JP2004230648A - Picture reading and recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture reading and recording apparatus which can prevent mixing of foreign matter (water, dust and the like) from a card-shaped storage medium insertion opening without decreasing the user's operability, and can further prevent a set card-shaped storage medium from malfunctioning or breaking through contact thereto. <P>SOLUTION: A typical configuration of the picture reading and recording apparatus includes a recording means A for recording to a medium to be recorded by discharging ink, a reading unit B set approximately above the recording means A to read a picture of an object to be read, and a plurality of insertion openings 35b and 35c to which a plurality of kinds of memory cards 64 and 65 can be inserted. The picture reading and recording apparatus records the picture read by the reading unit B and image data stored in the memory cards 64 and 65, by the picture recording means A. The insertion openings 35b and 35c are set nearly horizontally at a front face of the apparatus, and a step part X is set at the more front side (forward side) than the insertion openings 35b and 35c of the apparatus front face, and above the insertion openings 35b and 35c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image reading and recording apparatus such as a facsimile, a copying machine, and a multifunction peripheral.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a copying machine or a facsimile machine using an ink jet recording system as a recording unit.
[0003]
In a recording unit of an ink jet recording system, a recording head unit that holds a plurality of recording heads corresponding to a plurality of colors for recording input image information by discharging ink droplets onto a recording medium and supplies ink to the recording heads A carriage that carries a plurality of ink cartridges and reciprocates in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the recording sheet conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction), and performs recording while moving the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction. There is a serial recording method.
[0004]
In an apparatus having such a recording unit, an image reading unit that reads an image of a document placed on a transparent reading object placing plate is disposed above the recording unit, and the image read by the image reading unit is read. There are some which are recorded by the image recording means.
[0005]
In addition, there is one that supports direct recording from a memory card in which image data stored in a memory card (card-shaped storage medium) is developed by predetermined control, transferred to a recording unit, and recorded. Memory cards exist in a plurality of shapes, such as CF (Compact Flash) cards, Smart Media (trademark), SD (Secure Digital) cards (trademark), and Memory Stick (trademark).
[0006]
In order to cope with the above-mentioned multiple shapes of memory cards, a device that has the functions described above can be used to insert a memory card into one insertion slot via an adapter, or an insertion slot that matches two types of memory cards. Some of them have each (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0007]
Some devices having such a memory card insertion slot are arranged on the front or top surface of the main unit in terms of operability.
[0008]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 23, in order to be able to see at a glance which type of memory card is currently inserted, and to secure a card knob allowance at the time of insertion and removal, the memory card 501 is normally inserted from the insertion slot. There is a configuration in which a part of the memory card 501 (the rear end side at the time of insertion) protrudes from the main body in the attached state.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-067403 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described apparatus, since the memory card insertion slot is located in an easily operable place such as the front or top surface of the main unit, foreign matter such as dust may enter the insertion slot and cause malfunction.
[0011]
In addition, since a part of the memory card is protruded from the main body in a state where the memory card is mounted, there is a possibility that the memory card may be accidentally touched and malfunction or the memory card may be damaged.
[0012]
Therefore, the present invention can prevent foreign matter (water, dust, etc.) from entering from the card-shaped storage medium insertion port without deteriorating the operability of the user, and can further prevent the card storage medium from being inserted. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading / recording apparatus capable of preventing a malfunction and damage caused by touching.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a typical configuration of an image reading and recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording unit that performs recording on a recording medium by discharging ink, and a recording unit that is disposed substantially above the recording unit, An image reading unit that reads an image of an object to be read, and a plurality of card-shaped storage medium insertion units into which a plurality of types of card-shaped storage media can be inserted; an image read by the image reading unit; and the storage medium An image reading and recording apparatus for recording image data stored in the image recording means by the image recording means, wherein the card-shaped storage medium insertion section is arranged substantially horizontally on the front of the apparatus, and Also, a step portion is provided on the front side (front side) and above the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of an image reading and recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the image reading and recording apparatus is a multifunction machine that performs a copying operation, a facsimile receiving operation, a printer operation, and a memory card operation, and includes a recording unit A, which is an inkjet recording device, and an object to be read. A reading unit B as an image reading means for optically reading the original document, a feeding unit C as a feeding means for separating a stacked recording material (hereinafter referred to as a recording sheet) and supplying it to the recording unit; It is configured. The recording unit A and the feeding unit C are attached to the bottom cover 33 as a printer unit.
[0016]
When any one of a copy operation, a facsimile reception operation, a printer operation, and a memory card operation is activated, the recording sheet stored and loaded on the automatic sheet feeder 1 is guided by the slider 2 on the side surface, while the feed roller 3 and the separation roller 4 separates and conveys only one sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is nipped by the conveying roller 5 and the roller 6 arranged opposite to the conveying roller 5 and conveyed to the recording head 10.
[0017]
A recording sheet on which an image is formed by the recording head 10 based on predetermined image information is discharged onto a discharge tray 9 provided at a front portion of the apparatus main body by discharge rollers 7a and 7b and spurs 8a and 8b.
[0018]
(Reading unit B)
On the other hand, a flatbed scanner (reading unit B) as an image reading means has a contact image sensor 11, which is supported by a carriage 12 and is parallel to a recording sheet conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction). It can move along the guide shaft 13. The movement of the carriage 12 is performed by a timing belt 15 driven by a motor (not shown). The image sensor 11 incorporates a light source, a lens, and a photoelectric conversion element (not shown), and moves on a back surface of a contact glass 16 serving as a document table while keeping a predetermined distance.
[0019]
When a copying operation is performed, the contact type image sensor 11 reads a document placed on the contact glass 16 and the read image is transmitted to a system control board 21 as a main body image processing unit by a flexible cable.
[0020]
(Recording means A)
As shown in FIG. 4, the recording head 10 of the recording means A uses a cartridge type ink jet recording head in which the ink tank 31 is separated and only the ink tank 31 can be replaced with a new one when the ink runs out. The recording head 10 is held on a carriage 18. The carriage 18 is slidably held by a guide bar 19 and an abutting portion (not shown), and is orthogonal to a recording sheet conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) by a pulley (not shown) driven by a motor and a timing belt 20. Reciprocating in the main scanning direction.
[0021]
The recording head 10 used in the present embodiment discharges ink from the discharge port at the tip of the nozzle by the pressure of the film boiling generated in the ink by the heat generated by the electrothermal transducer provided in the nozzle.
[0022]
(Electric part)
As shown in FIG. 3, the electrical unit includes a system control board 21 as a device control unit for controlling the entire device, a network control board 23 as a communication control unit, a line modular board 24 as a line connection unit, and a device power supply. A power supply unit 26, which is a unit, an operation control board 27, which is an operation means, a memory card board 28, which is a card-shaped storage medium control means, relay boards 29, 30 and the like.
[0023]
The system control board 21 mainly controls the system and recording system of the entire apparatus. The network control board 23 mainly controls communication with the line of the image reading and recording apparatus. The line modular board 24 connects data from a public telephone line or the like. The power supply unit 26 supplies power to the device. The operation control board 27 mounts keys and LEDs of an operation panel. The memory card board 28 mainly mounts connectors and LEDs of various memory cards such as Compact Flash, Compact Flash type II, SmartMedia (trademark), Memory Stick (trademark), SD card (trademark), and multimedia card (trademark). I have. The relay boards 29 and 30 mount various sensors and the like, various motor drivers and capacitors that generate high heat, and relay to the system control board 21.
[0024]
The system control board 21 is disposed above the recording unit A and below the reading unit B on one side in the apparatus left-right direction (main scanning direction) (in this embodiment, on the right side when viewed from the front of the apparatus), and is fixed to a sheet metal (not shown). And is mounted horizontally on the middle frame 34, and the upper part thereof is covered with a system control board cover 41 as a cover member.
[0025]
The network control board 23 is disposed below the system control board 21 and in front of the recording unit A, and a position where the front end of the network control board 23 protrudes from the front end of the system control board 21 when viewed from above. And is attached to the middle frame 34.
[0026]
The line modular board 24 and the power supply unit 26 are centrally arranged below the feeding unit C, fixed to a sheet metal (not shown) together with a cover member (not shown) covering the boards 24 and 26, and attached to the bottom frame 33.
[0027]
The relay substrate 29 is disposed on the back surface inside the recording unit A, and the relay substrate 30 is disposed on one side surface of the feeding unit C (in this embodiment, on the left side when viewed from the front of the main body). .
[0028]
The operation control board 27 is disposed obliquely on the front of the apparatus from the viewpoint of the operability of the apparatus, and is attached to an operation cover 36 which is an exterior member.
[0029]
The memory card board 28 is disposed at the center and below the operation control board 27, is fixed to a sheet metal (not shown), and is attached to an operation lower cover 35 which is an exterior member.
[0030]
Here, a configuration around the memory card substrate 28 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, an LED cover (not shown) for displaying the lighting of an LED (not shown) is mounted on the lower cover 35 at the center 35a when viewed from the front. A plurality of memory card insertion ports 35b and 35c as storage medium insertion sections are provided.
[0031]
The memory card substrate 28 on which a sheet metal 61 for countermeasures against static electricity (lightning rod) is attached from above is mounted on the lower cover 35. On the memory card board 28, connectors 62a and 62b for connecting the above-mentioned plurality of memory cards to various memory cards inserted through the insertion ports 35b and 35c of the lower cover 35 are mounted. The above-mentioned LED (not shown) lights up upon recognizing the operation status and the like of the memory card. In such a configuration, the operation cover 36 and the lower operation cover 35 are combined in the vertical direction to cover the substrates 27 and 28 and the like.
[0032]
The lower operation cover 35 and the operation cover 36 are located above the insertion ports 35b and 35c, and form a stepped portion X protruding toward the front side (front side) of the insertion ports 35b and 35c.
[0033]
The insertion and removal of the memory card will be described. 6 and 7 are a perspective view and a side view around the operation unit showing a state before the memory cards 64 and 65, which are card-shaped storage media, are inserted into the card insertion ports 35b and 35c. FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view of the vicinity of the operation unit showing a state where is inserted. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the user inserts and removes the memory cards 64 and 65 from the front of the apparatus main body into the respective insertion openings 35b and 35c in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 14, in the inserted state, the rear ends 64a and 65a of the memory cards 64 and 65 protrude from the insertion ports 35b and 35c by the amount of y. As a result, a knob for inserting and removing the memory card is secured.
[0034]
Above the card insertion slots 35b, 35c, the front end of the stepped portion X of the operation lower cover 35, which is the front end of the apparatus main body, and the stepped portion X of the operation cover 36 is located at the front side (front side) of the insertion slots 35b, 35c by x amount. ). This can prevent foreign matter from entering the insertion ports 35b and 35c from above the apparatus main body.
[0035]
Also, since the protruding amount x is larger than the protruding amount y (xy> 0), when the memory card is inserted, an obstacle from the front of the main body of the apparatus is made to hit the protruding portion at the front end of the operation cover 36 so that the memory card 64 is inserted. , 65 can be prevented.
[0036]
In a state where the memory cards 64, 65 are inserted into the insertion openings 35b, 35c, a space is provided in which the distance Z from the top surface of the memory cards 64, 64, 65 to the lower surface of the step portion X is 5 mm or more in the vertical direction. . Thus, it is possible to prevent a finger pinched when the memory cards 64 and 65 are inserted from hitting the apparatus, and a finger to be pinched when the memory cards 64 and 65 are removed are prevented from entering.
[0037]
(Memory card operation)
Next, an operation of developing the image data stored in the memory cards 64 and 65 under predetermined control, transferring the image data to the recording unit, and recording the image data will be described.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 9, the memory card interface unit 132 waits until the memory cards 64 and 65 are connected. When the memory cards 64 and 65 are connected, the following is performed according to the setting mode of the image reading and recording apparatus. Operates with reference to the internal data as described above.
[0039]
When the apparatus is set to the direct recording mode, the image data files (for example, JPEG format image data files) in the memory cards 64 and 65 are searched according to a predetermined rule. Next, a predetermined management number is set to the image data file searched and extracted. Thereafter, the data is developed under the control of the MPU 101 so as to have a predetermined size in accordance with the operation input of the operation unit 118, and is recorded and output on a recording sheet by the printer engine 116 under the control of the printer control microcomputer 115. The output image data is a list of extracted image data files or a single image.
[0040]
When the device is set to the memory card reader / writer mode, the data files in the memory cards 64 and 65 are transferred to the information processing terminal 131 in response to a request from the information processing terminal 131, It operates to write the input data file into the memory cards 64 and 65. The MPU 101 communicates with the information processing terminal 131 according to a predetermined control command, and controls the memory card interface 132 to control the data file retrieval and writing for the memory cards 64 and 65.
[0041]
As described above, since the operation control board 27 is provided above the insertion slot 35b, the operation area for inserting and removing the memory cards 64 and 65, pressing buttons on the operation unit, and recognizing the LCD display on the operation unit is narrowed. Limited, operability can be improved.
[0042]
In addition, by forming the stepped portion X as a part of the operation cover 36 that covers the operation control board 27, it is not necessary to newly provide another member for the stepped portion, and the external design of the operation portion is not broken.
[0043]
In addition, since the step portion X is a part of the operation cover 35 that covers the memory card substrate 28, it is not necessary to newly provide another member for the step.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion is disposed substantially horizontally on the front surface of the device, and the front side (front side) of the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion on the front surface of the device and above the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion. And a step portion is provided. Thereby, it is possible to prevent foreign matter (water, dust, etc.) from being mixed from the card-shaped storage medium insertion slot without deteriorating the operability of the user. Touching can prevent malfunction and damage.
[0045]
Further, an operation means for giving an instruction to the image reading and recording apparatus is provided above the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion. Accordingly, the operation area such as the insertion / removal operation of the card storage medium, the button press on the operation unit, and the LCD display recognition on the operation unit is narrowly limited, and the operability can be improved.
[0046]
Further, the step portion above the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion is configured to be a part of an exterior member of an operation means for giving an instruction to the image reading and recording apparatus. Accordingly, it is not necessary to newly provide another member for the step, and the exterior design of the operation unit is not broken.
[0047]
A card-shaped storage medium control unit capable of recording the image data stored in the storage medium in the recording unit; and a stepped portion above the card-shaped storage medium insertion unit is provided with the card-shaped storage medium control unit. It was constituted so that it might be a part of the exterior member of. Thus, it is not necessary to newly provide another member for the step.
[0048]
Further, in a state in which the card storage medium is mounted on the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion, the end of the step portion is arranged on the front side with respect to the insertion direction rear end of the mounted card-shaped storage medium. did. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the attached card storage medium from being inadvertently touched from the front surface or the upper surface, so that malfunction and breakage of the card storage medium can be prevented.
[0049]
In a state where the card storage medium is mounted on the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion, there is a space of at least 5 mm or more in a vertical direction from the top surface of the card storage medium to the lower surface of the step above the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion. It was configured as follows. Thus, it is possible to prevent a finger pinched when the card storage medium is inserted from hitting the device, and a finger for pinching the card storage medium not being inserted when the card storage medium is removed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the front of an image reading and recording apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view illustrating a rear surface of the image reading and recording apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the image reading and recording apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the printer unit.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration inside the operation unit.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the vicinity of an operation unit showing a state before a memory card is inserted.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the vicinity of an operation unit showing a state before a memory card is inserted.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the vicinity of an operation unit showing a state when a memory card is inserted.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control configuration.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional image reading and recording apparatus showing a state in which a memory card is mounted.
[Explanation of symbols]
A: Recording means B: Reading section C: Feeding section X: Step section 27: Operation control board 28: Memory card board 35: Lower cover 35b: Insert port 35c: Insert port 36: Operation cover 62a ... connector 62b ... connector 64 ... memory card 64a ... rear end 65a ... rear end

Claims (6)

Recording means for performing recording on a recording medium by discharging ink, image reading means arranged substantially above the recording means for reading an image of an object to be read, and a plurality of types of card-shaped storage media can be inserted. An image reading and recording apparatus, comprising: a plurality of card-shaped storage medium insertion sections; and an image read by the image reading means, and image data stored in the storage medium recorded by the image recording means,
The card-shaped storage medium insertion section is disposed substantially horizontally on the front surface of the apparatus, and a step is provided on the front side of the apparatus (on the front side (front side) of the card-shaped storage medium insertion section) and above the card-shaped storage medium insertion section. An image reading and recording apparatus having a configuration. 2. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit for giving an instruction to the image reading and recording apparatus above the card-shaped storage medium insertion unit. 3. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the step portion above the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion is a part of an exterior member of operation means for giving an instruction to the image reading and recording apparatus. . Card-shaped storage medium control means capable of recording the image data stored in the storage medium in the recording means, wherein a stepped portion above the card-shaped storage medium insertion unit is provided with a card-shaped storage medium control means. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading and recording apparatus is a part of an exterior member. In a state where the card storage medium is mounted in the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion, an end of the step portion is arranged on the front side with respect to a rear end in the insertion direction of the mounted card-shaped storage medium. 2. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: In a state where the card storage medium is mounted in the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion, there is a space of at least 5 mm or more in a vertical direction from the top surface of the card storage medium to the lower surface of the step portion above the card-shaped storage medium insertion portion. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

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