Abstract: A recirculating document feeder for use with an image forming machine having a transparent platen. This recirculating document feeder includes a document support disposed above the transparent platen and adapted to have a stack of documents placed thereon, with a selected side of each document facing down; a feed-out path extending from one end of the document support; a first switchback path having an upstream end connected to the downstream end of the feed-out path; a send-in path extending from its upstream end, which is connected to the upstream end of the first switchback path, to one end of the transparent platen; a send-out path extending from the other end of the transparent platen; a second switchback path having an upstream end connected to the downstream end of the send-out path; and a return path extending from its upstream end, which is connected to the upstream end of the second switchback path, to the other end of the document support.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a controller for actuating and controlling a document forwarder, a document separator, a resist roller pair, and a document conveyor. In response to a copy start signal, the controller energizes the pressing mechanism of the document forward, actuates the forwarding roller, and actuates the document separator to carry the document laid on the document bearing member. During the carriage of the document to bring its front end to the resist roller pair, the controller deenergizes the pressing mechanism of the document forwarder at least once for a predetermined time during a period from the arrival of the front end of the document at the document separator until its arrival at the resist roller pair, thereby releasing the pressure on the documents laid on document bearing member.

Abstract: An automatic document conveyor for an image processing machine having an endless belt with a driven roller and a follower roller. The endless belt mechanism includes a front frame and a rear frame which are coupled together a distance apart in the direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the endless belt. First and second movable frames are coupled to first ends of each of the front frame and the rear frame and support the follower roller. A third movable frame is coupled to the second end of the front frame. The driven roller is supported by the third movable frame and the second end of the rear frame, and a drive source is coupled to the end of the driven roller adjacent the rear frame. Springs urge the three movable frames in directions tensioning the endless belt. The first and second movable frames can be moved against their springs to release the tension of the follower roller on the endless belt.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for an image processing machine. The document feeder includes a main frame to be pivotally mounted on the image processing machine, a paper feeding unit, a paper discharging unit, and a conveyer belt for conveying papers from the paper feeding unit, across the image processing machine for image processing, to the paper discharging unit for discharge. A document discharging tray is positioned above the conveyer belt for receipt and stacking of papers discharged from a discharge port of the paper discharging unit. In the direction of document discharge, the document discharging tray has an ascending inclination, followed by a descending inclination. The ascending inclination and the descending inclination define a vertex spaced from the discharge port in the document discharging direction by more than one-half the length of the maximum-length document to be processed by the image processing machine.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for an image processing machine. A main frame is so mounted as to be pivoted with respect to a platen glass provided on the housing of the image forming machine. A paper feeding unit is provided at one end of the main frame, and a paper discharging unit is provided at the other end. A conveyer belt mechanism is disposed between the paper feeding unit and the paper discharging unit. A document-placing table is attached to a table support means provided for the paper feeding unit, and is allowed to move in the back-and-forth direction of the image forming machine, so that its position can be adjusted, thereby permitting adjustment of any deviation between the optical axis of the image forming machine and the center line of the document fed by the automatic document feeder. The paper feeding unit is further provided with an open/close frame pivotally mounted on the main frame by at least one hollow split-bearing.

Abstract: An automatic document conveying apparatus in which a normal continuous document conveying state and a single document conveying state, suitable for a document having high importance such as an original of a design, can be selectively determined, and carrying and discharging of documents can be fully well conducted. In a document carrying passage, a restricting member and a separation roller which cooperate with a feed roller are disposed. The forward end of the restricting member approaches or contacts the feed roller, and the separation roller is driven to rotate in a direction opposite to the document conveying direction in the continuous document conveying state. In the single document conveying state, the restricting member is isolated from the feed roller, and the separation roller can be freely rotated.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for an image processing machine. A main frame is so mounted as to be pivoted with respect to a platen glass provided on the housing of the image forming machine. A paper feeding unit is provided at one end of the main frame, and a paper discharging unit is provided at the other end. A conveyer belt mechanism is disposed between the paper feeding unit and the paper discharging unit. A document-placing table is attached to a table support means provided for the paper feeding unit, and is allowed to move in the back-and-forth direction of the image forming machine, so that its position can be adjusted, thereby permitting adjustment of any deviation between the optical axis of the image forming machine and the center line of the document fed by the automatic document feeder.

Abstract: In the ADF of this invention, not only the conveying unit but also at least one of the paper feeding unit and the paper discharging unit are supported by a support frame via floating support mechanisms. The conveying unit and either one of the paper feeding unit and the paper discharging unit are provided with a plurality of contact pieces that come in contact with the platen glass and with the housing at the closed position of the support frame or the ADF. The load of either the paper feeding unit or the paper discharging unit is supported by said contact pieces at the closed position of the ADF.

Abstract: In a primary paper feeding device, a document is conveyed from a document stock section to a pair of registration rollers by a first conveying device. The document conveyed to the registration rollers is further conveyed forward in a downstream direction by the registration rollers. When the lead (downstream) edge of the document arrives at a predetermined first reference position downstream of the registration rollers, document conveying by the registration rollers terminates. In this way, the document is conveyed such that the trailing edge thereof does not pass through the registration rollers. Thereafter, when a document change signal occurs, the registration rollers again are driven so that the document advances toward a position for document reading.