Automatic document feeder and automatic document feeding method

Abstract

The automatic document feeder of the present invention includes a document feed tray for placing documents thereon, a document conveying device for conveying the documents from the document feed tray to a prescribed document image reading position, a remover provided in the conveying path of the document conveying device for removing staples binding the documents, and a separating device provided in the conveying path for separating the documents one by one after passing the remover position, and when documents are stapled with staples, the documents are separated one by one and conveyed to a prescribed reading position after removing the staples by cutting both of the upper ends of the staples.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An automatic document feeder comprising: 
 a document feed tray on which documents are placed;    a document conveying device which conveys the documents from the document feed tray to a prescribed document image reading position;    a remover provided in the conveying path of the document conveying device to remove a staple binding documents; and    a separation device provided in the document conveying path to separate the documents passed the remover position one by one sheet.    
     
     
         2 . The automatic document feeder according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the document conveying device has a staple sensor in the conveying path and the remover moves to the staple removing position in the conveying path from an evacuation position when the staple sensor detects the staple.    
     
     
         3 . The automatic document feeder according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the remover has a cutter which cuts and removes the staple.    
     
     
         4 . The automatic document feeder according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein the remover has a nipper which nips a part of the staple when the cutter cuts the staple.    
     
     
         5 . The automatic document feeder according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein the cutter is inserted between the staple and the document, cuts the both upper sides of the staple and the nipper nips the chip end of the staple.    
     
     
         6 . The automatic document feeder according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the staple has magnetic characteristic and the staple sensor is a magnetic sensor.    
     
     
         7 . An automatic document feeding method comprising the steps of: 
 conveying a document to a prescribed document image reading position from a document feed tray;    sensing a staple binding documents during the step of conveying the documents to a prescribed document image reading position from the document feed tray;    removing the staple when detecting the staple; and    separating the documents one by one before the documents reach the document image reading position after removing the staple.    
     
     
         8 . The automatic document feeding method according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein the step of removing the staple is executed by cutting the staple.    
     
     
         9 . The automatic document feeding method according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein the staple is cut in the state with a part of the staple nipped.    
     
     
         10 . The automatic document feeding method according to  claim 9 , 
 wherein the staple is cut by inserting a cutter between the staple and the document and cutting the both upper ends of the staple, and after cutting the both upper ends of the staple, the ends of the staple are pulled out with a nipper.    
     
     
         11 . The automatic document feeding method according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein the staple has magnetic characteristic, the step of detecting the staple magnetically detects the staple, and the step of removing the staple recovers the staple magnetically after removing the staple.