Electrophotography – Document handling – Original
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-30
2001-11-20
Grainger, Quana M. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Document handling
Original
C399S369000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321063
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to sheet conveyance devices, and in particular, to a sheet conveyance device in an automated document handler mounted on the upper part of an image reproducing apparatus. More specifically, in an image reproducing apparatus equipped with an openable document loading table, the invention concerns a drop-prevention mechanism for preventing documents or copy material sheets from dropping off the apparatus when the loading table is opened.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Conventional facsimile machines, photocopier machines and other image reproducing apparatuses have an automated document conveyance device (sheet conveyance device) on top of the main unit of the image reproducing apparatus.
FIG. 7
shows an example of this type of image reproducing apparatus. An automated document conveyance device (hereinafter automatic document feeder, or “ADF device”) is disposed on top of a main unit
600
in the apparatus of FIG.
7
. The ADF device has a document loading table
610
and a conveyance mechanism
620
disposed on the right side of the loading table
610
in the figure. The main unit
600
has a scanner
630
disposed below the loading table
610
; an optical unit
640
disposed below the scanner
630
; and an imaging unit
650
disposed below the optical unit
640
. The imaging unit
650
has a photosensitive drum
651
, and on the photosensitive drum
651
a toner image is formed from the image of the document exposed by laser light output from the optical unit
640
, and is transferred to a transfer sheet. The main unit
600
has a transfer sheet supply unit
660
having a sheet supply cassette
661
disposed below the imaging unit
650
; a fixing unit
670
disposed on the downstream end of the transfer sheet supply unit
660
; and a transfer-sheet discharge section
680
disposed on the downstream end of the fixing unit
670
.
The conveyance mechanism
620
of the ADF device conveys documents loaded onto the loading table
610
, one sheet at a time, toward the imaging unit
650
of the image reproducing apparatus main unit
600
using a sheet-feed roller or other sheet-feed means, and after the document image is read, returns the document onto the loading table
610
.
In recent years, with the spread of personal computers, offices have become increasingly networked, and in most offices there is a main printer. Demand has been increasing for equipment that will allow more efficient use of office space and for reduction of the costs associated with office equipment. This has resulted in multifunctional printers (image reproducing devices) that have multiple functions, including facsimile and photocopier capabilities.
The ADF devices mounted on such multifunctional image reproducing devices usually include a document loading table, as well as a discharge table for reloading of a document discharged from its image reading unit. This loading table and discharge table are normally mounted through a hinge mechanism along one edge, allowing them to open/shut in the upward direction against the image reproducing device. Thus when photocopying a thick document such as a book or other bound document, or in cases where a conveyed document causes a paper jam, operations can be performed with the ADF device in the open position.
As image reproducing apparatuses such as the above have become multifunctional, there has been demand for devices with good operability and which require still less space. Hence devices are offered wherein the discharge table for transfer sheets following image reproduction is disposed parallel to the loading table of the ADF device toward the front side of the main unit; and in order to lessen the effort needed to open and close the ADF device, that are built segregated into a section comprising the loading table and discharge table, and a section comprising a conveyance mechanism, with only the section comprising the loading table and discharge table being openable.
However, in a such conventional devices, when the ADF device is opened with a document loaded on the loading table or the discharge table, there is the problem of documents dropping from the loading table or the discharge table to the back of the image reproducing apparatus, that is, falling to the far side when seen from the operational direction.
To prevent documents thus from dropping, it is necessary to confirm in advance whether a document is loaded on the loading table or discharge table before opening the ADF device; if the document is loaded, it must first be removed before opening the ADF device. Consequently operability is poor. Furthermore, if several documents end up falling, trouble must be taken to arrange the documents after picking them up.
In order to resolve the aforementioned problems, technology such as that described in Japanese laid-open patent application 5-116804 has been proposed. Therein, when the movement of opening the upper part of the image reproducing apparatus main unit is detected, the document holding means, which is also the document feeding means, presses against the upper part of the document, preventing the document from falling.
However, in the aforementioned configuration a separate mechanism for pressing against and removal from the document is necessary—i.e., a document holding means—and a detection means for detection of the main unit opening is also necessary, thus increasing the number of parts, rendering the mechanism more complex, and increasing costs.
Furthermore, in an apparatus wherein the document loading table and discharge table are provided integrally as described above, the weight of the entire ADF device is increased, and so there is the problem that the burden on the operator is increased in opening and closing the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is reliably to keep original documents loaded on the open/closable loading table of a document conveyance device for an image reproducing apparatus from dropping off the conveyance device/image reproducing apparatus when the loading table is opened, meanwhile simplifying construction of such a document conveyance device over, and making it less expensive than, devices discussed in the foregoing.
Another object is wherein the loading table is closed in the document conveyance device to avoid interference with document conveyance, and to improve operating performance in opening and closing the loading table, and in preventing documents from dropping from the sheet conveyance device.
A further object of the invention is to configure an image reproducing apparatus with a sheet conveyance device meeting the above-noted objects.
The sheet conveyance device of this invention is disposed on the top part of an image reproducing apparatus main unit. Thus as a device for conveying sheets, it comprises a loading table, a conveyance mechanism, and a drop prevention mechanism. The loading table is hinge-fitted so that it can open away from the image reproducing apparatus main unit, and sheets are loaded thereon. The conveyance mechanism conveys the sheets loaded onto the loading table. The drop prevention mechanism is retracted so as not to impede the conveyance of sheets when the loading table is closed. When the loading table is opened, the drop prevention mechanism prevents sheets from falling from the loading table with the action of opening the loading table.
This device prevents the falling of sheets from on top of the loading table when the loading table is opened, so that there is no need for the user to remove sheets at the time of opening the loading table.
In this sheet conveyance device, it is preferable that the loading table be openable independently of the conveyance mechanism.
In this sheet conveyance device, it is preferable that the drop prevention mechanism have a rotary shaft, a drop-prevention mechanism, an urging member, and a regulating member. The rotary shaft is rotatably supported on the downstream conveyance direction end of the loading table. The drop-prevention mechanism is rotata
Shiba Hiroaki
Tanaka Yoshihisa
Grainger Quana M.
Kyocera Mita Corporation
Shinjyu Global IP Counselors, LLP
LandOfFree
Document conveyance device having drop-prevention mechanism,... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Document conveyance device having drop-prevention mechanism,..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Document conveyance device having drop-prevention mechanism,... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2602754