Image reading device

• US 7,088,475 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Morinaga, Kazuyuki, Suzuki, Yoshiaki, Iwata, Naohiro, Terashima, Hideyuki, Sasai, Keizo, Obana, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibbs, Heather D.
• Application Number:
  US09/410,100
• Time in Patent Office: 2,503 Days
• Field of Search: 358/296, 358/300, 358/448, 358/449, 358/437, 358/400, 358/489, 358/493, 358/473, 358/476, 358/474, 358/496, 358/468, 358/1.15, 358/498, 358/494, 358/471
• US Class Current: 358/448
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00525 Providing a more compact apparatus, e.g. sheet discharge tray in cover
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00541 with detachable image reading apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00588 to the scanning position H04N1/00572, H04N1/00594 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00591 from the scanning position H04N1/00572 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00602 Feed rollers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0062 Removing sheets from a stack or inputting media
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00628 Separating, e.g. preventing feeding of two sheets at a time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00631 Ejecting or stacking H04N1/00641 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00665 Details specific to handling of web-shaped media, e.g. paper or film rolls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/121 Feeding arrangements transporting sheets to or from the scanning position H04N1/0057; control or error compensation of sub-scanning velocity H04N1/0473

Abstract

There is disclosed an image reading device, comprises a stacking section for stacking a document, a reading section for reading an image of the document, a separating section for separating the document stacked on the stacking section sheet by sheet, a conveying section for conveying the document separated by the separating section to the reading section and a discharging section for discharging the document to the outside of the device. In the device, sheet separating performance is enhanced. Additionally, the device body is reduced in cost and size, excellent reading operation can constantly be realized, and device assembling property is enhanced.

Claims

1. An image reading device, comprising:

a lower unit;

an upper unit openable/closable to said lower unit;

stacking means for stacking a document;

separating means having a separating roller and a separating member for separating a document fed from said stacking means wherein said separating roller and said separating member are disposed between said upper unit and said lower unit;

reading means for reading an image of the document separated by said separating means; and

a document conveying path disposed between said upper unit and said lower unit for guiding the document separated by said separating means;

wherein when said upper unit is opened, said document conveying path is opened and said separating roller and said separating member are moved with said upper unit.

2. The image reading device according to claim 1, comprising a drive source for driving said separating roller, the drive source being disposed in said lower unit.

3. The image reading device according to claim 2, comprising conveying means for conveying the document separated by said separating means,

wherein said drive source drives said conveying means, and

wherein said conveying means is disposed in the unit in which said drive source is disposed.

4. The image reading device according to claim 2, further comprising:

drive transmitting means for transmitting a drive from said drive source to said separating roller, wherein in order that said separating roller is brought into a freely rotatable state, said drive transmitting means is disengaged from said drive source when said upper unit is opened.

5. The image reading device according to claim 4, further comprising a pair of conveying rollers for conveying the document separated by said separating means to said reading means and a pair of discharging rollers for discharging the document to the outside of the device,

wherein respective first rollers of said pair of conveying rollers and said pair of discharging rollers are provided in said upper unit,

wherein respective second rollers of said pair of conveying rollers and said pair of discharging rollers are provided in said lower unit,

wherein said drive source drives said respective first rollers of said pair of conveying rollers and said pair of discharging rollers provided in said upper unit.

6. The image reading device according to claim 1, comprising an upper guide member and a lower guide member which form said document conveying path, wherein said upper unit includes the upper guide member, and said lower unit includes the lower guide member.

7. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein said reading means comprises a hand scanner which is disposed in said lower unit and which is attachable to/detachable from the image reading device body.

8. The image reading device according to claim 7, further comprising discharging means including a drive roller and a follower roller for discharging the document outside of said device, wherein said drive roller is disposed in the upper unit, and said follower roller is disposed in the hand scanner.

9. The image reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a recording section having recording means for recording an image on a sheet in accordance with image information;

wherein said upper unit can open by rotating from a front side toward a rear side of said device body centering on a rotating shaft disposed on the rear side of said device body,

wherein when said upper unit is closed, said separating means is disposed above said recording means, and

wherein when said upper unit is opened, said separating means is rotated to form a space portion above said recording section.

10. The image reading device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a drive source for driving said separating roller; and

drive transmitting means for transmitting a drive from said drive source to said separating roller,

wherein said drive transmitting means is disengaged from said drive source when said upper unit is opened, so that said separating roller is brought into a freely rotatable state.

11. An image reading device, comprising:

a cover unit openable/closable to a device body and having a guide member for guiding and conveying a document;

a reading unit having reading means disposed opposite to said guide member for reading an image of the document, and being attachable to/detachable from said device body; and

detecting means for detecting opening/closing of said cover unit and attachment/detachment of said reading unit to said device body,

wherein said detecting means comprises a sensor disposed in said cover unit, and an actuating member movably disposed in said cover unit, and said actuating member is moved by the attachment/detachment of said reading unit and the opening/closing of said cover unit to turn on/off said sensor.

12. The image reading device according to claim 11, wherein said cover unit has an operating panel provided with a plurality of operating keys.

13. The image reading device according to claim 11, wherein said sensor comprises a photointerruptor.

14. The image reading device according to claim 11, further comprising informing means for providing information when said detecting means detects that said reading unit is detached from the device body or that said cover unit is opened.

15. An image reading device, comprising:

a recording section having recording means for recording an image on a sheet in accordance with image information;

a reading section having reading means for reading a document and separating means for separating the document sheet by sheet to feed the document to said reading means; and

a device body to which said recording section and the reading section are attached,

wherein said separating means of said reading section is disposed above said recording means, and said separating means can open by rotating from a front side toward a rear side of said device body centering on a rotating shaft disposed on the rear side of said device body, and

wherein when said separating means is opened, said separating means is rotated to form a space portion above said recording section.

16. The image reading device according to claim 15, wherein said separating means has a guide member for guiding the document, and the guide member can rotate with said separating means centering on said rotating shaft.

17. The image reading device according to claim 16, wherein when said separating means is closed, said guide member covers a part of said recording means to form a document conveying path.

18. An image reading device, comprising:

a device body having a document conveying path for conveying a document;

a document reading section which has reading means attachable to/detachable from said device body for reading the conveyed document when mounted on said device body and for reading the document by manual operation when detached from said device body, and which can be mounted to said device body from above;

a reading cover section openably/closably mounted to said device body on a top surface of the document reading section, for covering said document reading section in said device body when closing the device body; and

positioning means for positioning the document reading section in a predetermined position when said document reading section is mounted to said device body, wherein

the positioning means comprises a plurality of first regulating members which can regulate positions of said document reading section in a document conveying direction and in a direction intersecting the document conveying direction and which are disposed in either one of said device body and said reading cover section; and

a second regulating member for positioning said document reading section in a vertical direction.

19. The image reading device according to claim 18, wherein said first regulating members have notch portions formed in corner portions of said document reading section, and a plurality of positioning ribs which abut on both wall faces of the notch portions and can determine the positions and which are disposed in said device body.

20. The image reading device according to claim 19, wherein said positioning ribs have inclined faces in two directions so as to guide the notch portions of said document reading section.

21. The image reading device according to claim 18, wherein said first regulating members have positioning holes disposed in said document reading section, and a plurality of positioning bosses which can be engaged with the positioning holes and which are disposed in said reading cover section.

22. The image reading device according to claim 18, wherein said second regulating member is disposed in said reading cover section, and has a conveying roller pressed by spring means so that said document reading section is pressed into contact with said device body, and a lock mechanism for locking said reading cover section to said device body.

23. The image reading device according to claim 18, wherein said reading cover section comprises an operation key for operating the reading device body.

24. A reading device comprising:

a main body which is separable into a first divided member and a second divided member which border on a document conveying path;

a separating member and a separating rotary member for separating and feeding a document;

a pair of conveying rollers for conveying the document separated by said separating rotary member and said separating member;

reading means for reading an image on the document conveyed by said conveying rollers; and

a pair of discharging rollers for discharging the document conveyed by said pair of conveying rollers,

wherein respective first rollers of said pair of conveying rollers and said pair of discharging rollers are provided in one of said divided members to form a first unit,

wherein respective second rollers of said pair of conveying rollers and said pair of discharging rollers are provided in the other of said divided members to form a second unit,

wherein said separating rotary member and said separating member are provided in said first unit,

wherein a drive source for driving said separating rotary member, said pair of conveying rollers and said pair of discharging rollers are provided in said second unit, and

wherein when said first and second divided members are separated, drive transmitting means of said separating rotary member is disengaged from said drive source so that said separating rotary member is brought into a freely rotatable state.

25. A reading device according to claim 24, wherein said second unit is provided with the second roller serving as a drive side roller of said pair of conveying rollers, and the second roller is a drive roller interlocking with said drive source.

26. A reading device according to claim 24, wherein said separating rotary member is a roller, and said separating member is a plate-shaped member.

27. A reading device according to claim 24, wherein said reading means is a hand scanner.

28. A reading device according to claim 24, wherein said first unit is disposed above said second unit.

29. A reading device comprising:

a main body dividable into a first divided member and a second divided member which border on a document conveying path;

a separating member and a separating rotary member for separating and feeding a document;

a pair of conveying rollers for conveying the document separated by said separating rotary member and said separating member; and

a pair of discharging rollers for discharging the document conveyed by said pair of conveying rollers,

wherein respective first rollers of said pair of conveying rollers and said pair of discharging rollers are provided in one of said divided members to form a first unit,

wherein respective second rollers of said pair of conveying rollers and said pair of discharging rollers are provided in the other of said divided members to form a second unit,

wherein said separating rotary member and said separating member are provided in said first unit,

wherein a drive source for driving said separating rotary member, said pair of conveying rollers, and said pair of discharging rollers are provided in said second unit,

wherein said second unit is provided with detachable and attachable reading means for reading an image of the document,

wherein said reading means is provided with the second roller serving as a driven side roller of said pair of discharging rollers,

wherein said first unit is provided with the first roller serving as a drive side roller of said pair of discharging rollers and drive force transmitting means for transmitting a drive force from said drive source to the first roller,

wherein when said reading means is attached to said second unit, said reading means reads the document which is conveyed, and when said reading means is detached from said second unit, said reading means can read the document by a manual scan.

30. A reading device according to claim 29, wherein the second roller of said pair of conveying rollers is a drive roller interlocking with said drive source.