Abstract:
It is an object of the invention to provide an image processing apparatus capable of separating and supplying originals and recording materials by one set of separating/supplying mechanism, and capable of inexpensively and reliably detecting the original irrespective of presence or absence of the recording material. To achieve the above object, a typical structure of an image processing apparatus of the present invention comprises original mounting means  85  for mounting originals, recording material mounting means  82  for mounting recording materials, a supply roller  81  for supplying the original or the recording material from the original mounting means  85  or the recording material mounting means  82,  separating means  84  for separating the original or the recording material in cooperation with the supply roller  81,  reading means  28  for reading an image of the original, recording means  1  for recording the image on the recording material, and an original detection sensor  92  for detecting the original on the original mounting means  85 , wherein the original mounting means  85  and the recording material mounting means  82  are disposed between the supply roller  81  and the separating means  84,  references of the original mounting means  85  and the recording material mounting means  82  are one-sided references, a reference surface  85   a  of the original mounting means  85  and a reference surface of the recording material mounting means  82  are located on opposite sides with respect to the apparatus, and the original detection sensor  92  is disposed in a region where the recording material is not mounted.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus structure in an image processing apparatus such as a facsimile machine in which an original and a recording material have a common conveyance passage.  
         [0003]     2. Related Background Art  
         [0004]     Conventionally, there is proposed an image processing apparatus such as a facsimile machine in which an original and a recording material have a common conveyance passage for the sake of reducing in size and cost of the image processing apparatus.  
         [0005]      FIG. 8  shows one example of the structure. The image processing apparatus shown in  FIG. 8  includes an ASF UNIT  301  for separating and conveying a batch of recording materials mounted in a mount one-sheet by one-sheet, and ADF UNIT  302  for separating and conveying a batch of mounted originals one-sheet by one-sheet, an auxiliary conveyance roller  303  for conveying the recording material or original conveyed from the ASF UNIT  301  or the ADF UNIT  302 , a main conveyance roller  304  for conveying the recording material or the original at a predetermined speed, a discharge roller  305  for discharging the original or the recording material out from the apparatus, a scanner unit  306  for reading data of the original, and a recording unit  307  for forming an image on the recording material. In the above structure, a guide member forms the auxiliary conveyance roller  303 , the main conveyance roller  304 , the discharge roller  305  and a conveyance passage, and the guide member is commonly used for both originals and recording materials so that the apparatus is reduced in size and cost. A facsimile machine having such a structure is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,890.  
         [0006]     There is proposed a structure for supplying recording materials from a cassette and a manual feeder opening by controlling rotation and turning motion of one supply roller (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H03-243545). According to the structure described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H03-243545, the supply roller can be turned and moved between two recording material mounting means so that the recording material can be supplied from any of the mounting means.  
         [0007]     In the structure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,890, however, since the scanner unit  306  is disposed upstream from the main conveyance roller  304 , the auxiliary conveyance roller  303  is provided for making up unstable conveying speed of the ADF UNIT  302  and for conveying the original to the main conveyance roller  304 . Therefore, as compared with a structure in which the original and the recording material comprise different conveyance means and conveyance passages, only the discharge roller  305  is commonly used, and the apparatus can not sufficiently be reduced in cost and size.  
         [0008]     According to the structure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H03-243545, the mechanism for turning the supply roller and the control manner thereof are complicated, and each mounting means must have the separating means. Therefore, the apparatus can not be sufficiently reduced in cost and size.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus capable of separately supplying both the originals and recording materials by one set of separating/supplying mechanism, and capable of inexpensively and reliably detecting the originals irrespective of presence or absence of the recording materials.  
         [0010]     To achieve the above object, a typical structure of an image processing apparatus of the present invention comprises original mounting means for mounting originals, a recording material mounting means for mounting recording materials, a supply roller for supplying the originals or recording materials from the original mounting means or the recording material mounting means, separating means for separating the original or the recording material in cooperation with the supply roller, reading means reading an image of the original, recording means for recording the image on the recording material, and a original detection sensor for detecting the original on the original mounting means, the original mounting means and the recording material mounting means are disposed between the supply roller and the separating means, references of the original mounting means and the recording material mounting means in their widthwise directions are one-sided reference, a reference surface of the original mounting means and a reference surface of the recording material mounting means are set on opposite sides with respect to the apparatus, and the original detection sensor is disposed in a region where no recording material is mounted.  
         [0011]     According to the present invention, in the image processing apparatus having the reading means and recording means, the supply roller, the separating means and the conveyance passage for separating and supplying the originals and the recording materials can commonly be used. Therefore, the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost. Irrespective of the fact that these elements are commonly used and irrespective of whether there exists the recording material, it is possible to inexpensively and reliably detect the original. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1 a  sectional view showing a structure of an image processing apparatus of an embodiment;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an automatic feeder unit when originals and recording materials are not set;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front view showing the automatic feeder unit when the originals and the recording materials are not set;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  are sectional views showing a state in which only the originals are set;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  are schematic sectional views showing motions of a pressure plate and a supply roller of the automatic feeder unit;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  are front views used for explaining a state when the paper is supplied;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a schematic sectional view used for explaining a separating unit; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of a conventional image processing apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention  
       [0020]     An embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings. The scope of the invention is not limited to sizes, materials, shapes and relative positions of constituent elements described in the embodiment unless otherwise specified.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view showing a structure of an image processing apparatus of the embodiment of the invention. The image processing apparatus will be explained while taking the case of a facsimile machine. In the facsimile machine  100  shown in the drawings, recording materials P and originals S are set. The facsimile machine  100  includes an image recording unit  101  having a cartridge  1  as an example of recording means, an image reading apparatus  102  having an image reading unit  28  as an example of reading means, and an automatic feeder unit  103  which separates the plurality of recording materials P or originals S one-sheet by one-sheet from each other and conveys the same to the image recording unit  101  or the image reading apparatus  102 .  
         [0022]     The automatic feeder unit  103  is provided at its downstream portion with a PE sensor lever  21  (Page End sensor lever) for detecting the recording materials P (or originals S), a conveyance unit for conveying the sheets at predetermined speed in the image recording unit  101  and the image reading apparatus  102 , and a discharge unit for discharging the recorded and read sheets out from the apparatus. The conveyance unit comprises a conveyance roller  10  including a metal shaft and a rubber roller, and a plurality of pinch rollers  16  disposed in a widthwise direction of the sheet which are biased against the conveyance roller  10 . The discharge unit comprises a discharge roller  17  in which an elastomer is integrally molded around a plastic shaft, and a spur  18  biased against the discharge roller  17 . A platen  3  is provided as a paper-through surface from a paper-through surface of the ASP base  80  to the discharge roller  17 . The platen  3  is formed at its recording material support surface with a plurality of ribs  38  in the widthwise direction of the recording material. When the recording materials are conveyed, the recording materials P pass through the upper surfaces of the ribs  38 . The conveyance passage extending from the supply roller  81  to the discharge roller  17  is a common conveyance passage through which both the originals and the recording materials pass.  
         [0023]     The image recording unit  101  is of an ink-jet recording type which discharges ink from the cartridge  1  to record. The cartridge  1  is mounted on a carriage  4 , and scans in a widthwise direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the recording materials P. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a serial type recording apparatus which moves a recording heat in a main scanning direction. The present invention can also be applied to a full-line type recording apparatus which uses a recording heat extending over the entire region of the sheet in its widthwise direction to record an image by the recording head while continuously conveying a recording sheet.  
         [0024]     The image reading unit  28  of the image reading apparatus  102  includes a contact image sensor (CS 22 , hereinafter) which is image reading means, a CS holder  26  which is a member holding the CS 22 , and a white reference member  25  which is held by the CS holder  26  such that the white reference member  25  is opposed to the CS 22 . The image reading unit  28  is usually at a standby position (standby state) separated from the platen  3 . If the apparatus body receives a command for reading an image such as copy or sending, the image reading unit  28  turns in the direction of arrow in the drawing by driving means (not shown), and moves to a reading position opposed to the platen  3  (reading state). By providing the image reading unit  28  in a moving path of the carriage  4 , the entire facsimile machine can be reduced in size. During the image-recording operation, the image reading unit  28  is moved to the standby position which is out from the moving region of the carriage  4 , the image reading unit  28  does not interfere with the moving space of the carriage  4 .  
         [0025]     Originals supplied to the image reading apparatus  102  are conveyed to the image reading unit  28  by the conveyance roller  10  and the pinch roller  16  which are commonly used for the recording materials. The originals S sandwiched and conveyed by the conveyance roller  10  and the pinch roller  16 , as well as the discharge roller  17  and the spur  18 , the reading operation is carried out by the image reading unit  28  and the originals S are discharged out from the apparatus.  
         [0026]     The (automatic feeder unit) automatic feeder unit  103  will be explained.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the automatic feeder unit in which originals and recording materials are not set.  FIG. 3  is a front view showing the automatic feeder unit when the originals and the recording materials are not set.  FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing a state in which only the originals are set.  FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view showing motions of a pressure plate and a supply roller of the automatic feeder unit.  FIG. 6  is a front view used for explaining a state when the paper is supplied.  FIG. 7  is a schematic sectional view used for explaining a separating unit.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 A, the ASF base  80  which is a frame of the automatic feeder unit  103  comprises a base surface  80   a , a right side plate  80   b , a left side plate  80   c , a tip end reference surface  80   d  against which tip ends of the originals S and the recording materials P are abutted at the time of setting, and a paper-through surface  80   e.    
         [0028]     A supply roller  81  and a pressure plate  82  are rotatably mounted on the right side plate  80   b  and the left side plate  80   c  through bearings. The pressure plate  82  is biased against the supply roller  81  by a pressure plate sprig  83  mounted between a back surface of the pressure plate  82  and the base surface  80   a  of the ASF base  80 .  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the shaft of the supply roller  81  is provided with a driving cam  81   b , and the pressure plate  82  is provided with a follower cam  82   a . As shown in  FIG. 5A , the pressure plate  82  functions as a pushing member for pushing a batch of recording materials P or originals is pushed against the supply roller  81  by the pressure plate spring  83  at the time of supplying. Further, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the pressure plate  82  is pushed down by the follower cam  82   a  except when the original or recording material is supplied, a gap through which the originals and recording materials are set is formed between the pressure plate  82  and the supply roller  81 , and the pressure plate  82  functions as recording material mounting means. That is, the pressure plate  82  is separated by rotation of the supply roller  81 , and the driving cam  81   b  and the follower cam  82   a  constitute separating means.  
         [0030]     The supply roller  81  is integrally formed at its shaft with a sensor flag  81   a . The sensor flag  81   a  engages with an ASF sensor (not shown) to detect a phase of the supply roller  81 . A cross section of the supply roller  81  is a so-called D cut roller having an arc portion  81   d  and a straight portion  81   c . Phases of the driving cam  81   b  and a semi-circular shape of the roller are designed such that the straight portion  81   c  and the separating pad  84  as an example of the separating means are opposed when the pressure plate  82  is separated ( FIG. 4 ( a )), and the pressure plate  82  and the arc portion  81   d  of the supply roller  81  come into contact with each other at the time of biasing ( FIG. 4 ( b )).  
         [0031]     A separating pad  84  is pasted on a central portion of a tip end of the pressure plate  82 , and the separating pad  84  and the supply roller  81  are opposed to each other in a biasing state at the time of supplying operation. Further, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the separating pad  84  slightly projects from the recording material mounting surface  82   b  toward the supply roller  81  and in this embodiment, the separating pad  84  projects by a thickness corresponding to the maximum set number of the originals.  
         [0032]     A separation roller  93  as an example of separating means is disposed downstream from a nip position between the supply roller  81  and the separating pad  84  such that the separation roller  93  abuts against the supply roller  81 . The separation roller  93  includes a torque limiter, and the separation roller  93  can be separated from and come into contact with the supply roller  81 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the automatic feeder of this embodiment is separated through two separating means, i.e., a front separating unit and main separating unit. The front separating unit includes a separating pad  84  of the pressure plate  82 , the supply roller  81  and the passing-limitation wall  132 . The passing-limitation wall  132  is a barrier wall formed such that a gap of passing paper formed between the supply roller  81  and the ASF base  80  is about 1 mm. When 50 recording materials are set for example, the 50 recording materials are separated into groups each comprising several sheets by the passing-limitation wall  132 , and they are conveyed to the main separating unit  131 . The main separating unit  131  comprises the supply roller  81  and the separation roller  93 , and separates the several sheets sent by the front separating unit by the above operation.  
         [0033]     An original stage  85  as an example of an original mounting means is detachably mounted on the pressure plate  82  at a predetermined distance from the recording material mounting surface  82   b . An original bridge right  86  and an original bridge left  87  are rotatably mounted on the original stage  85 . In a state in which the original stage  85  is mounted on the pressure plate  82 , tip ends of the original bridges  86  and  87  are limited by a recess  80   f  of the ASF base  80  such that a predetermined gap is formed with respect to the recording material mounting surface of the pressure plate  82  ( FIG. 4A ).  
         [0034]     A recording material tray  8  is mounted on the ASF base  80  to extend a recording material mounting surface starting from the pressure plate  82 . Similarly, an original tray  88  is fixed to the original stage  85  to extend the original mounting surface. A slip preventing member  89  is mounted on a tip end of the original tray  88  (rear end thereof in the conveyance direction). A length supported by the original tray  88  and the original stage  85  is about ⅔ of the entire length of A4-size paper. When A4-size originals are set, ⅓ of rear end is free. When the paper is soft, the paper lops rearward due to its own weight as shown in  FIG. 1 , and its rear end is supported by the recording material tray  8 .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a side guide  90  is mounted on the pressure plate  82  such that the side guide  90  can slide in a direction of arrow C intersecting wit the conveyance direction of the recording materials P by the supply roller  81  at right angles. An original slider  30  is mounted on the original stage  85  also such that the original slider  30  can slide in the direction of arrow C. When the recording materials are to be set, concerning the widthwise direction, right sides of the recording materials are abutted against a recording material widthwise direction reference surface  91  formed on the pressure plate  82 , left sides of the recording materials are limited by a guide surface  90   a  of the side guide  90 , tip ends of the recording materials are supported by the tip end reference surface  80   d , and the entire recording materials are supported by the recording material tray  8  and the recording material mounting surface  82   b  of the pressure plate  82  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ). When the originals are to be set, left sides of the originals are abutted against the original widthwise direction reference surface  85   a  formed on the original stage  85 , right sides of the originals are limited by a guide surface  30   a  of the original slider  30 , tip ends of the originals are supported by the tip end reference surface  80   d , and the entire originals are supported by the original tray  88 , the original stage  85 , and the original bridges  86  and  87  ( FIGS. 1, 3  and  4 ).  
         [0036]     A recording material widthwise direction reference surface  91  and an original widthwise direction reference surface  85   a  are respectively disposed on left and right sides of the apparatus, and are relatively deviated from each other by about 30 mm in the widthwise direction. Therefore, when both the recording materials and originals are set, no recording materials exist below the originals in a region of about 30 mm from the reference side of the original even when recording materials having maximum width are set ( FIG. 3 ). A sensor for detecting whether an original exists or not is disposed in a region where the recording materials are not set. This sensor comprises a photo interrupter  92   b  and a DS actuator  92  which is rotatably supported by a holder (not shown). If originals are set, the originals and an arm  92   a  abut against each other, an actuator  92  rotates, a sensor flag  92   b  selectively cuts off optical path of a photo interrupter  92   c , thereby turning the sensor ON or OFF ( FIG. 1 ). A tip end of the original bridge left  87  is bifurcated, one ( 87   a ) of the bifurcated end comes above the set recording materials, and the other end  87   b  is located at a position where there is no recording material. An arm of the DS actuator  92  moves between the bifurcated ends ( FIG. 2 ).  
         [0037]     When only the recording materials are set, this state corresponds to  FIG. 4A  from which the originals S are removed. If the supply roller rotates, the pressure plate  82  is moved by the driving cam  81   b  to a direction in which the pressure plate  82  is biased by the supply roller  81  ( FIG. 5B ), and the pressure plate  82  comes into contact with the uppermost recording material P. At that time, the original bridges  86  and  87  are located on an upper portion of the recording material, but since the original bridges  86  and  87  are located at a position where they are escaped from the supply roller in the widthwise direction, they are on standby above the supply roller so that they do not hinder the separating motion ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ).  
         [0038]      FIG. 4A  shows a state in which both the originals S and recording materials P are set. If the supply roller rotates, the pressure plate  82  is moved by the driving cam  81   b  in the direction in which the pressure plate  82  is biased by the supply roller  81  ( FIG. 5B ), the originals S are biased through the recording materials P, and the uppermost original S comes into contact with the supply roller  81 . At that time, the original bridges  86  and  87  are sandwiched between the recording material P and the original S, but the separating pad  84  projects from the recording material mounting surface  82   b  as shown in  FIG. 6A , and the original bridges  86  and  87  escape from the supply roller  81  in the widthwise direction. Therefore, a predetermined biasing force is applied between the original S and the supply roller  81  without excessively deforming the original. Although there is no recording material P below a region of about 30 mm of the original S on the reference side, since the original is supported by the original bridge left  87 , the original does not lop downward. This is because that the original bridge left  87  is bifurcated as described above and one of them comes over the recording material P and limits its position. The originals can be supported in accordance with change of the number of set recording materials P.  
         [0039]     When only the originals S are set, the originals S are directly biased by the pressure plate  82  as shown in  FIG. 6B , and the uppermost original S comes into contact with the supply roller  81 . At that time, the original bridges  86  and  87  are sandwiched between the pressure plate  82  and the original S, but since the separating pad  84  projects from the recording material mounting surface  82   b , the separating pad  84  and the original bridges  86  and  87  assume substantially at the same height and thus, a predetermined biasing force is applied between the original S and the supply roller  81  without excessively deforming the original. If the separating pad  84  and the recording material mounting surface  82   b  assume the same height, since the original S is biased against the supply roller  81 , it becomes necessary to deform the original in the widthwise direction by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the original bridges  86  and  87 . In this case, the biasing force of the pressure plate  82  is used for deforming the original S, appropriate biasing force is not applied to the supply roller  81  and the supply failure is generated in some cases.  
         [0040]     According to the present invention, as explained above, the apparatus comprises a supply roller which supplies an original or a recording material from the original mounting means or the recording material mounting means, separating means for separating the original or the recording material in cooperation with the supply roller, and a conveyance passage through which both the original and recording material pass. Therefore, constituent members of the apparatus can commonly be used, and the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost.  
         [0041]     According to the above-described structure, the uppermost one of the set recording materials or originals is separated, and this is conveyed to the reading means or recording means. Thus, if only the recording materials are set, the recording material is separated and conveyed, and if the originals are set above or on the recording material, the original is separated and conveyed. Therefore, in order to determine whether the automatic feeder unit separated the original or the recording material, it is absolutely necessary to detect whether the originals are set. If the originals are set, it is determined that the original is separated, and if the originals are not set, it is determined that the recording material is separated. Thereupon, according to the present invention, the reference of the recording material and the original in the widthwise direction is laterally reversed, the setting positions of the originals and the recording materials are laterally deviated so that the recording materials are not located below the originals in a predetermined region from the reference side in the widthwise direction of the original, and the original detection sensor is disposed in a region where the originals and the recording materials are not superposed on each other. Thus, even if both the originals and the recording materials are set, since there is sufficient space below the originals, it is possible to dispose the reliable original detection sensor with least inexpensive structure, i.e., the photo interrupter and the actuator.  
       CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0042]     This application claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-184536 filed on Jun. 23, 2004 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.