Patent Publication Number: US-11390481-B2

Title: Document conveyance apparatus

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent application No. 2019-183203 filed on Oct. 3, 2019, which are incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a document conveyance apparatus which reads an image of a document while conveying the document. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With a computerization of a document depending on a trend for paperless system in recent years, a quality and a function of a document reading device (DP) of a multifunctional peripheral (MFP) are being developed. In particular, it is required for the document reading device to cope with mediums having various weights and sizes. The document reading device is often configured to read an image of the document while conveying the document along a conveyance path curved in a U-shape. Then, a small size document such as a business card and a card, or a hard document having a large weight may not be conveyed along the curved conveyance path smoothly. 
     Then, an automatic document conveyance apparatus capable of reading an image of a medium having a business card size is sometimes configured to have a document escape part (an opening) formed on the upstream side of a curved conveyance path, through which a hard document having a predetermined width is passed. 
     However, in the above automatic document conveyance apparatus, because a conveyance path for the document is not linearly but inclined partially, it is difficult for a hard document having a large weight or a small size document to be conveyed smoothly. Furthermore, because the opening is set for a small size document, a size of the document to be read is limited. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a document conveyance apparatus includes a first conveyance path, a first image reading part, a curved second conveyance path, a third conveyance path, a branch guide, a first discharge port, a document stacking section, a second discharge port and a tray support part. The first conveyance path extends linearly, and along which a document placed on a sheet feeding tray is conveyed. The first image reading part reads an image on one face of the document conveyed along the first conveyance path. The curved second conveyance path is branched from the first conveyance path at a branch point on a downstream side of the first reading part in a conveyance direction of the document. The third conveyance path is branched from the first conveyance path at the branch point and extends linearly in a same extending direction as an extending direction of the first conveyance path. The branch guide is provided at the branch point and guides the document to the second conveyance path or to the third conveyance path. Through the first discharge port, the document conveyed along the second conveyance path is discharged. The document stacking section is provided with a discharge tray on which the document discharged through the first discharge port is stacked and a whole or a part of which is detachable. Through the second discharge port, the document conveyed along the third conveyance path is discharged. To the tray support part, the detached whole or part of discharge tray is supported such that the document discharged through the second discharge port is stacked. When the document conveyed along the third conveyance path is discharged through the second discharge port, the whole or part of the discharge tray is detached from the document stacking section and then supported by the tray support part. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is shown by way of illustrative example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a document conveyance device of a document conveyance apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view schematically showing the document conveyance apparatus (at a conveyance of a normal document) according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view schematically showing the document conveyance apparatus (at a conveyance of a special document) according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view schematically showing the document conveyance apparatus (at a conveyance of a special document) according to a modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view schematically showing the document conveyance apparatus (at a conveyance of a special document) according to another modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a document conveyance apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the document conveyance apparatus  1  will be described.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a document conveyance device  3  of the document conveyance apparatus  1 , and  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are sectional views showing the document conveyance apparatus  1 . Fr, Rr, L and R marked in each figure show a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side of the document conveyance apparatus  1 , respectively. 
     The document conveyance apparatus  1  is placed on an upper face of an image forming apparatus (not shown), for example. The document conveyance apparatus  1  is configured to convey a document automatically and read images on both faces (the front face and the back face) of the document or an image on one face of the document. The image forming apparatus forms an image corresponding to the image read by the document conveyance apparatus  1  on both faces of a sheet or on one face of a sheet. Alternatively, the document conveyance apparatus  1  is electrically connected to an external computer, and used as a document reading device (a document input device, a scanner). 
     The document conveyance apparatus  1  includes a document conveyance device  3  and an image reading device  5  (refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ). The document conveyance device  3  is supported to the rear end portion of the image reading device  5  in a turnable manner. The detail description of the image reading device  5  is omitted. 
     The document conveyance device  3  includes a conveyance section  11  which reads an image of the document while conveying the document, a sheet feeding tray  13  on which the document of which the image is read is placed, and a document stacking section  15  on which the document is stacked after the image is read in the conveyance section  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the conveyance section  11  includes an inner guide part  17  and an outer cover  19 , and is formed into an approximately parallelepiped shape forming an almost left half portion of the document conveyance device  3  as a whole (refer to  FIG. 1  also). The outer cover  19  covers the upper face and the left side face of the inner guide part  17 . The outer cover  19  is supported to the left lower corner of the inner guide part  17  in a turnable manner. 
     On the right side face of the conveyance section  11 , a sheet feeding port  21  and a first discharge port  23  are formed. The sheet feeding port  21  is formed between the inner guide part  17  and the outer cover  19 . The first discharge port  23  is formed on the right side face of the inner guide part  17  below the sheet feeding port  21 . On the left side face of the conveyance section  11 , that is, on the left side face of the outer cover  19 , a second discharge port  25  and a tray support part  27  are formed. The second discharge port  25  is disposed at almost the same height as the sheet feeding port  21 . The tray support part is disposed below the second discharge port  25 , and formed into a recess inclined downward toward an inside of the conveyance section  11 . 
     In the conveyance section  11 , a conveyance path for the document is formed. The conveyance path contains a first conveyance path  31 , a second conveyance path  32 , a third conveyance path  33  and a fourth conveyance path  34 . 
     The first conveyance path  31  extends from the sheet feeding port  21  leftward linearly between the inner face of the outer cover  19  and the outer face (the upper face) of the inner guide part  17 . 
     On the first conveyance path  31 , a pickup roller  41 , a separation roller unit  43 , a first upstream side conveyance rollers pair  45 , a first image reading unit  47  (a first image reading part), a correction roller  48  and a first downstream side conveyance rollers pair  49  are provided in order from an upstream side of a conveyance direction of the document. The separation roller unit  43  includes a supply belt wound around two pullies and a separation roller coming into contact with the supply belt. Each of the first upstream side conveyance rollers pair  45  and the first downstream side conveyance rollers pair  49  includes a drive roller and a driven roller driven by the drive roller to be rotated. The first image reading unit  47  is an image sensor which reads the image of the document. The correction roller  48  is a drive roller provided with a reflection plate for a shading compensation of the image sensor. 
     The pickup roller  41 , the separation roller unit  43 , the drive roller of the first upstream side conveyance rollers pair  45 , the first image reading unit  47  and the drive roller of the first downstream side conveyance rollers pair  49  are supported on the outer face of the inner guide part  17 . The driven roller of the first upstream side conveyance rollers pair  45 , the correction roller  48  and the driven roller of the first downstream side conveyance rollers pair  49  are supported on the inner face of the outer cover  19 . 
     A length L 1  between the first upstream side conveyance rollers pair  45  and the first downstream side conveyance rollers pair  49  along the conveyance direction is shorter than a length of a minimum size document (for example, an IC card) capable of being conveyed by the document conveyance apparatus  1 . 
     The second conveyance path  32  is branched from the downstream end of the first conveyance path  31 , and extends so as to curve downward in an arc shape between the inner face of the outer cover  19  and the outer face (the left side face) of the inner guide part  17 . 
     On the second conveyance path  32 , a second upstream side conveyance rollers pair  51 , a second downstream side conveyance rollers pair  53 , a second image reading unit  55  (a second image reading part), a correction part  56  are provided in order from an upstream side in the conveyance direction. Each of the second upstream side conveyance rollers pair  51  and the second downstream side conveyance rollers pair  53  includes a drive roller and a driven roller driven by the drive roller to be rotated. The second image reading unit  55  is an image sensor which reads the image of the document. The correction part  56  is a reflection plate for a shading compensation of the image sensor. 
     The drive roller of the second upstream side conveyance rollers pair  51 , the drive roller of the second downstream side conveyance rollers pair  53  and the correction part  56  are supported on the outer face of the inner guide part  17 . The driven roller of the second upstream side conveyance rollers pair  51  and the driven roller of the second downstream side conveyance rollers pair  53  are supported on the inner face of the outer cover  19 . The second image reading unit  55  is supported by the image reading device  5 . 
     The third conveyance path  33  is branched from the downstream end of the first conveyance path  31 , and extends leftward to the second discharge port  25  through the inner guide part  17 . The third conveyance path  33  is formed into a linear path along the same left direction as the extending direction of the first conveyance path  31 . That is, the first conveyance path  31  and the third conveyance path  33  form a linear conveyance path. Here, the linear shape contains a shape which does not make the conveyed document inverted and bent, and shows a shape capable of conveying a plastic card without resistance (without being curved and bent). 
     On the third conveyance path  33 , a discharge rollers pair  63  is provided. The discharge rollers pair  63  includes a drive roller and a driven roller driven by the drive roller to be rotated. The driven roller of the discharge rollers pair  63  is supported on the upper face of the third conveyance path  33  and the driven roller of the discharge rollers pair  63  is supported on the lower face of the third conveyance path  33 . 
     A length between the first downstream side conveyance rollers pair  49  and the discharge rollers pair  63  along the conveyance direction is shorter than a length of a minimum size document (for example, an IC card) capable of being conveyed by the document conveyance apparatus  1 . 
     The fourth conveyance path  34  is formed from the downstream end of the second conveyance path  32  to the first discharge port  23  along an oblique right upper direction through the inner guide part  17 . 
     On the fourth conveyance path  34 , a fourth conveyance rollers pair  71  and a discharge rollers pair  73  are provided in order from an upstream side in the conveyance direction. Each of the fourth conveyance rollers pair  71  and the discharge rollers pair  73  includes a drive roller and a driven roller driven by the drive roller to be rotated. 
     As described above, the outer cover  19  is supported to the left lower corner of the inner guide part  17  in a turnable manner, when the outer cover  19  is turned downward to cover the outer face (the upper face and the left side face) of the inner guide part  17 , the first conveyance path  31  and the second conveyance path  32  are formed between the outer face of the inner guide part  17  and the inner face of the outer cover  19 . On the other hand, when the outer cover  19  is turned upward to expose the outer face of the inner guide part  17 , the first conveyance path  31  and the second conveyance path  32  are exposed for treatment of a sheet jamming. 
     In the inner guide part  17 , at a branch point between the second conveyance path  32  and the third conveyance path  33 , a branch guide  81  is provided. The branch guide  81  guides the document conveyed along the first conveyance path  31  to the second conveyance path  32  or the third conveyance path  33 . The branch guide  81  includes a turnable guide plate and a solenoid which turns the guide plate. 
     The guide plate is a plate member longer in a width direction of the document and shorter in the conveyance direction. A tapered claw-shaped portion is formed in one end portion of the guide plate in the conveyance direction of the document, and a turning shaft along the width direction is provided in the other end portion of the guide plate. The guide plate is disposed with the claw-shaped portion on an upstream side and the turning shaft on a downstream side in the conveyance direction of the document, and turnable around the turning shaft upward and downward. The solenoid is disposed outside the document passing region in the width direction with a rod protruding upward. The tip end of the rod is coupled with the lower face of the guide plate. When the solenoid is not supplied with an electric power, the rod protrudes to turn the guide plate into an upward inclined posture and to guide the document from the first conveyance path  31  to the second conveyance path  32 . When the solenoid is supplied with an electric power, the rod is retracted to turn the guide plate into almost a horizontal posture and to guide the document from the first conveyance path  31  to the third conveyance path  33 . The solenoid is electrically connected to a controller  40 . The solenoid is driven by the controller  40  to protrude or retract the rod. 
     The sheet feeding tray  13  is supported by the conveyance section  11  in a downward inclined posture toward the sheet feeding port  21 . 
     The document stacking section  15  includes a base part  91 , a discharge tray  93  attachable and detachable to and from the base part  91 , and a document fall prevention member  95  supported by the discharge tray  93 . 
     The base part  91  is provided integrally with the conveyance section  11  below the sheet feeding tray  13 , and formed into a rectangular shape forming an approximately right half of the document conveyance device  3 . The upper face of the base part  91  contains a horizontal face  91   a  extending from below the first discharge port  23  along a discharge direction of the document discharged through the first discharge port  23  (rightward) and an inclined face  91   b  inclined upward to a downstream side of the discharge direction. Additionally, on the right side face of the conveyance section  11 , a recess  97  continuous to the horizontal face  91   a  of the base part  91  is formed below the first discharge port  23 . 
     The discharge tray  93  is an approximately rectangular shallow hollow member having a document stacking face on which the document discharged through the first discharge port  23  is stacked. The upper face of the discharge tray  93  contains an inclined face  93   a  inclined upward to a downstream side in the discharge direction and an approximately horizontally horizontal face  93   b.  The lower face of the discharge tray  93  contains an approximately horizontally horizontal face  93   c  and an inclined face  93   d  inclined upward to a downstream side along the inclined face  91   b  of the base part. 
     On the upstream side end face of the discharge tray  93 , an insertion protrusion  101  is formed, which is configured to be inserted into the recess  97  formed on the right side face of the conveyance section  11  or into the tray support part  27  (the recess) formed on the left side face of the conveyance section  11 . The discharge tray  93  has a storage space  103  in which the document fall prevention member  95  is stored. The storage space  103  is disposed in a center portion in the width direction, formed to be inclined in an oblique upper direction to a downstream side in the discharge direction, and opened to the downstream side end face of the discharge tray  93 . On both the side walls of the storage space  103 , slits  105  extending in an oblique upper direction to a downstream side in the discharge direction are formed. 
     The document fall prevention member  95  includes a main body  111  having a size smaller than the discharge tray  93  and a tip end member  113  supported by the main body  111  in a turnable manner. The main body  111  is a rectangular plate-like member. On the downstream end portion of the upper face of the main body  111 , a rectangular recess  111   a  is formed at the center portion in the width direction. On each of the side faces of the main body  111 , a pin  111   b  is erected. Each pin  111   b  is engaged with each slit  105  of the storage space  103  of the discharge tray  93 . Thus, the main body  111  is displaced between a protruding position (refer to  FIG. 2 ) where it is protruded through the opening of the storage space  103  to a downstream side in the discharge direction and a storage position where it is stored in the storage space  103 . In the protruding position, the main body  111  is inclined in an oblique upper direction to a downstream side in the discharge direction with respect to the horizontal face  93   b  of the discharge tray  93 . On the upstream side end face of the main body  111 , an insertion protrusion  115  is formed, which is configured to be inserted into the tray support part  27  formed on the left side face of the conveyance section  11 . 
     The tip end member  113  is a rectangular member having a size smaller than the main body  111 . The tip end member  113  is supported in the recess  111   a  formed on the upper face of the main body  111  in a turnable manner between a storage position where it is stored in the recess  111   a  and a protruding position where it is protruded from the downstream side end face of the main body  111  to a downstream side in the discharge direction. In the protruding position, the tip end member  113  is inclined in an oblique upper direction to a downstream side in the discharge direction with respect to the upper face of the main body  111 . 
     In a case where a document to be conveyed has a large size or a case where a document to be discharged through the first discharge port  23  tends to jump out of the discharge tray  93 , the main body  111  of the document fall prevention member  95  is displaced to the protruding potion and further the tip end member  113  is turned to the protruding position. Then, a document having a large size or a document jumped out of the discharge tray  93  is supported by the document fall prevention member  95  to prevent the documents from being fallen and jumping out. On the other hand, in a case of a document having a normal size or a document having a tendency that jumping out hardly occurs, the tip end member  113  is turned to the storage position and then the main body  111  is displaced to the storage position. 
     The document conveyance apparatus  1  is provided with an operation panel (not shown). The operation panel includes a start button for starting the document conveyance operation and the image reading operation and a document selection button for selecting whether the document is a normal document (a plain paper or the others) or a special document (a small size document such as a business card and an IC card, or a document having a large weight). When the normal document is selected from the document selection button, the reading of the both faces of the document is possible, and when a special document is selected from the document selection button, the reading of one face (the back face) of the document is possible. 
     The operation panel is electrically connected to the controller  40 . When the start button is operated, the controller  40  starts the document conveyance operation and the image reading operation. When a special document is selected from the document selection button, the controller  40  supplies an electric power to the solenoid of the branch guide  81 . 
     An example of the document conveyance operation and the image reading operation of the document conveyance apparatus  1  having the above configuration will be described. At the starting of the document conveyance operation and the image reading operation, a user operates the document selection button to select whether the document is a normal document or a special document. When the user selects a normal document, the solenoid of the branch guide  81  is not supplied with an electric power, and the guide plate of the branch guide  81  is kept in the upward inclined posture as shown in  FIG. 2 . Then, the branch guide  81  is set to guide the document from the first conveyance path  31  to the second conveyance path  32 . In the document stacking section  15 , the discharge tray  93  is supported by the base part  91 , and the insertion protrusion  101  is inserted into the recess  97  of the conveyance section  11 . The main body  111  and the tip end member  113  of the document fall prevention member  95  are displaced and turned to their protruding positions as necessary. 
     Next, the user places the document on the sheet feeding tray  13 , and operates the start button of the operation panel to start the document conveyance operation and the image reading operation. The document is fed from the sheet feeding tray  13  by the pickup roller  41 , separated one by one by the separation roller unit  43  and then sent to the first conveyance path  31 . When the document is conveyed by the first upstream side conveyance rollers pair  45  along the first conveyance path  31  and reaches the first image reading unit  47 , an image on the back face of the document is read by the first image reading unit  47 . Thereafter, the document is conveyed along the first conveyance path  31  by the first downstream side conveyance rollers pair  49 , and then guided to the second conveyance path  32  by the branch guide  81 . 
     When the document is conveyed along the second conveyance path  32  and reaches the second image reading unit  55 , an image on the front face of the document is read by the second image reading unit  55 . Then, the document is conveyed along the fourth conveyance path  34 , and then discharged by the discharge rollers pair  73  through the first discharge port  23 . The discharged document is stacked on the discharge tray  93 . 
     On the other hand, when the user selects a special document, the controller  40  supplies an electric power to the solenoid of the branch guide  81  to turn the guide plate of the branch guide  81  to almost the horizontal posture, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Then, the branch guide  81  is set to guide the document from the first conveyance path  31  to the third conveyance path  33 . Furthermore, the user detaches the discharge tray  93  from the base part  91 , and then inserts the insertion protrusion  101  of the detached discharge tray  93  into the tray support part  27  below the second discharge port  25 . 
     The user places the document on the sheet feeding tray  13 , and operates the start button of the operation panel to start the document conveyance operation and the image reading operation. The document is fed from the sheet feeding tray  13  by the pickup roller  41 , separated one by one by the separation roller unit  43  and then sent to the first conveyance path  31 . When the document is conveyed by the first upstream side conveyance rollers pair  45  along the first conveyance path  31  and reaches the first image reading unit  47 , an image on the back face of the document is read by the first image reading unit  47 . Thereafter, the document is conveyed along the first conveyance path  31  by the first downstream side conveyance rollers pair  49 , and then guided to the third conveyance path  33  by the branch guide  81 . That is, the special document is conveyed linearly from the first conveyance path  31  to the third conveyance path  33 . 
     The document is conveyed along the third conveyance path  33 , and then discharged by the discharge rollers pair  63  through the second discharge port  25 . The discharged document is stacked on the discharge tray  93 . 
     As described above, according to the document conveyance apparatus  1  of the present disclosure, a special document can be conveyed to read an image thereof along the linear conveyance path formed by the first conveyance path  31  and the third conveyance path  33 . Additionally, the discharge tray  93  on which a normal document discharged through the first discharge port  23  is stacked is commonly used as a tray on which a special document discharged through the second discharge port  25  is stacked, so that it becomes possible to receive a special document after the image is read, surely without adding a new member. 
     In the above embodiment, the discharge tray  93  is provided with the document fall prevention member  95 , but may not be provided with the document fall prevention member  95 . 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 4 , a modified example of the document stacking section  15  of the document conveyance apparatus  1  will be described.  FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing the document conveyance apparatus  1 . 
     In the modified example, the discharge tray  93  is fixed to the base part  91  while the document fall prevention member  95  is attachable and detachable to and from the discharge tray  93 . In a case of a small size special document, such as an IC card, the user deforms the main body  111  of the document fall prevention member  95  elastically, pulls out each pin  111   b  from each slit  105 , and then detaches the document fall prevention member  95  from the discharge tray  93 . Then, the user inserts the insertion protrusion  115  of the detached document fall prevention member  95  into the center portion of the tray support part  27  in the width direction of the conveyance section  11 . Then, a special document discharged through the second discharge port  25  is stacked on the document fall prevention member  95 . 
     The document fall prevention member  95  is easily handled and can be supported within a narrow space because of its size smaller than the discharge tray  93 . In a case where a special document is limited to a small size document such as an IC card, the modified example is preferable. 
     The discharge tray  93  may be attachable and detachable to and from the base part  91 , and the document fall prevention member  95  may be attachable and detachable to and from the discharge tray  93 . In this case, in a case of a special document having a large size, the discharge tray  93  is detached from the base part  91  and then supported by the tray support part  27 . In a case of a special document having a small size, the document fall prevention member  95  is detached from the discharge tray  93  and then supported by the tray support part  27 . In the above manner, the discharge tray  93  or the document fall prevention member  95  can be selected depending on a size of a document to be conveyed. 
     In the above embodiments, the discharge tray  93  and the document fall prevention member  95  are supported by the tray support part  27  by inserting their insertion protrusions  101  and  115  into the tray support part  27 . However, a way to support the discharge tray  93  and the document fall prevention member  95  is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, they may be supported to the conveyance section  11  using a screw or a pin. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a third image reading unit (a third image reading part)  61  and a correction roller  62  may be provided in the third conveyance path  33 . The third image reading unit  61  is an image sensor which reads an image of a document, and the correction roller  62  is a drive roller provided with a reflection plate for a shading correction for the image sensor. The third image reading unit  61  and the correction roller  62  are disposed on an upstream side of the discharge rollers pair  63  in the conveyance direction of the document. In this case, it becomes possible to read an image on the other face (the front side) of the document conveyed along the third conveyance path  33 . The document in which the image on the other face is read is discharged through the second discharge port  25  and then stacked on the discharge tray  93  (or the document fall prevention member  95 ). 
     In the above embodiments, the third conveyance path  33  and the discharge rollers pair  63  are provided in the inner guide part  17 . However, all or some of them may be provided in the outer cover  19 . The branch guide  81  may be provided in the outer cover  19 . 
     In the above embodiments, the second conveyance path  32  is formed so as to be curved downward from the branch point, but may be formed so as to be curved upward from the branch point. 
     The present disclosure has been described with respect to specific embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiment can be modified by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and sprit of the present disclosure.