Document conveyance device having drop-prevention mechanism, and image reproducing apparatus equipped therewith

An image reproducing apparatus comprising:

• an image reproducing apparatus main unit internally including image-reading means for reading images from documents, a transfer-sheet conveyance mechanism for conveying transfer sheets, and an image forming unit for forming, onto transfer sheets conveyed thereto, images read by the image-reading means;
• and
• a document conveyance device provided on top of the image reproducing apparatus main unit;
• wherein the document conveyance device comprises
• a document loading table for loading documents, furnished to take open and close positions between which the document loading table moves with respect to the image reproducing apparatus main unit, the document loading table having a discharge section and a drop-prevention mechanism;
• and
• a conveyance mechanism located beside the discharge section with the drop-prevention mechanism therebetween for discharging the documents into the discharge section,
• the drop-prevention mechanism preventing, wherein the loading table is in the open position, documents from dropping from the discharge section following from an act of opening the loading table, and avoiding, wherein the loading table is in the closed position, interference with conveyance of documents from the conveyance mechanism to the discharge section.

A sheet-material conveyance device for installation on top of an image reproducing apparatus main unit, the sheet-material conveyance device comprising:

• a sheet-material loading table for loading sheet-materials, furnished to permit opening/closing with respect to the image reproducing apparatus main unit;
• a conveyance mechanism for conveying sheet-materials loaded on the loading table;
• and
• a drop-prevention mechanism for preventing, wherein the loading table is opened, sheet-materials from dropping from the loading table following from an act of opening the loading table, and for avoiding, wherein the loading table is closed, interference with conveyance of the sheet-materials,
• wherein:
• the loading table is permitted to open/close independently of the conveyance mechanism;
• the drop-prevention mechanism includes
• a rotary shaft supported in a conveyance direction downstream-ward end of the loading table to permit rotation,
• a drop-prevention member able to assume a first position wherein the drop-prevention member can abut endwise on sheet-materials loaded onto the loading table, and a second position wherein the drop-prevention member does not abut endwise on the sheet-materials,
• an urging member for urging the drop-prevention member toward the first position,
• a regulator for positioning, wherein the loading table is closed, the drop-prevention member in the second position, and
• a pivot member pivotable together with the rotary shaft and the drop-prevention member,
• the urging member urges the drop-prevention member toward the first position by urging the pivot member;
• the regulator is provided on an upper surface of the image reproducing main unit, wherein the loading table is closed, the regulator being an abutment component on which the pivot member abuts for positioning the drop-prevention member into the second position;
• the image reproducing apparatus main unit includes image-reading means provided in a top portion of the image reproducing apparatus main unit;
• and
• the abutment component is provided in a position apart from the image-reading means, and has an abutment portion for abutment with the pivot member wherein the loading table is closed, and a sloped portion for abutment with the pivot member along with an act of opening/closing the loading table, for smoothing pivoting action of the pivot member.