includes a stationary member and a pivoting member pivotably connected to the stationary member, and the main body frame is the main body. A portion rearward of the center of gravity of the hinge mechanism is pivotally connected to the pivot member of the hinge mechanism, and elastic biasing means is interposed between the pivot member of the hinge mechanism and the main part frame. And the elastic biasing means is caused by the weight of the main part that causes the main part frame to swivel with respect to the swivel member when the main part frame is positioned at the closed position. There is provided an automatic document feeder, which applies a balanced rotation moment to the main frame to substantially balance the rotation moment.

In order to solve the above-mentioned fourth technical problem,
In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the document stop piece arranged in the document tray is made movable in a predetermined inclination direction inclining from the predetermined reference position side in the width direction toward the center side in the width direction toward the downstream side in the document discharge direction. .

That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, as an automatic document feeder for achieving the third technical problem,
An automatic document feeder which is applied to an image processing machine in which a transparent plate on which an original to be processed is placed is arranged on the upper surface of a housing, and is an original table and extends from the original table toward the transparent plate. A document carry-in path, a document sending means for sequentially sending a plurality of documents placed on the document table one by one to the document carry-in path, and a document carrying means for carrying the document along the transparent plate. A document conveying means, a document receiving tray, and a document delivery path extending from the transparent plate toward the document receiving tray,
An original unloading unit for unloading the original to the original tray through the original unloading path is provided, and the original is loaded, transported, and unloaded with one side edge positioned at a predetermined reference position in the width direction regardless of the width of the original. The original receiving tray includes an original stopping piece against which the front edge of the original conveyed to the original receiving tray abuts, and the original stopping piece extends from the predetermined reference position side in the width direction toward the downstream side in the original conveying direction. There is provided an automatic document feeder which is movable in a predetermined inclination direction which is inclined toward the center of the direction.

[0021]

In the automatic document feeder constructed according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the endless belt is replaced,
In both the front-side supporting means and the rear-side supporting means, the driven-side supporting member and the driven-side supporting member are shortened in their entire lengths, and locked by the locking means. This allows the endless belt to be in a relaxed state over its entire width, so that the endless belt can be easily removed and a new endless belt can be loaded easily. Then, the lock in the full length shortened state is released, and thereby the driven side support member and the driven side support member are elastically biased in the direction of extending the entire length by the biasing action of the elastic biasing means, and the endless belt is in the required tension state. Be fake.

In the automatic document feeder constructed according to the second aspect of the present invention, the movable main body frame is in the closed position, and accordingly, the permanent magnet mounted on the movable main body frame is the upper surface of the housing. When a finger is applied to the gripping member and a force is applied in a state where the permanent magnet is magnetically attracted to the magnetic member arranged in, the permanent magnet is tilted by elastic deformation of the leaf spring as the first step, The magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet to the magnetic member is reduced, and then, as a second step, the permanent magnet is separated from the magnetic member. Despite the fact that the structure is remarkably simple and inexpensive, the separation of the permanent magnet from the magnetic member reduces the magnetic attraction force by tilting the permanent magnet, and the second step separates the permanent magnet from the magnetic member. Therefore, the permanent magnet can be detached from the magnetic member with sufficient ease.

In the automatic document feeder constructed according to the third aspect of the present invention, the elastic biasing means interposed between the movable main body frame and the pivoting member of the hinge mechanism includes:
An equilibrium rotation moment substantially corresponding to the rotation moment caused by the weight of the movable main portion frame is added to the movable main portion frame body, and thus the document conveying means is swung from a required position by the rotation moment caused by the weight of the movable main portion frame body. The displacement is surely prevented.

In the automatic document feeder according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the document stop piece is inclined in the predetermined inclination direction in which the document stop piece inclines from the predetermined reference position in the width direction toward the center side in the width direction toward the downstream side in the document discharge direction. The widthwise central portion of the leading edge of the discharged original is brought into contact with the original stop piece arranged in the original tray regardless of the conveyance direction and the widthwise dimension of the original that is moved and thus discharged to the original tray. .

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of an automatic document feeder constructed according to the present invention, which is installed in an electrostatic copying machine, will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Overall Structure FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show an electrostatic copying machine 2 and an automatic document feeder indicated by numeral 4 as a whole, which is installed in the electrostatic copying machine 2. The electrostatographic copying machine 2, which may be of a known form per se, includes a housing 6 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a glass transparent plate 8 (FIGS. 3) is provided. A document placement position restricting member 10 is disposed on one edge (the left edge in FIG. 3) of the transparent plate 8. This document placement position regulating member 10 is extended along one edge of the transparent plate 8 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. Although not shown, in the housing 6 of the electrostatic copying machine 2, various components including a rotary drum having an electrostatic photoconductor on the surface thereof are arranged. As is well known, a document to be copied is usually transparent with the surface to be copied facing downward and one end edge thereof abutting the inner edge (the right end edge in FIG. 3) of the document placement position regulating member 10. It is placed on the plate 8. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the rotating drum by an electrostatic latent image forming process including an original scanning exposure in which the lower surface of the original placed on the transparent plate 8 is optically scanned and projected onto the rotating drum. Such an electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image, the developed toner image is transferred onto a copy paper, which may be plain paper, and the transferred toner image is fixed onto the copy paper, thus producing a copy.

The illustrated automatic document feeder 4 constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a document carry-in section 12, a central main section 14, and a document carry-out / re- carry-in section 16. The document carry-in section 12 of the automatic document feeder 4 is disposed adjacent to the one edge of the transparent plate 8 and upstream thereof (left side in FIG. 3). The document carry-in section 12 includes a carry-in section frame 18 mounted on the upper surface of the housing 6 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 and a document table 20 extending from the frame 18 to the upstream side. As is clearly shown in FIG. 3, the document table 20 is extended so as to be inclined slightly upward toward the upstream side (left side in FIG. 3). An upright stationary document regulating wall 22 is arranged at the rear edge of the document table 20. A movable original regulating member 24, which may be of a known form per se, is attached to the original table 20 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The movable document regulating member 24 is an upright wall.
A document that has 26 and is placed on the document table 20 is positioned between the stationary document regulating wall 22 and the upright wall 26 of the movable document regulating member 24. The frame 18 is the front support member 2
8, rear support member 30 and such support members 28 and 3
It includes a cover member 32 disposed between 0s. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, between the front support member 28 and the rear support member 30 and in the space below the cover member 32, one lower regulation plate 33 and three lower regulation plates 33 are provided. Upper regulation plates 34, 36 and 38 are provided, and a document carry-in path 40 is defined between the lower regulation plate 33 and the upper regulation plates 34, 36 and 38. Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 3, between the front support member 28 and the rear support member 30, a plurality of documents placed on the document table 20 are sequentially loaded one by one. A document sending means 42 for sending the document to the path 40 and a document loading means 44 for carrying the document sent to the document loading path 40 onto the transparent plate 8 are also provided. The document sending means 42 includes a document sending roller 46 and a document separating roller pair 48. The document feeding roller 46 is selectively lowered from the non-acting position shown by the solid line as shown by the chain double-dashed line, and the downstream end of the uppermost document among the plurality of documents placed on the document table 20. The original placed on the original table 20 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the unit and is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by an arrow 50. Thus, the original placed on the original table 20 is delivered toward the original carry-in path 40. The document separating roller pair 48 is composed of a feed roller 52 and a reversing roller 54. The reversing roller 54 is selectively positioned at a non-acting position shown by a solid line and an acting position shown by a two-dot chain line.
When located in the non-acting position, the reversing roller 54 is located below the feed roller 52 and spaced apart.
When positioned in the working position, the reversing roller 54 is brought into contact with and cooperates with the feed roller 52. The feed roller 52 is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 56, and the reversing roller 54 is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 58. When a plurality of originals are simultaneously sent out from the original table 20 by the original sending roller 46, the original separating roller pair 48 separates only the uppermost original from other originals and separates the original carry-in path 40. Please bring it to
Prevent other documents from being brought in. The document carrying-in means 44 is composed of an upper roller 60 and a lower roller 62 which cooperate with each other. The upper roller 60 and the lower roller 62 are driven to rotate in the direction shown by an arrow 64, and thus the document carrying-in path 40 is provided. The carried original is carried on the transparent plate 8. Between the front side support member 28 and the rear side support member 30, a placed document detector 66 for detecting a document placed on the document table 20, and the transparent plate 8 through the document carry-in path 40. A plurality of carried-in document detectors 68 for detecting the carried-in document are also provided. By detecting the document by the plurality of carried-in document detectors 68, it is possible to detect the carry-in of the document and the size of the carried-in document. On the rear side support member 30 of the carry-in part frame body 12, a carry-in part drive source 69 (FIG. 3) which may be an electric motor is mounted. The document sending means 42 and the document carry-in means 44 in the document carry-in section 12 are driven by the carry-in section drive source 69.

The document delivery means 42 (document delivery roller 46 and document separation roller pair 48), the document carry-in means 44 (upper roller 60 and lower roller 62), and the placed document detector 66 are themselves configured. The present invention does not constitute a novel feature of the present invention and is well known to those skilled in the art, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 63-249114 (filed on Oct. 4, 1988, filed by the present applicant). Name: Automatic document feeder and image processing machine having the same) as disclosed in the specification and drawings, and therefore detailed description of these configurations is omitted in this specification.

The central main portion 14 of the automatic document feeder 4 is provided with a movable main portion frame 70. The main body frame 70 is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 6 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 via a pair of hinge mechanisms 72 (FIG. 2) arranged behind the transparent plate 8, and FIGS. It can be manually opened and closed between the closed position shown in FIG. 3 and the open position shown in FIG. When the main part frame 70 is in the closed position, the transparent plate 8 is covered with the main part frame 70, and when the main part frame 70 is in the open position, the transparent plate 8 is exposed. The part of the main part frame 70 that covers the transparent plate 8 in the closed position has a box shape with an open lower surface. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, in the box-shaped portion of the main part frame 70, a document feeding means 74 for feeding a document along the transparent plate 8 is provided.
Is provided. The document conveying means 74 includes a driven roller 76, a driven roller 78, and a pressing roller 8 which are arranged at intervals in the document conveying direction (left and right direction in FIG. 3).
0, 82, 84 and 86, and a conveyor belt mechanism including an endless belt 88 wound around these rollers. A main part drive source 89 (FIG. 3), which may be a reversible electric motor, is also mounted on the frame body 70, and the main part drive source 89 causes the document conveying means 74 to indicate the forward rotation direction indicated by arrow 90 and the arrow 92. It is selectively driven in the reverse conveyance direction. The upper surface of the box-shaped portion of the main body frame 70 is
As will be described later, the first document receiving tray 94 that receives the document discharged through the document unloading / reloading unit 16 is configured.
The configuration of the central main portion 14 itself in the automatic document feeder 4 will be described in more detail later.

The document carry-out / re-loading section 16 of the automatic document feeder 4 is disposed adjacent to the other end edge (the right end edge in FIG. 3) of the transparent plate 8 and on the downstream side (right side in FIG. 3). Has been done. The document discharging and re-loading unit 1
6 includes a box-shaped carrying-out portion frame body 100 having an open lower surface. The frame 100 includes front and rear members 1 arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3).
02 and 104, side walls 106 and 108 and a top wall 110 which are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction in FIG. A passage opening 112 (FIGS. 2 and 3) through which a document passes is formed at the lower end of the side wall 106. Further, a first discharge opening 114 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed at the upper end of the side wall 106, and a second discharge opening 116 (FIG. 3) is formed at the upper end of the side wall 108. Continuing the description mainly with reference to FIG. 3, a horizontally extending rotary shaft 118 is rotatably mounted in the central portion of the frame body 100, and a plurality of rotary shafts 118 are arranged at intervals in the axial direction. The individual carry-out rollers 120 are fixed. The frame body 1 is related to the carry-out roller 120.
00 has a central regulating member 122, an outer regulating member 124,
In addition, outside regulation plates 126, 128, and 130 are also provided, and a document carry-out path 132 and a document re-carry-in path 134 are formed. The document carry-out path 132 extending from the passage opening 112 includes a common path 136, a first branch path 138, and a second branch path 140. The common path 136 extends from the passage opening 112, the first branch path 138 extends from a branch point (ie, the downstream end of the common path 136) to the first discharge opening 114, and the second branch path 140. Extends from the branch point to the second discharge opening 116. The re-carrying-in path 134 branches from the first branch path 138 and extends to the passage opening 112. A branch path switching means 142 is provided at a branch point between the first branch path 138 and the second branch path 140, that is, a downstream end of the common path 136. The branch path switching means 142 is selectively positioned at a first branch position shown by a solid line and a second branch position shown by a two-dot chain line. When the branch path switching means 142 is positioned at the first branch position, the common path 136 is brought into communication with the first branch path 138. When the branch path switching means 142 is positioned at the second branch position, the common path 136 is brought into communication with the second branch path 140.
At the upstream end of the re-introduction path 134 branched from the first branch path 138, a discharge re-introduction switching means 144 is arranged. The discharge / reload switching means 144 is selectively positioned at the reload position indicated by the solid line and the discharge position indicated by the two-dot chain line. When the discharge / re-load switching means 144 is positioned at the re-load position, the upstream part and the downstream part of the first branch path 138 are blocked, and the upstream part of the first branch path 138 is communicated with the re-load path 134. To be When the discharge / reload switching means 144 is positioned at the discharge position, the upstream portion and the downstream portion of the first branch passage 138 are brought into communication with each other, and the reimport passage 134 is blocked from the first branch passage. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, unloading / reloading switching means 146 is also provided in association with the passage opening 112, and thus in association with the upstream end of the common path 136 and the downstream end of the reimport path 134. . The carry-in / re-carry-in switching means 146 is selectively positioned at the carry-out position shown by the solid line and the re-carry-in position shown by the two-dot chain line. When the document on the transparent plate 8 is carried out to the common path 136, the carry-out / re-carrying switching means 146 is positioned at the carry-out position, and when the document is re-carried on the transparent plate 8 through the re-carrying path 134. The carry-out / re-load switching means 146 is positioned at the re-load position.

Document carry-out path 132 (common path 136, first branch path 138 and second branch path 140) and re-carry-in path 1
A document unloading unit 148 is provided for allowing the document to be conveyed through 34 as required. The document unloading unit 148 includes, in addition to the unloading roller 120, driven rollers 150 and 152 that cooperate with the unloading roller 120, and discharge rollers 154 and 156. A plurality of driven rollers 150 are fixed to the rotary shaft 158 which is rotatably mounted and extends horizontally corresponding to the plurality of carry-out rollers 120. Similarly, a plurality of driven rollers 150 which are mounted rotatably and horizontally extend. A plurality of driven rollers 152 are fixed so as to correspond to the plurality of carry-out rollers 120. A plurality of discharge rollers 154 arranged in association with the first branch path 138 are fixed to a horizontally extending rotary shaft 162 at intervals in the axial direction, and in relation to the second branch path 140. A plurality of the discharge rollers 156 arranged are fixed to a horizontally extending rotary shaft 164 at intervals in the axial direction. The carry-out unit frame 100 is also provided with a carry-out unit drive source 165 (FIG. 3), which may be an electric motor, and the document carry-out means 148 is driven by the carry-out unit drive source 165. Carry-out roller 120 and discharge rollers 154 and 156
Is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 166, and the driven roller 1
50 and 152 are driven in the direction indicated by arrow 166.
The discharge roller 154 discharges the document conveyed to the downstream portion of the first branch path 138 through the first discharge opening 114. The document discharged through the first discharge opening 114 is
It is accommodated in the first original tray 94 formed on the upper surface of the main frame 70. The discharge roller 156 allows the document discharged to the second branch path 140 to be fed to the second discharge opening 11 described above.
Discharge through 6. A second document tray 168 is arranged downstream of the second discharge opening 116, and a document discharged through the second discharge opening 116 is stored in the second document tray 168. In the document unloading / reloading unit 16, the common path 13 from the transparent plate 8 to the document unloading path 132 is further provided.
A first original tray 9 through a first original passage 138 and a first original detecting means 170 for detecting the original conveyed to the recording medium 6.
The first discharged document detecting means 172 for detecting the document discharged to the No. 4 and the second discharged document detecting means for detecting the document discharged to the second document tray 168 through the second branch path 140. 174 and a re-introduced document detecting means 175 for detecting the document re-introduced onto the transparent plate 8 through the re-introduction path 134. These detection means 1
70, 172, 174 and 175 can be composed of micro switches or photoelectric switches.

The structure of the document carry-out / re-loading section 16 itself is as follows.
Details of Japanese Patent Application No. 1-175523 (application date: July 10, 1991, title of the invention: automatic document feeder) which does not constitute a novel feature of the present invention and which is filed by the present applicant The detailed description thereof will be omitted in the present specification.

In the automatic document feeder 4 described above,
The document is conveyed in any one of the simple mode, the reverse mode, and the double reverse mode. Referring to FIG. 3,
When the simple mode is selected, the document on the document table 20 is carried onto the transparent plate 8 through the document carry-in path 40, and a predetermined position on the transparent plate 8 (the rear end of the document contacts the document position regulating member 10). It is located in the contact position). And
In the electrostatic copying machine 2, scanning exposure is performed on one side (lower side) of the document. Thereafter, the first path is passed through the common path 136 and the first branch path 138 in the document carry-out path 132.
The document is discharged onto the document tray 94 of. Even when the reverse mode is selected, the document on the document table 20 is carried onto the transparent plate 8 through the document carry-in path 40 and is positioned at a predetermined position on the transparent plate 8. Then, scanning exposure is performed on one side of the document in the electrostatic copying machine 2. Then
The original document on the transparent plate 8 is introduced into the first branch passage 138 from the common passage 136 of the original carry-out passage 132, and is introduced into the re-intake passage 134 from the first branch passage 138, and thus the front and back of the original document are reversed. It is pressed and is again positioned at a predetermined position on the transparent plate 8. Then, in the electrostatic copying machine 2, scanning exposure is performed on the other surface of the original whose front and back are reversed. After that, the common path 13 of the document discharge path 132
6 and the second branch passage 140 through the second document tray 16
8 is ejected. When the multi-reversal mode is selected, the original carried into the transparent plate 8 from the original table 20 through the original carry-in path 40 is continuously conveyed without being positioned on the transparent plate 8 and the original carry-out path 13 is continued.
2 to the common path 136, and the first branch path 13
6 and the re-carry-in path 134 to re-carry the document onto the transparent plate 8, and thus the front and back of the document are inverted and positioned at a predetermined position on the transparent plate 8. Then, in the electrostatic copying machine 2, scanning exposure is performed on one surface (lower surface) of the document. After that, the document is re-carried on the transparent plate 8 through the common path 136, the first branch path 136, and the re-conveyance path 134 of the document carry-out path 132. In this way, the front and back of the original document are inverted again and repositioned at a predetermined position on the transparent plate 8. Then, in the electrostatic copying machine 2, scanning exposure is performed on the other surface of the document. After that, the original transport path 1
The original is discharged to the first original tray 94 through the common path 136 and the first branch path 138 of 32. For details of the document conveying mode in the simple mode, the reversing mode and the double reversing mode, refer to Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 1-1925 filed by the present applicant.
No. 44 (filing date: July 27, 1991, title of invention: automatic document feeder) is clearly described in the specification and drawings, so the detailed description is described in the description and drawings. However, it is omitted in this specification.

Thus, in the above-described overall configuration of the illustrated automatic document feeder 4 constructed according to the present invention,
The following points should be noted. That is, in the illustrated automatic document feeder 4, the central main portion 14 including the movable main portion frame 70 and the original feeding means (conveying belt mechanism) 74 mounted on the movable main portion frame 70 has the original loading portion 12 and the original loading / unloading portion. It is configured to be completely separate from the carry-in unit 16, and is provided between the main unit 14 and the document carry-in unit 12, and between the main unit 14 and the document carry-out / re-carry-in unit 16.
There is no driving force interaction and no pressing force interaction between and. The document carry-in section 12, the main section 14, and the document carry-out section 16 are provided with their own carry-in section drive sources 69, main section drive sources 89, and carry-out section drive sources 165, respectively.
There is no drive connection between the main part 14 and the document carry-in part 12 and between the main part 14 and the document carry-out part 16. Further, it is not necessary that one of the pair of rollers that are pressed against each other and cooperate with each other is provided in the main portion 14 and the other is provided in the document carry-in section 12 or the document carry-out / re- carry-in section 16.
Therefore, there is no mutual pressing relationship between the main part 14 and the document carry-in part 12, and between the main part 14 and the document carry-out / re-carry-in part 16. Therefore, the movable main body frame 70 of the main portion 14 and the document conveying means (conveyance belt mechanism) 7 attached to the movable main body frame 70.
4 is that even if the movable main body frame 70 is repeatedly opened and closed,
The transparent plate 8 can be stably and precisely positioned at a required position without being adversely affected by the driving force or the pressing force.

Central Main Part Next, the central main part 14 will be described in detail. As already mentioned with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the central main part 14 includes the movable main part frame 70 and the document conveying means (conveying belt mechanism) 74 mounted on the main part frame 70. . The main part frame 70 is pivotally moved between a closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and an open position shown in FIG. 2 by a pair of hinge mechanisms 72 arranged at intervals in the transport direction. It is freely mounted on the upper surface of the housing 6 of the electrostatic copying machine 2.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the pair of hinge mechanisms 72, which may be of a form known per se, has a stationary member 180 and a pivot member 182. The stationary member 180 has a bottom wall 184 and a pair of upright support walls 186 extending upward from both side edges thereof. Such stationary member 1
80 is a fastening screw 188 which penetrates the bottom wall 184.
By screwing (FIG. 6) onto the upper wall of the housing 6 of the electrostatic copying machine 2, it is fixed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the housing 6. Mounting holes 190 and 192 are formed in each of the pair of upright support walls 186. On the other hand, the turning member 182 has an upper wall 194 and a pair of side walls 196 that hang downward from both side edges thereof. A hole 198 is formed at the rear end of the upper wall 194. A mounting hole 200 is formed at the rear end of each side wall 196, and a mounting hole 202 is formed at the front end thereof. Further, an L-shaped notch 204 extending upward and then rearward from a lower edge of the side wall 196 is formed in an intermediate portion of each side wall 196. As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting pin 205 is inserted through the mounting hole 190 formed in the upright support wall 186 of the stationary member 180 and the mounting hole 200 formed in the side wall 196 of the turning member 182.
Thus, the swivel member 1 is swivelable about the pin 205.
82 is mounted on the stationary member 180. Mounting holes 192 formed in the pair of upright support walls 186 of the stationary member 180.
Both ends of the pin 206 are rotatably attached to the pin. Two cylindrical members 208 protruding substantially vertically from the central portion of the pin 206 are fixed. On the other hand, the notch 204 formed in both side walls 196 of the turning member 182.
Both ends of the pin 210 are inserted into the pin. This pin 21
Two round bar members 212, which project substantially vertically from the central portion thereof, are fixed to 0. Round bar member 21 of pin 210
2 is fitted with a compression coil spring 214, and the pin 2
Ten round bar members 212 are slidably inserted into the cylindrical members 208 of the pins 206. Coil spring 214 is pin 21
0 and the cylindrical member 208, and elastically biases the turning member 182 in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the left front side in FIG. The rotating member 18 with respect to the stationary member 180
When the 2 is swung, the round bar member 212 is slid with respect to the cylindrical member 208.

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 6 and 9 to 11 together with FIG. 5, the movable main body frame 70 mounted on the upper surface of the housing 6 via the pair of hinge mechanisms 72 is a support base. 216 and a cover member 218 (FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 15) attached to the support base 216. Then, the support base 216 includes the pair of connecting members 220.
And a pair of support plate members 222 fixed to the connecting member 220. As clearly shown in FIG.
Each of the pair of connecting members 220 has a bottom wall 224 and an upright side wall 226 extending upward from both side edges of the bottom wall 224. A rectangular protruding piece 228 is formed on the rear portion of the side wall 226 so as to protrude laterally outward from the upper edge thereof. Sidewall 22
A mounting hole 230 is formed in the middle portion of 6. Also,
A protruding piece 229 laterally protruding therefrom is formed at the rear end of one of the side walls 226 (the side wall 226 located on the left front side in FIG. 5), and the protruding piece 229 has a screw hole 231. Has been formed. As clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the connecting member 220 is disposed below the pivot member 180 of the hinge mechanism 72, and the side wall 226 of the connecting member 220 is positioned outside the side wall 196 of the pivot member 180. The mounting pin 232 is inserted through the mounting hole 230 formed in the side wall 226 of the connecting member 220 and the mounting hole 202 formed in the front end portion of the side wall 196 of the turning member 180, and thus the turning member 1 of the hinge mechanism 72 is inserted.
The connecting member 220 of the support base 216 is attached to the unit 80 so as to be rotatable around the pin 232. As clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the rear end of the support plate 222 is fixed to the front end of each connecting member 220. Connecting member 2
Three holes 234 are formed at the front end of the support member 20, and three screw holes 236 are provided corresponding to the rear end of the support plate 222 positioned below the front end of the connecting member 220.
(FIG. 11) is formed, and a rear end portion of the support plate 222 is fixed to the front end portion of the connecting member 220 by screwing a connecting screw (not shown) into the screw hole 236 through the hole 234. There is. The support plate member 222 is the connecting member 2
20 extends forward from a rear end that is cantilevered and fixed to the front end.

Each of the support plate members 222 in the illustrated embodiment is formed of an extruded aluminum material, and has a strip plate portion 238 and both side walls 240 extending upward from both side edges of the strip plate portion 238. It has a channel shape. It is desired that the movable main body frame 70 that can be manually rotated and opened / closed be made as light as possible from the viewpoint of facilitating the opening / closing operation, and thus the support plate member 222 of the support base 216 is also preferably made as light as possible. Be done. On the other hand, as will be described later in detail, the original conveying means (conveying belt mechanism) 74 is mounted on the supporting base 216, and the supporting plate 222 needs to have sufficient strength to support the original conveying means 74. As described above, the supporting plate member 222 extends forward from the rear end portion which is supported in a cantilever manner, and therefore the supporting plate member 222 needs to have sufficient strength to support the document conveying means 74. The second moment of area gradually increases from the front end toward the rear, in other words, decreases gradually from the rear end toward the front.
In view of such a fact, in the present invention, the support plate material 222
By making the front part have a smaller second moment of area than the rear part, the weight of the support plate 222 can be reduced while maintaining the required strength. In the illustrated embodiment, the support plate member 222 is lightened by forming a plurality of weight-reducing openings 242 at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction of the support plate member 222. The rear opening 242 is smaller and the front opening 242 is larger, and thus the front geometrical moment of inertia is smaller than the geometrical moment of inertia of the rear portion of the support plate 222. Opening 242
Instead of or in addition to changing the size of the, the existing density of openings can be changed appropriately.
Also, if desired, the amount of upward protrusion of the side wall 240 of the support plate 222 is made smaller from the rear to the front, thus making the front moment of inertia of the front part of the support plate 222 smaller than the second moment of area of the rear part. It can also be done.

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the positioning contact pieces 24 are respectively provided at the rear end and the front end of each of the pair of support plate members 222 in the support base 216.
4 and 246 are fixed by fastening screws 248 and 250. A rectangular opening 252 is formed at the front end of the connecting member 220 of the support base 216, and the contact piece 244 is fixed to the rear end of the support plate 222 through the opening 252. Each of the contact pieces 244 and 246 has a leg portion extending downward, and the leg portion of the contact piece 244 projects downward through an opening 254 formed in the rear end portion of the support plate 222.
The leg portion of the contact piece 246 projects downward through a notch 256 formed in the front end of the support plate 222. When the movable main body frame 70 is brought to the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the leg portions projecting downwardly from the contact pieces 244 and 246 are arranged on the upper surface of the housing 6 to form the transparent plate 8. The document conveying means (conveying belt mechanism) 74 mounted on the support base 70 is brought into contact with the transparent plate 8 as required.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 6 and 9, the upper edge rear end portions of the side walls 226 of the pair of connecting members 220 of the support base 216 (portions rearward of the projecting pieces 228) are
An elongated pressing plate 258 extending in the transport direction and straddling the pair of connecting members 220 is arranged. The pressing plate 258 includes a turning member 18 in each of the pair of hinge mechanisms 72.
A hole 260 is formed corresponding to the hole 198 formed in the upper wall 194 of the second wall 194. Then, the bolt 2 is passed through the hole 194 of the turning member 182 and the hole 260 of the pressing plate 258.
The shaft of 62 is projected upward. Bolt 262
The head of the rotary member 182 is locked to the lower surface of the upper wall 194 of the turning member 182. A compression coil spring 264, which constitutes an elastic biasing means, is fitted on the shaft of the bolt 262. A regulation plate 266 extending in the transport direction and straddling the two coil springs 264 and located above the coil springs 264 is also provided. This regulation plate 26
Holes 268 are also formed at both ends of the bolt 6, and the shaft of the bolt 262 also penetrates through the hole 268 and projects upward. A nut 270 is screwed onto the tip of the shaft of the bolt 262. As can be easily understood by referring to FIGS. 6 and 9, the compression coil spring 264 connects the connecting member 220 of the supporting base 216 to the pivoting member 182 of the hinge mechanism 72 in the clockwise direction in FIG. Elastically biased. The elastic biasing force of the compression coil spring 264 causes the nut 27 with respect to the shaft of the bolt 262.
It can be adjusted appropriately by adjusting the screwing degree of 0.

Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 6, as will be further referred to later, the original conveying means (conveying belt mechanism) 74 is mounted on the supporting substrate 216, and the cover member 2 is also provided.
18 is mounted. The center of gravity or the center of gravity G of the weight of the support base 216 and the components attached thereto, that is, the center of gravity G of the center main portion 14, is the pivotal connection position between the pivot member 182 of the hinge mechanism 72 and the connecting member 220 of the support base 216, that is, The center of gravity G of the central main portion 14 and the center axis of the mounting pin 232 are located considerably forward of the position of the center axis of the mounting pin 232 by extending the turning member 182 of the hinge mechanism 72 excessively forward. Although they can be matched with each other, this causes the hinge mechanism 72 to be large and heavy, and the cost to increase. When the center of gravity of the center main portion 14 is located considerably forward of the center axis of the mounting pin 232, the weight acting on the center of gravity G of the center main portion 14 is as shown in FIG.
At, a rotational moment that causes the central main portion 14 to turn counterclockwise is generated. This rotational moment is maximum when the central main portion 14 is located in the closed position shown in FIG. 6, and when it is opened toward the open position shown in FIG. Since the horizontal distance from the center of gravity of the central main portion 14 is gradually reduced, it is gradually reduced. Therefore, the rotation moment when the central main portion 14 is located at the closed position is usually a considerable amount, and if no measures are taken against the rotation moment, Street problems occur. When the movable main body frame 70 is moved to the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the leg portions of the positioning contact pieces 244 and 246 are brought into contact with the transparent plate 8 as described above, and thus the document is conveyed. It is important that the means (conveyor belt mechanism) 74 is positioned as required with respect to the transparent plate 8. However, due to the action of the rotational moment, the support base 216 is forcibly turned clockwise in FIG. 6, and the original conveying means 74 mounted on the support base 216 is rotated clockwise from the required position in FIG. There is a tendency to turn for a minute. Therefore, according to the present invention, the support base 21 is provided by the compression coil spring 264.
An elastic biasing force is applied to 6 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The magnitude of the elastic biasing force is determined by the central main portion 1
A counterclockwise balanced rotational moment substantially corresponding to the clockwise rotational moment due to the weight of the central main part 14 in the state in which 4 is located in the closed position shown in FIG. It is set to a value added to the main portion 14. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the document conveying means 74 from being pivotally displaced from the required position.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, a brake mechanism 272 is arranged in association with each of the pair of hinge mechanisms 72. Each of the brake mechanisms 272 includes a stationary brake piece 274 and a turning brake piece 276. The stationary brake piece 276, which can be formed of an appropriate synthetic resin, is a pair of upright support walls 1 of the stationary member 180 of the hinge mechanism 72.
One of 86 (upright support wall 186 on the upper right side in FIG. 5)
Is secured to the outer surface of the by a set screw 278 (FIG. 7). As clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a first arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 280 and a second arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 282 are formed on the upper surface of the stationary brake piece 274. The second arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 282 is slightly displaced from the first arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 280 in a direction away from the turning brake piece 276,
An intermediate step portion 284 is formed between the two. A front step portion 286 is formed on the front side (right side in FIGS. 7 and 8) of the first arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 280. On the other hand, the turning brake piece 276, which can be similarly formed from an appropriate synthetic resin, is one of the pair of side walls 226 of the connecting member 220 in the support base body 216 of the main part frame 70 (the upper right side wall 226 in FIG. 5). Set screw 288 on the lower edge of the rear end
(Fig. 7). As clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the swing brake piece 276 has an arcuate outer peripheral surface 290 formed at the rear portion of the lower surface thereof.

The operation of the brake mechanism 272 as described above will be described. When the main frame 70 is in the closed position as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 76 is separated from the stationary brake piece 274, and the brake mechanism 272 is in a non-acting state. When the main part frame 70 is swung open in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 7 and 8, the swivel brake piece 276 as shown in FIG.
The arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 290 of the above is pressed against the first arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 280 of the stationary brake piece 274. As understood by comparing FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 290 of the swing brake piece 276 passes through the front step portion 286 of the stationary brake piece 274 to correspond to the first arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 280. When positioned, the mounting pin 232 mounting the connecting member 220 to the pivoting member 182 of the hinge mechanism 72.
The connecting member 220 (and thus the main frame 70) is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.
90 gets over the front part of the stationary brake piece 274. As described above, the rotational moment acting on the central main portion 14 in the direction of turning counterclockwise in FIG. 8 due to the weight of the central main portion 14 gradually decreases as the central main portion 14 is swung open from the closed position. To do. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 8, the compression coil spring 26 has a greater rotation force than the rotation moment caused by the center of gravity of the central main portion 14.
The counterclockwise equilibrium rotational moment applied to the central main portion 14 by 4 becomes larger. Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 8, the arcuate outer peripheral surface 290 of the turning brake piece 276 is forcibly pressed against the first arcuate inner peripheral surface 280 of the stationary brake piece 274 by the above-described balanced rotation moment, and the two are in between. The braking force acts on the turning movement of the central main portion 14 by the frictional force. Thus, the front step portion 286 and the intermediate step portion 28 of the stationary brake piece 274 are
The area of the first arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 280 between the central arc portion 1 and
4 in the opening angle range from the closed position to approximately 20 degrees to 75 degrees), a braking action is applied to the central main portion 14 for turning and opening / closing movements, and the central main portion 14 is held at the angle position required by the operator. It The braking force is relatively small, and thus the holding force of the central main portion 14 is also relatively small. When the central main portion 14 is further swung open, the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 290 of the swing brake piece 276 passes through the intermediate step portion 284 and is pressed against the second arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 282, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. To be At this time, the connecting member 220 causes the mounting pin 23 to
In FIG. 8, it is turned clockwise about 2 by a slight angle (which may be an angle corresponding to the angle θ). As can be understood by referring to FIG. 8, the central main portion 14 is swung in the closing direction to turn the swing brake piece 27.
In order to return the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface 290 of No. 6 from the second arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 282 of the stationary brake piece 274 to the state in which it is pressed against the first arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 280 through the intermediate step portion 284, the compression coil spring 264 The coupling member 220 (and therefore the central main portion 14) is caused to pivot counterclockwise in FIG. 8 by a slight angle against the elastic biasing action, whereby the arcuate outer peripheral surface 290 of the pivot brake piece 276 is stopped.
It is necessary to make it possible to get over the intermediate step portion 284. Some amount of force is required to pivot the connecting member 220 counterclockwise against the elastic biasing action of the compression coil spring 264, so that the central main body 14 causes the arcuate outer peripheral surface 290 of the pivot brake piece 276 to rest. Brake piece 274
Is held relatively stably at an angular position (approximately 80 degrees in an opening angle from the closed position of the central main portion 14) pressed by the second arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 282 after passing through the intermediate stepped portion 284 of .

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, the document conveying means 74 constituted by a conveyor belt mechanism is mounted on the supporting base 216 of the main frame 70 in the central main portion 14. ing. Such document transport means 74
Includes front support means 292 and rear support means 294. The front side support means 292 has a driven side support member 296 and a driven side support member 298, and similarly the rear side support means 2
94 is also the driven side supporting member 300 and the driven side supporting means 30.
2 Driven side supporting member 2 of front side supporting means 292
Reference numeral 96 denotes a slender plate member extending in the carrying direction (vertical direction in FIG. 12).
Screw holes 304 are formed at the front ends of the upper end portions of the side walls of each of the pair of support plate members 222 in FIG. 16. Correspondingly, the driven side support member 296 has four mounting holes 306.
Are formed. Screw hole 304 through mounting hole 306
The driven support member 296 is fixed to the front end of the support plate 222 by screwing the setscrew 308 on.
The driven-side support member 298 of the front-side support means 292 is also composed of a plate-shaped member extending in the transport direction. The driven-side support member 298 is mounted on the driven support member 296 so as to be freely movable in the transport direction over a required range. Referring to FIGS. 13-A and 13-B together with FIGS. 10 and 11, the driven-side end portion of the driven-side support member 296 (see FIG.
A guide pin 310 and a lock pin 312, which are projected forward, are planted in the lower left end portion in FIG. On the other hand, the driven side support member 298 has a guide slot 3
14 and a lock slot 316 are formed. The guide slot 314 extends in the transport direction. The lock slot 316 has a relative movement permitting portion 318 extending in the transport direction and a lock portion 320 extending substantially perpendicular to the transport direction. Insert the guide pin 310 into the guide slot 314,
By inserting the lock pin 312 into the lock slot 316, the driven side support member 298 is mounted. The driven-side support member 298 has a locking piece 319 protruding forward from the upper edge thereof,
A gripping piece 321 extending forward from the lower edge is also formed. As clearly shown in FIGS. 13-A and 13-B, between the guide pin 310 of the driven-side support member 296 and the locking piece 319 of the driven-side support member 298, an elastic member formed of a tension spring is provided. A biasing means 322 is provided. As shown in FIG. 13-A, when the lock pin 312 is positioned in the relative movement allowance portion 318 of the lock slot 316, the guide pin 310 moves in the guide slot 314 in the transport direction and the lock pin 312 locks. By moving in the relative movement allowance portion 318 of the slot 316 in the carrying direction, the driven side supporting member 298 is allowed to move in the carrying direction with respect to the driven side supporting member 296. The elastic biasing means 322 is the driven side support member 29.
13 to the left side in FIG. 13A, and thus in the direction of extending the entire length of the front side supporting means 292 in the transport direction defined by the driven side supporting member 296 and the driven side supporting member 298,
Elastically biased. As will be described in more detail later, a driven roller 76 and a driven roller 78 are mounted between the front side supporting means 292 and the rear side supporting means 294 at intervals in the transport direction, and the driven roller 76 and the driven roller 76 are driven. Laura 78
The endless belt 88 is wound around the endless belt 8 by the elastic biasing action of the elastic biasing means 322.
8 is maintained in a tensioned state (in such a state, the driven-side support member 296 and the driven-side support member 298 are in the state in which the total length is not the most extended state but is slightly shorter than that). The gripping piece 321 formed on the driven side supporting member 298 is gripped or a finger is put on the gripping piece 321 to resist the elastic biasing action of the elastic biasing means 322 to move the driven side supporting member 298 to FIG. 13B, on the right side, accordingly, the driven side support member 296 and the driven side support member 2
The front side support means 292 is moved by a predetermined length in a direction to reduce the total length of the front side support means 292, and then the right end portion of the driven side support member 298 is moved slightly downward in FIGS. 13-A and 13-B. The lock pin 312 is then positioned within the lock portion 320 of the lock slot 316, as shown in FIG. 13-B. Thus, the driven support member 298 is prevented from returning to the left in FIG. 13-B by the action of the elastic biasing means 322, and the driven support member 298 is locked in the full length shortened state shown in FIG. 13-B. (Because it is like this, the lock pin 312
And the lock slot 316 cooperate to form a locking means). 13A and 13 of the driven-side support member 296.
-B, move the right end part upward to move the lock pin 312 to the relative movement permitting part 3 of the lock slot 316.
When it is positioned inside 18, the locking action is released,
Therefore, the driven side support member 298 is returned to the state shown in FIG. 13-A by the action of the elastic biasing means 322. The driven support member 300 of the rear side support means 294 is also composed of a plate-shaped member extending in the transport direction, but the rear side support means 294.
The vertical height of the driven support member 300 is considerably larger than the vertical height of the driven support member 296 of the front support means 292. A pair of support plate members 2 in the support base 216
Screw holes (not shown) are also formed at the rear ends of the upper end portions of both side walls of each of the 22. Correspondingly, the driven support member 300 is also provided with four mounting holes 324. .
By supporting a set screw (not shown) in the screw hole through the mounting hole 324, the support plate member 222 is attached.
The driven support member 300 is fixed to the rear end. The driven-side support member 302 of the rear-side support means 294 is also composed of a plate-shaped member extending in the transport direction, and its vertical height is greater than the vertical height of the driven-side support member 298 of the front-side support means 292. large. The driven-side support member 302 is also mounted on the driven-side support member 300 so as to be freely movable in the transport direction over a required range. 1 together with FIG. 10 and FIG.
To explain with reference to 4-A and FIG. 14-B, a guide pin 325 that is projected rearward at the driven side end portion (lower left end portion in FIG. 11) of the driven side support member 300.
Also, the lock pin 326 is planted. Guide pin 32
An enlarged head portion is formed at the protruding end of 5. On the other hand, the driven side support member 302 is formed with a guide slot 328 and a lock slot 330. Information slot 328
Extends in the transport direction, and its driven side end is open.
The lock slot 330 has a relative movement permitting portion 332 extending in the transport direction and a lock portion 334 extending substantially perpendicular to the transport direction. Guide pin 325 to guide slot 3
28, and the lock pin 326 is inserted into the lock slot 33.
By inserting the driven side support member 300, the driven side support member 302 is inserted. The driven-side support member 300 is formed with a locking piece 336 projecting forward from its lower edge, and the driven-side support member 302 is formed with a locking piece 338 projecting forward from its lower edge. ing. Further, the driven-side support member 302 has a gripping piece 340 (FIGS. 11 and 1) extending rearward from a lower edge thereof.
2) is also formed. As clearly shown in FIGS. 14-A and 14-B, the locking piece 33 of the driven support member 300.
6 and the locking piece 338 of the driven side support member 302,
An elastic biasing means 342 composed of a tension spring is provided. As shown in FIG. 14-A, when the lock pin 326 is positioned in the relative movement allowance portion 332 of the lock slot 330, the guide pin 325 moves in the guide slot 326 in the transport direction and the lock pin 326 locks. The driven side support member 300 is moved by moving in the relative movement allowance portion 332 of the slot 330 in the transport direction.
On the other hand, the driven side support member 302 is allowed to move in the transport direction. The elastic biasing means 342 extends the driven-side support member 302 to the left in FIG. 14A, and thus extends the entire length in the transport direction of the rear-side support means 294 defined by the driven-side support member 300 and the driven-side support member 302. Directionally elastically biased. As in the case of the front side support means 292, the elastic biasing action of the elastic biasing means 342 maintains the endless belt 88 (FIGS. 2 and 3) in a tensioned state (in such a state, the driven side support member 300). And the driven-side support member 302 is in a state in which the entire length is not the most extended state, but is slightly shorter than that. The gripping piece 340 formed on the driven-side support member 302 is gripped or a finger is put on the gripping piece 340 to resist the elastic biasing action of the elastic biasing means 342 to move the driven-side support member 302 to the state shown in FIG. 14B, to the right, and accordingly, the driven side support member 300 and the driven side support member 3
02, the rear side support means 294 is moved by a predetermined length in the direction of shortening the total length of the rear side support means 294, and then the driven side support member 302 is moved slightly downward at the right end in FIGS. 14-A and 14-B. Once biased, the lock pin 326 is positioned within the lock portion 334 of the lock slot 330, as shown in FIG. 14-B. Thus, the driven side support member 302 is prevented from returning to the left side in FIG. 14-B by the action of the elastic biasing means 342, and the driven side support member 302 is locked in the shortened state shown in FIG. 14-B. (Because it is like this, the lock pin 326
And the lock slot 330 cooperate to form a locking means). 14A and 14 of the driven-side support member 302.
At -B, the right end is moved slightly upward so that the lock pin 326 moves relative to the lock slot 330.
When it is positioned inside 32, the locking action is released,
Therefore, the driven side support member 302 is returned to the state shown in FIG. 14-A by the action of the elastic biasing means 342.

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, one end portion (upper end portion in FIG. 12) of the driven side support member 296 of the front side support means 292 and the driven side support member of the rear side support means 294. A shaft member 348 is rotatably mounted between one end portion (upper end portion in FIG. 12) of 300 and bearing sleeves 344 and 346.
A driven roller 76 continuously extending in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 12) is fixed to the roller 8. Further, one end portion (lower end portion in FIG. 12) of the driven side support member 298 of the front side support means 292 and one end portion (lower end portion in FIG. 12) of the driven side support member 302 of the rear side support means 294.
A shaft member 354 is rotatably mounted on the shaft member 354 via bearing sleeves 350 and 352, and a plurality of driven rollers 78 are fixed to the shaft member 354 at appropriate intervals in the axial direction. There is. As clearly shown in FIG.
The driven roller 76 and the driven roller 78 have the endless belt 8
8 is wrapped around. In the illustrated embodiment configured according to the present invention, the vertical dimensions of the driven side support member 296 and the driven side support member 298 that form the front side support means 292 are the same as the driven roller 76 and the driven roller 78.
Is smaller than the diameter of the driven roller 7
6 and the endless belt 88 wound around the driven roller 78.
The upper traveling portion and the lower traveling portion of the driven portion are the driven side support member 2 respectively.
96 and the driven-side support member 298. In view of this fact, one end portion (upper end portion in FIG. 12) of the driven side supporting member 296 of the front side supporting means 292.
A belt restraint member 355 (FIGS. 11 and 12) is attached to the belt. The belt restraint member 355, which can be formed of an appropriate synthetic resin, has a driven side support member 296.
Has an inner shape corresponding to the outer contour of one end of the driven member, and is removably and elastically engaged with one end of the driven-side support member 296. A restraining flange 357 is formed inside the belt restraining member 355 so as to face one side edge of the endless belt 88 and prevent the endless belt 88 from moving forward. Further, on the outside of the belt restraint member 355,
A gripping piece 359 that can be gripped by hand when the belt restraining member 355 is attached to or detached from the driven side support member 296 is formed. 3 and 10
Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 12, the front support means 2
The above-mentioned pressing rollers 80, 82, 84 and 86 are also mounted between 92 and the rear support means 294. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a shaft mounting member 356 is fixed by set screws 358 to the upper surfaces of the front end portion and the rear end portion of each of the pair of support plate members 222 in the support base 216. The shaft mounting member 356 has a box-shaped portion whose inside in the width direction is opened. On the other hand, both ends of the shaft member 360 to which the pressing roller 80 is fixed at a distance in the axial direction and the shaft member 362 to which the pressing roller 82 is mounted at a distance in the axial direction are rotatable at the bearing member 364. Has been inserted into. Each of the bearing members 364 is housed in the box-shaped portion of the shaft mounting member 356 so as to be vertically movable. Bearing member 36
4 is formed with a locking projection 366 protruding upward, and a compression spring 368 forming an elastic biasing means is fitted on the locking projection 366. The compression spring 368 is interposed between the bearing member 364 and the upper wall of the box-shaped portion of the shaft mounting member 356, and elastically biases the shaft members 360 and 362 downward, and thus the pressing rollers 80 and 82 downward. . The pressing roller 80 is attached to the strip plate-like portions 238 of the pair of support plate members 222.
And 82 are formed corresponding to the openings 370 and 372, and the pressing rollers 80 and 82 are formed in the openings 370.
3 and 372 to project downward and act on the lower running portion of the endless belt 88 to press it against the transparent plate 8 of the electrostatic copying machine 2 as clearly shown in FIG. Between the pair of support plate members 222, a support piece 374 projecting rearward is formed on the driven side support member 296 of the front side support means 292, and correspondingly, the driven side of the rear side support means 294. The support member 302 has a support piece 376 protruding forward.
Are formed. A pair of shaft mounting members 378 are fixed to each of the support pieces 374 and 376 with a set screw 379 at intervals in the carrying direction.
The shaft mounting member 378 may have a form similar to that of the shaft mounting member 356 described above, and has a box-shaped portion whose inside in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 12) is open. On the other hand, both ends of the shaft member 380, to which the pressing roller 84 is fixed at a distance in the axial direction, and the shaft member 382 to which the pressing roller 86 is mounted at a distance in the axial direction, are freely rotatable by the bearing member 384. Has been inserted into. Each of the bearing members 384 is accommodated in the box-shaped portion of the shaft mounting member 378 so as to be vertically movable. Shaft member 380 and pressing roller 84 fixed thereto
Also, the shaft member 382 and the pressing roller 8 fixed to the shaft member 382.
6 is biased downward due to their own weight, and acts on the downward traveling portion of the endless belt 88 to cause it to move.
The transparent plate 8 is pressed. As will be clearly understood by referring to FIG. 3, the diameters of the pressing rollers 84 and 86 located at the central portion in the conveying direction of the conveying belt mechanism are larger than the diameters of the driven roller 76 and the driven roller 78 by a predetermined amount or more. In addition, it is made sufficiently larger than the vertical dimension of the support plate 222 disposed on both sides of the pressing rollers 84 and 86. In the illustrated embodiment, the uppermost portions of the pressing rollers 84 and 86, which are pressed against the transparent plate 8 via the endless belt 88, are substantially at the same height as or higher than the uppermost portions of the driven roller 76 and the driven roller 78. Located minutes above. When the endless belt 88 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 90 in FIG. 3, the driven roller 7
Since 6 is rotated in the direction in which the upper running portion of the endless belt 88 is wound, the upper running portion of the endless belt 88 is maintained in a tensioned state. However, when the endless belt 88 is driven in the direction shown by the arrow 92 in FIG.
The driven roller 76 is rotated in the direction in which the endless belt 88 is unwound, so that the upper running portion of the endless belt 88 is relaxed and the central portion thereof is loosened somewhat downward. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the diameters of the pressing rollers 84 and 86 located in the central portion in the conveying direction are larger than the diameters of the driven roller 76 and the driven roller 78 by a predetermined amount or more, and the pressing roller is as described above. Since the supporting plate members 222 disposed on both sides of 84 and 86 are made sufficiently larger than the vertical dimension, the endless belt 88 can be considerably slackened downward even if the center of the upper running portion in the conveying direction is considerably loosened. It is possible to reliably prevent the contact of the support plate member 222 and the like, which are in a stationary state, with 88, and thus effectively prevent the endless belt 88 from being worn. Referring to FIG. 12, a support bracket 386 is fixed to the rear surface of the driven side support member 300 of the rear side support means 294. The above-described main part drive source 89, which may be a reversible electric motor, is attached to the support bracket 386. A toothed pulley 388 is fixed to the output shaft of the main portion drive source 89.
A shaft member 390 is rotatably mounted between the driven-side support member 300 and the support bracket 386, and toothed pulleys 392 and 394 are fixed to the shaft member 390. The shaft member 3 to which the driven roller 76 is fixed
A rear end portion 48 penetrates the driven-side support member 300 and projects rearward, and a toothed pulley 396 is fixed to the rear end portion. Toothed pulley 388 and toothed pulley 392
The toothed endless belt 398 is wound around and the toothed endless belt 400 is wound around the toothed pulley 394 and the toothed pulley 396. Thus, the driven roller 76 of the conveyor belt mechanism is drivingly connected to the main portion drive source 89, and the conveyor belt mechanism is driven by the main portion drive means 89.

Regarding the document conveying means (conveying belt mechanism) as described above, the following facts should be noted.
As will be further referred to later, a cover member 218 is attached to the support base 216 and the conveyor belt mechanism attached thereto, and the conveyor belt mechanism is covered by the cover member 218. Thus, the endless belt 88 in the conveyor belt mechanism may be contaminated or damaged due to long-term use. In such a case, it is necessary to replace the endless belt 88 with a new endless verite 88. During this exchange, the following operations can be performed.
First, the cover member 218 is removed. Next, the belt restraining member 355 is removed from one end of the driven side supporting member 296 of the front side supporting means 292. Thereafter, the driven-side support member 298 of the front-side support means 292 is operated as described above, and the driven-side support member 296 and the driven-side support member 298 of the front-side support means 292 are shortened to the full length shown in FIG. 13-B. Lock it in a state where it will barely be applied. Simultaneously or subsequently, in the rear side support means 294, similarly, the driven side support member 302 is operated as described above to drive the driven side support member 30 in the rear side support means 294.
0 and the driven-side support member 302 are locked in such a state that the full length shortened state shown in FIG. As a result, the driven roller 76 and the driven roller 78 are brought closer to each other, so that the endless belt 88 is brought from the tensioned state to the relaxed state. After that, the endless belt 88 can be pulled out and detached easily enough. Driven-side support member 29 of front-side support means 292
6 and the driven-side support member 298 are sufficiently small in the vertical direction, and these do not prevent the endless belt 88 from being pulled out forward. Next, a new endless belt 8
8 is moved from the front to the rear and wound around the driven roller 76, the driven roller 78 and the pressing rollers 80, 82, 84 and 86 to be loaded. In this case, the driven roller 7
6 and the driven roller 78 are kept close to each other, so that the new endless belt 88 can be sufficiently easily formed.
Can be loaded as required. Thereafter, the rear side support means 294 unlocks the full length shortened state by the operation as described above, and the driven side support member 300 and the driven side support member 302 in the rear side support means 294 are operated by the elastic biasing means 342. State that is elastically biased in the direction of extension of the entire length (state shown in FIG. 14-A)
Fake. In addition, the front side support means 292 also unlocks the full length shortened state by the operation as described above, and the driven side support member 2 in the front side support means 292 is released.
96 and the driven side support member 298 are elastically biased in the extension direction by the action of the elastic biasing means 322 (the state shown in FIG. 13-A). As a result, the newly loaded endless belt 88 will not move to the elastic biasing means 3.
The elastic biasing action of 22 and 342 causes tension. After that, the belt restraining member 355 is reloaded into one end of the driven side supporting member 296 in the front side supporting means 292. Then, the cover member 218 is mounted as required. The above-described operation for replacing the endless belt 88 can be easily performed by one operator.

Referring to FIG. 15 together with FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, as already mentioned, the movable main part frame 70 of the central main part 14 includes the cover member 218 for covering the document conveying means (conveying belt mechanism) 74. I'm out. As described above, the pair of connecting members 22 in the support base 216 of the movable main body frame 70.
A projecting piece 229 is formed at the rear end of each one side wall 226 of 0, and a screw hole 231 is formed in the projecting piece 229. Corresponding to the screw hole 231,
A pair of slots or holes (not shown) are formed in the rear wall of the cover member 218. A set screw (not shown) is screwed into the screw hole 231 of the protruding piece 229 through such a slot or hole formed in the rear wall of the cover member 218, and thus the rear wall of the cover member 218 is attached to the support base 216. It is fixed to the connecting member 220. Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, on the driven side supporting member 296 of the front side supporting means 292 in the document conveying means 74, supporting projecting pieces 402 and 404 extending forward from the upper edge thereof are formed. There is. A hole 406 is formed in one end portion (upper right end in FIG. 10) of the support protrusion piece 402, and a hole 408 is formed in the support protrusion piece 404. On the other hand, the hole 40 is formed on the inner surface of the upper wall of the cover member 218.
A pair of connecting blocks (not shown) are fixed corresponding to 6 and 408, and screw holes are formed in each of the connecting blocks. The holes 406 and 4
08, a set screw (not shown) is screwed into the screw hole of the connection block, and thus the cover member 218.
The front part of the upper wall of the support base 2 is fixed to the driven-side support member 296, and thus the support base 2 is interposed via the driven-side support member 296.
It is fixed at 16.

Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 15 together with FIG. 1, the cover member 218 includes a high raised portion 410 located at the rear end portion thereof and a low box-shaped portion 412 extending forward from the raised portion 410. Have. The high ridges 410 are relatively high and the low box-shaped portions 412 are relatively low. The upper surface of the low box-shaped portion 412 that covers the document conveying means (conveying belt mechanism) 74 constitutes the document tray 94 described above. An upright wall 414 is formed on one edge (the upper right edge in FIG. 15) of the low box-shaped portion 412. As can be seen by referring to FIG. 1, the upstanding wall 414 extends upwardly to a position slightly below the first discharge opening 114 in the document output / reload section 16. The rear portion of the upper surface of the low box-shaped portion 412 and the other edge portion (see FIG.
0 at the lower left side edge) and the front part are recesses 416, 4
18 and 420 are formed (in other words, the upper surface of the low box-shaped portion 412 is raised in a region other than the recesses 416, 418, and 420, and the amount of protrusion is in the direction indicated by the arrow 422. Has been gradually increased). As described above, the document placed on the document table 20 of the document carry-in section 12 is positioned with its trailing edge abutting or adjoining the upright stationary document regulating wall 22 regardless of the widthwise dimension thereof. The first discharging opening 11 of the document unloading and reinjecting section 16 is conveyed while being maintained in the directional position through the central main portion 14 and the document unloading and reloading section 16.
It is discharged onto the original tray 94 in the direction indicated by the arrow 422 through 4. The trailing edge of the document tray 94, that is, the trailing edge of the low box-shaped portion 412 is substantially aligned with the regulating surface of the upright stationary document regulating wall 22 and thus serves as the reference position in the width direction of the document. As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 15, the document tray 9
The concave portion 416 formed in the rear portion of the document No. 4 has a triangular shape when viewed from above, and its width in the document feeding direction indicated by an arrow 422 is the width-direction reference position of the document (that is, the trailing edge of the document receiving tray 94). ) To approximately the center of the original tray 94 in the width direction. On the original tray 94, a ridge 42 extending in front of and adjacent to the front edge of the triangular recess 416 is formed.
4 is also formed. The ridge 424 also extends forward toward the downstream side in the document discharge direction indicated by the arrow 422, that is, from the widthwise reference position side of the document to the widthwise center side. A document stop piece 426 is attached to the ridge 424 so as to be movable along the ridge 424.
It constitutes 26 guiding means. The document stop piece 426 is the base 4
28 and an upright portion 430. A locking groove 431 that cooperates with the protrusion 424 is formed at the base of the document stop piece 426. By locking the locking groove 431 to the protrusion 424, the document stop piece 426 is attached to the protrusion 424. It is mounted so that it can move along. The locking groove is also slanted in the same direction as the protrusion 424, and thus the document stopping piece 42 is formed.
6 is moved along the ridge 424 while keeping the upright portion 430 always in a state perpendicular to the document discharge direction indicated by the arrow 422.

In the original tray 94 as described above,
The document stop piece 426 is manually positioned at a required position in accordance with the size of the document discharged from the first discharge opening 114 of the document discharge / reload section 16. More specifically, the document is stopped so that the distance between the upright portion 430 of the document stop piece 426 and the first discharge opening 114 substantially matches the dimension of the document discharged from the first discharge opening 114 in the transport direction. Piece 426
Is positioned. The original discharged from the first discharge opening 114 is collided at its front edge with the upright portion 430 of the original stop piece 426, whereby the movement is stopped and the original is collected on the original tray 94 as required. The size of a normal document corresponds to the dimension in the width direction. The size of the document in the direction of conveyance is relatively large, and the size of the document in the direction of conveyance is relatively large. Small However, in the original tray 94 configured according to the present invention, when the original stop piece 426 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 422 in accordance with the increase in the size of the original in the conveying direction, the original stop piece 426 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 422. And is separated from the first discharge opening 114,
It is moved forward in the width direction. On the contrary, the document stop piece 426 is moved in the direction of arrow 4 as the size of the document in the conveying direction decreases.
If you move it in the opposite direction to the direction indicated by 22,
The document stop piece 426 is moved closer to the first discharge opening 114 and is moved rearward in the width direction. As described above, a document discharged from the first discharge opening 114 with its trailing edge positioned at the widthwise reference position, that is, the trailing edge of the document tray 94 or in the vicinity thereof, is discharged regardless of its widthwise dimension. In the usual case, the center portion in the width direction of the leading edge is made to collide with the upright portion 430 of the document stop piece 426. Therefore, the document is stopped without being tilted and collected on the document receiving tray 94. Regardless of the dimension of the document in the conveyance direction and the dimension in the width direction, if the width direction position of the document stop piece is constant, when the document is large or small,
One side part of the document, not the center part of the leading edge, collides with the document stop piece, and the document tends to tilt due to the collision on one side part. The documents collected on the document receiving tray 94 can be easily grasped and taken out by inserting a hand into the recess 416 formed in the rear part thereof. Since the concave portion 416 also has a shape in which the width thereof gradually widens toward the front as the distance from the first discharge opening 114 increases, the size of the original document is reduced below the original document without fear that a small original document may fall into the concave portion 416. Correspondingly, a sufficient space for holding the original is formed.

Next, referring to FIG. 11, the movable main body frame 70 of the central main portion 14, more specifically, the original conveying means (conveying belt mechanism) to which the supporting base 216 is fixed.
A gripping member 434 and a permanent magnet 436 are mounted on the entire surface of the driven-side support member of the front-side support unit 292 in 74 via a leaf spring 432. A pair of screw holes 438 are formed at approximately the center of the driven-side support member 296 at appropriate intervals in the transport direction. Holes 44 are provided at both ends of a leaf spring 432 which is in the form of an elongated strip plate extending in the transport direction.
0 is formed. The set screw 442 passes through the hole 440 of the leaf spring 432 and the screw hole 438 of the driven-side support member 296.
Both ends of the leaf spring 432 are fixed to the driven-side support member 296. A connecting piece 444 is fixed to the central portion of the leaf spring 432. The connecting piece 444 has an L-shaped cross section, and has an upper wall portion 446 and a hanging portion 448 that hangs downward from the upper wall portion 446. A pair of screw holes 450 are formed in the hanging portion 448 at intervals in the carrying direction,
Corresponding to this, a pair of holes 452 are formed in the central portion of the leaf spring 432, and the screw holes 45 are passed through the holes 452.
By screwing the set screw 454 to 0, the connecting member 444 is fixed to the central portion of the leaf spring 432. The gripping member 434 and the permanent magnet 436 are fixed to the connecting member 444. The grip member 434 has an upper wall portion 456 and a hanging portion 458 that hangs downward from the center of the upper wall portion 456 in the width direction. The upper wall portion 456 extends forward beyond the hanging portion and then extends upward. Gripping member 4
The lower surface of the front half of the upper wall portion 456 of 34 defines a finger hanging surface on which an operator can put his / her finger. The permanent magnet 436 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a connecting plate 460 is fixed to the upper surface of the permanent magnet 436 by an appropriate method such as bonding. This connecting plate 460
Extend in the transport direction beyond the permanent magnet 436, and holes 462 are formed at both ends thereof. Corresponding to the holes 462, a pair of holes 464 is also formed in the rear half of the upper wall portion 456 of the gripping member 434, and the connecting member 444 is formed.
A pair of screw holes 466 are formed in the upper wall portion 446. The hole 462 of the connecting plate 460 and the hole 46 of the grip member 434.
4 through the screw hole 466 of the connecting member 444 to the set screw 4
68 is screwed onto the connecting member 444 (and thus
At the center of the leaf spring 432) the gripping member 434 and the permanent magnet 4
36 is fixed. As can be understood by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 together with FIG. 11, a rectangular opening 470 opening downward is formed in the central portion of the front wall of the cover member 218 in the central main portion 14, and Member 43
The front half of the upper wall portion 456 of No. 4 is exposed to the front through the opening 470. Further, the flat lower surface of attraction of the permanent magnet 436 is exposed downward. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, a plate-shaped magnetic member 472 having a flat upper surface to be attracted is fixed in front of the transparent plate 8 on the upper surface of the housing 6 of the electrostatic copying machine 2.

When the movable main part frame 70 of the central main part 14 is brought to the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the attraction lower surface of the permanent magnet 346 is located in contact with or close to the attracted upper surface of the magnetic member 472. The movable main body frame 70 is held in the closed position by the magnetic attraction force of the permanent magnet 346 to the magnetic member 472. In order to open the movable main body frame 70, a finger is hung on the finger-hanging surface of the grip member 434 (that is, the lower surface of the front half of the upper wall portion 456) and pushed upward. In this way, first, the elastic deformation of the leaf spring 432 causes the permanent magnet 43 to move.
6, the leaf spring 432 is elastically displaced forward in the lower central part thereof, and the permanent magnet 436 is tilted in the direction in which the front surface of the lower surface moves upward around the rear edge of the lower surface. Thus, the magnetic attraction force of the permanent magnet 436 with respect to the magnetic member 472 is considerably reduced. Then, when the finger hooking surface of the grip member 434 is further pushed up, the permanent magnet 436 is separated from the magnetic member 472, and the movable main body frame 70 starts to open from the closed position.
The detachment of the permanent magnet 436 from the magnetic member 472 is a first step in which the magnetic attraction force is reduced by tilting the permanent magnet 436, and a second step in which the permanent magnet 436 is separated from the magnetic member 472 following this first step. Therefore, even if the magnetic attraction force of the permanent magnet 436 is set to a considerably large value in order to hold the movable main body frame body 70 in the closed position with sufficient certainty, it is easy to perform with a relatively small force. Can be carried out. It should be noted that the mounting mechanism for tiltably mounting the permanent magnet 436 is simple and inexpensive using the leaf spring 432.

[0052]

In the automatic document feeder constructed according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation of exchanging the endless belt in the transport belt mechanism constituting the document transport means in the main portion is remarkably facilitated.

In the automatic document feeder constructed according to the second aspect of the present invention, the mounting manner in which the gripping member and the permanent magnet are tiltably mounted on the movable main body frame of the main body is extremely simple and inexpensive. It is accused.

In the automatic document feeder constructed according to the third aspect of the present invention, the movable main body frame body in the main portion is located at a position considerably rearward of the center of gravity of the main portion and the movable main body frame and the movable main body frame. Even though the pivot member of the hinge mechanism is not extended unnecessarily, the movable main frame and the document conveying means attached thereto are positioned relative to the transparent plate. It is not damaged by the weight of the main part.

In the automatic document feeder constructed according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the central portion in the width direction of the front edge of the discharged original is irrespective of the size in the conveying direction and the width of the original discharged onto the original tray. It is brought into contact with the document stop piece arranged in the document receiving tray, so that the rotational tilt of the discharged document can be reliably avoided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an automatic document feeder configured according to the present invention mounted on an electrostatic copying machine, with its central main portion in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1 in a state where a central main portion thereof is in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1 in a state where a central main part is in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a hinge mechanism in the automatic document feeder of FIG.

5 is an exploded perspective view showing a hinge mechanism in the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1 and a connecting member of a supporting base of a central main part attached to the hinge mechanism.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing a hinge mechanism in the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1 and a supporting main body of a central main part attached to the hinge mechanism.

7 is a side view showing a hinge mechanism in the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1 and a support base of a central main part mounted on the hinge mechanism.

8 is a side view showing the hinge mechanism in the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1, the supporting base body of the central main part attached to the hinge mechanism, and the supporting base body in the opened state.

9 is a rear view of the hinge mechanism in the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1 and a supporting base body of a central main part attached to the hinge mechanism, including a partial cross section thereof.

10 is a perspective view showing a supporting base body of a central main portion of the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1 and a document feeding means (conveying belt mechanism) attached to the supporting substrate.

11 is an exploded perspective view showing a supporting base body of a central main portion of the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1 and a document feeder (transport belt mechanism) attached to the support substrate.

12 is a plan view showing a supporting base body of a central main portion of the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1 and a document feeding means (conveying belt mechanism) attached thereto.

13 is a partial side view showing the front side supporting means of the document conveying means (conveying belt mechanism) in the automatic document conveying device of FIG. 1 in a full length extended (belt tension) state (A) and a full length shortened (belt slack) state (B). Fig.

14 is a portion of the rear side supporting means of the document conveying means (conveying belt mechanism) in the automatic document conveying device of FIG. 1 shown in a full length extension (belt tension) state (A) and a full length reduction (belt slack) state (B). Side view.

15 is a perspective view showing a cover member of a central main portion in the automatic document feeder of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: Electrostatic copying machine 4: Automatic document feeding device 6: Electrostatic copying machine housing 8: Transparent plate 12: Document loading part 14: Central main part 16: Document unloading / reloading part 18: Loading part frame 20: Document table 40: Document feeding path 42: Document feeding means 44: Document feeding means 69: Loading part driving source 70: Movable main part frame 72: Hinge mechanism 74: Document feeding means (conveying belt mechanism) 76: Driven roller 78 : Driven roller 80: Pressing roller 82: Pressing roller 84: Pressing roller 86: Pressing roller 88: Endless belt 89: Main part drive source 94: Original tray 100: Unloading part frame body 132: Original exiting path 134: Original reintroducing path 148: Document Unloading Unit 165: Unloading Unit Driving Source 168: Document Receiving Plate 180: Hinged Mechanism Static Member 182: Hinge Mechanism Rotating Member 216: Support Base 218: Cover Part Material 222: Support plate material 242: Lightening opening 264: Elastic biasing means 272: Brake mechanism 274: Static brake piece 276: Turning brake piece 292: Front side supporting means 294: Rear side supporting means 296: (Front side) Driven side supporting member 298: (front side) driven side support member 300: (rear side) driven side support member 302: (rear side) driven side support member 312: pin (locking means) 316: slot (locking means) 322: elastic biasing means 326 : Pin (locking means) 330: Slot (locking means) 342: Elastic biasing means 416: Recessed portion of document tray 424: Protrusion (guide means) 426: Document stopping piece 432: Leaf spring 434: Gripping member 436: Permanent magnet 472 : Magnetic material

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Kida 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. An automatic document feeder applied to an image processing machine, wherein a transparent plate on which an original to be processed is placed is disposed on an upper surface of a housing, and a closed position for covering the transparent plate and a transparent plate are provided. A movable main body frame movably mounted between an open position exposing the transparent plate and an original document conveyed along the transparent plate when the main body frame is positioned at the closed position. A main part including a document conveying means mounted on the main part frame, the document conveying means including a front side supporting means and a rear side supporting means arranged at intervals in the width direction, Conveyance including a driven roller and a driven roller, which are mounted between the front side supporting means and the rear side supporting means at intervals in the document conveying direction, and an endless belt wound around the driven roller and the driven roller. A belt mechanism, and the front side support of the conveyor belt mechanism. Each of the holding means and the rear side supporting means is a combination of a driven side supporting member and a driven side supporting member, which are combined so that they can be relatively moved in the carrying direction to change the total length, and the driven side supporting member. Elastic biasing means for elastically biasing the member and the driven side support member in the direction of extending the entire length, the driven side support member and the driven side support member against the elastic biasing action of the elastic biasing means. A lock means for releasably locking the full length in a shortened state in which the driven roller is mounted on the driven side supporting member, and the driven roller is The endless belt is attached to the driven-side support member, and the elastic biasing means elastically biases the driven-side support member and the driven-side support member in the direction of extending the entire length of the endless belt. , The driven side support When allowed to the member and the driven-side support member 該全 length shortened state endless belt is brought into a relaxed state, the automatic document feeder, characterized in that. 2. A slot having a relative movement permitting portion extending in the transport direction and a lock portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction is provided in one of the driven side support member and the driven side support member. A pin to be inserted into the slot is disposed on the other side of the driven side support member and the driven side support member, and the pin moves in the relative movement permitting portion of the slot. By doing so, relative movement of the driven-side support member and the driven-side support member in the transport direction is allowed, and when the pin is positioned at the lock portion of the slot, the driven-side support member and the driven side. 2. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the support member and the supporting member are shortened to lock the relative movement between them in the feeding direction. 3. The main frame is composed of a supporting base movably mounted and a cover member removably mounted on the supporting base, and the conveyor belt mechanism is mounted on the supporting base. , The cover member covers the transport belt mechanism when the cover member is mounted on the support base.
3. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein when the cover member is detached from the support base, the conveyor belt mechanism is exposed to allow the operation of attaching and detaching the endless belt in the conveyor belt mechanism. 4. The automatic document feeder according to claim 3, wherein the driven-side support member is mounted on the support base, and the driven-side support member is mounted on the driven-side support member. 5. A belt restraint member is detachably attached to the driven side support member of the front side support means for preventing the transport belt from moving forward. The endless belt is pulled out forward from the driven roller and the driven roller when the driven side support member and the driven side support member are made to be in the shortened state of the total length while being separated from the driven side support member. The automatic document feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, capable of performing the following. 6. An automatic document feeder applied to an image processing machine, wherein a transparent plate on which an original to be processed is placed is provided on an upper surface of a housing, and a closed position for covering the transparent plate and a transparent plate are provided. The main body includes a main body including a movable main body frame that is movably mounted between an open position that exposes the transparent plate, and the main body frame has a gripping member and a permanent magnet. A magnetic member is disposed on the upper surface of the housing, and when the main part frame is brought to the closed position, the permanent magnet is magnetically attracted to the magnetic member to close the main part frame. The holding member and the permanent magnet are attached to the main part frame through a leaf spring, and the main part frame is in the closed position. At this time, when a finger is applied to the gripping member and a force is applied, the elastic deformation of the leaf spring causes the permanent magnet to tilt. Therefore, the magnetic attraction force of the permanent magnet with respect to the magnetic member is reduced, and the automatic document feeder. 7. The magnetic member has a flat attracted upper surface,
7. The automatic document according to claim 6, wherein the permanent magnet has a flat attraction lower surface that is attracted to the attraction upper surface, and the attraction lower surface is inclined with respect to the attraction upper surface when the permanent magnet is tilted. Transport device. 8. The leaf spring is in the shape of an elongated strip plate, both ends of the leaf spring are fixed to the main frame, and the gripping member and the permanent magnet are fixed to the central portion of the leaf spring. The automatic document feeder according to claim 6 or 7. 9. The gripping member is disposed on the front surface of the main part frame, and the gripping member is formed with a finger hanging surface facing downward, and a finger is hung on the finger hanging surface to move upward. 9. The automatic document feeder according to claim 6, wherein, when pushed up, the permanent magnet is tilted in a direction in which its front end edge moves upward. 10. An automatic document feeder applied to an image processing machine, wherein a transparent plate on which a document to be processed is placed is provided on an upper surface of a housing, and a closed position for covering the transparent plate and a transparent plate are provided. A movable main body frame mounted so as to be pivotally movable between an open position exposing the transparent plate and an original document conveyed along the transparent plate when the main body frame is positioned at the closed position. A main part including a document conveying unit mounted on the main part frame, the main part frame being mounted on the upper surface of the housing via a hinge mechanism, and the hinge mechanism being a stationary member. The main part frame is pivotally connected to the swivel member of the hinge mechanism at a portion rearward of the center of gravity of the main part. An elastic biasing means is interposed between the turning member of the mechanism and the main body frame. And the elastic biasing means is
An equilibrium rotation moment that approximately balances a rotation moment caused by the weight of the main portion that causes the main body frame to pivot with respect to the pivot member when the main body frame is located in the closed position. Is added to the frame of the main part. 11. The automatic document feeder according to claim 10, wherein the magnitude of the equilibrium rotation moment applied to the main frame by the elastic biasing means is adjustable. 12. The two hinge mechanisms are arranged at intervals in the document conveying direction, and the main body frame body is provided with two hinge mechanisms respectively rotatably connected to each of the two hinge mechanisms. The automatic document feeder according to claim 10, further comprising a connecting member. 13. A brake mechanism comprising a stationary brake piece and a swing brake piece arranged on the main body frame, and when the main body frame is moved open from the closed position, the main body of the main body is moved. The equilibrium rotation moment resulting from the biasing action of the elastic biasing means becomes larger than the rotation moment resulting from the weight, and as a result, the main part frame is balanced against the turning member of the hinge mechanism. 13. The automatic document feeder according to claim 10, wherein the turning brake piece is slightly swung in the direction of the rotation moment so that the turning brake piece is pressed against the stationary brake piece and thus the main frame is braked. apparatus. 14. The automatic document feeder according to claim 13, wherein the stationary brake piece is disposed on the stationary member of the hinge mechanism. 15. The revolving brake piece has an arcuate outer peripheral surface, the stationary brake piece has an arcuate inner peripheral surface, and the main part frame has the balanced rotational moment with respect to the revolving member of the hinge mechanism. 15. The automatic document feeder according to claim 13, wherein the arcuate outer peripheral surface is pressed against the arcuate inner peripheral surface when slightly swung in the direction. 16. The stationary brake piece is displaced in a predetermined direction with respect to the first arcuate inner peripheral surface, and the second arcuate inner wall 1 is connected to the first arcuate inner peripheral surface via a step portion. And a main surface of the stationary brake member, the arcuate outer peripheral surface of the swing brake piece is moved from the first arcuate inner peripheral surface of the stationary brake member to the step. Moving to the second arc-shaped inner peripheral surface, the main part frame is further swung slightly in the balanced rotational moment direction with respect to the swivel member of the hinge mechanism, and the arc-shaped outer circumferential surface is moved to the second arc-shaped outer circumferential surface. The automatic document feeder according to claim 15, wherein the automatic document feeder is pressed against the arc-shaped inner peripheral surface of 2. 17. An automatic document feeder applied to an image processing machine, wherein a transparent plate on which an original to be processed is placed is arranged on an upper surface of a housing, and an original table and a transparent plate from the original table are provided. A document carrying path extending toward the plate, a document sending means for sequentially sending a plurality of documents placed on the document table one by one to the document carrying path, and a document along the transparent plate An original document conveying means for conveying the document, an original document tray, an original document discharge path extending from the transparent plate toward the original document tray, and an original document discharge means for discharging the original document to the original document tray through the original document discharge path. The document is loaded, transported, and unloaded with one side edge positioned at a predetermined reference position in the width direction regardless of the width dimension of the document, and the document tray is placed at the front edge of the document transported to the document tray. A manuscript stop that can be touched Includes a single, the document stop piece is movable in a predetermined inclination direction inclined toward the document delivery direction downstream from said width direction by a predetermined reference position side in the width direction central side, an automatic document feeder, characterized in that. 18. The document receiving tray is provided with a recessed portion whose width is gradually increased from the predetermined reference position in the width direction or the vicinity thereof to substantially the center in the width direction toward the downstream side in the document discharge direction. The described automatic document feeder. 19. A guide means is formed so as to be adjacent to the concave portion and extend forward of the concave portion in the predetermined inclination direction, and the document stop piece is movably mounted along the guide means.
The automatic document feeder according to claim 18. 20. The automatic document feeder according to claim 19, wherein the guide means is a ridge extending in the predetermined inclination direction. 21. A document is loaded, transported, and unloaded with its rear edge positioned at a predetermined reference position in the width direction.
The automatic document feeder according to any one of claims 17 to 20. 22. A movable main body frame body is movably mounted between a closed position for covering the transparent plate and an open position for exposing the transparent plate, the main body frame body supporting body and the supporting base body. A cover member mounted on a supporting base, the original conveying means is mounted on the supporting base, the cover member covers the original conveying means, and the original tray is disposed on the upper surface of the cover member. The automatic document feeder according to any one of claims 17 to 21.