JP2006197179A - Image scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image scanner which can be made small in size, and maintain satisfactory discharge loading performance without restricting processable original size, and of which the cost can be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: This image scanner is constituted mainly of an image scanner body 100 and an image recording unit 200 which is freely attachably/detachably mounted on the image scanner body 100. The image scanner body 100 has: image reading sensors 106 and 109 for reading the image of a document P; a U turn conveyance path 131 for conveying a read original P while reversing it upside down; a straight conveyance path 130 for conveying the read document P to an image recording unit 200; and a flapper 115 for switching the conveyance path of the read document P to the U turn conveyance path 131 or the straight conveyance path 130. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus including an image reading apparatus main body and an option unit such as an image recording apparatus that can be attached to the image reading apparatus main body.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image reading apparatus such as a document scanner, an image recording apparatus capable of recording additional information such as a date, a serial number, a processing code, and a mark on a document from which the image information has been read as necessary. Is available as an optional unit.

  Such additional information is generally recorded in an image at a predetermined position on the front or back side of the document. For this reason, the image recording apparatus is mounted at a position where an image can be recorded on the front surface or the back surface of the document according to a desired application corresponding to the document conveyance path of the image reading apparatus.

  As the image recording apparatus, there is a type incorporated in the main body of the image reading apparatus. Also, there is an external type that can be independently attached to the image reading apparatus as the main body according to the user's application (see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus in which the image recording apparatus is mounted inside the main body. As shown in FIG. 4, the image reading apparatus 1 is detachable from a front-side image recording device 18 that records an image on the front side of a document and a back-side image recording device 19 that records an image on the back side of the document. In preparation.

  The image recording devices 18 and 19 are optional units that can be attached to and detached from the image reading device 1. The image recording devices 18 and 19 are arbitrarily selected as necessary, and are attached to the image reading device 1 for use. Spaces A and B in which the image recording devices 18 and 19 can be mounted are provided in the image reading device 1. On the feeding tray 2 in the image reading apparatus 1, sheet-like originals P are stacked and set with the front side facing up. The uppermost document P stacked on the feeding tray 2 is fed out by driving the feeding roller 3, separated one by one by the conveying roller 4 and the separating roller 5, and sequentially fed.

  The separately fed document P is transported at a predetermined speed along the document transport path in the image reading apparatus 1 by the transport roller pairs 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 15. At that time, an image on the surface of the original is first read by the image reading sensor 7 disposed between the pair of conveying rollers 6 and 9. Subsequently, an image on the back side of the document is read by the image reading sensor 10 disposed between the pair of conveying rollers 9 and 12.

  Platen rollers 8 and 11 are arranged on the opposite sides of the image reading sensors 7 and 10. This conveyance path is a U-turn (U-shaped) conveyance path from the pair of conveyance rollers 13 to the discharge tray 17 disposed on the upper surface of the main body of the image reading apparatus 1. As a result, the conveyed document is discharged from the discharge roller pair 16 to the discharge tray 17 of the discharge unit.

  The discharged document is stacked on the discharge tray 17 with the back side facing up. As described above, the U-turn conveyance path is provided, and the originals are turned upside down and discharged, so that the stacking order of the original bundles stacked on the feeding tray 2 is the same in the discharge tray 17.

  When the additional information is recorded on the surface of the document P from which the image information has been read, the image recording is performed by the image recording device 18 provided at the position of the space A on the conveyance path. When the additional information is image-recorded on the back side, the image is recorded by the image recording device 19 provided at the position of the space B on the conveyance path with respect to the document turned upside down by the U-turn conveyance path. Normally, the image recording of the additional information on the document is generally performed on either the front surface or the back surface (single surface) of the document, but depending on the application, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to record images on both the front and back sides (both sides) of the document with 18 and 19 attached.

  FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus equipped with an external type image recording apparatus that can be independently mounted outside the main body. As shown in FIG. 5, the image reading apparatus 30 is detachably attached to the document discharge portion of the image reading apparatus 30 without providing the image recording apparatuses 18 and 19 inside the image reading apparatus.

  The image recording unit 20 includes a pair of conveying rollers 21 and 22, an image recording device 18 disposed at a position where an image can be recorded on the front surface of the document, and an image recording device 19 disposed at a position where an image can be recorded on the back surface of the document. It has. The document P discharged from the discharge roller pair 16 of the image reading device 30 is transported by the transport roller pair 21 in the image recording unit 20. The conveyed document P is image-recorded on the front or back surface by the image recording device 18 or 19. The recorded document P is discharged to the discharge tray 17 of the document discharge unit of the image reading device 30 by the conveying roller pair 22.

  In addition, a configuration of a mounting detection unit that detects that an optional unit (image recording device or the like) is correctly mounted on the image reading apparatus main body is disclosed (see Patent Document 2).

JP-A-11-115299 JP 05-028744 A

  Any of the conventional image recording apparatuses as optional units can be freely mounted on the image reading apparatus. However, when mounting in the image reading apparatus main body, it is necessary to provide a mounting space for the image recording apparatus in the document transport path of the image reading apparatus, and the document transport path must be set long. For this reason, even when the optional unit is not installed, there is a problem that the size of the image reading apparatus is increased.

  On the other hand, in the external type image reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the image recording apparatus is mounted in the discharge space. For this reason, there is a problem that the discharge space is narrowed and the manuscript size that can be processed is limited. In addition, since the document discharge position is different (because it is on the downstream side in the transport direction), there is a problem that the document discharge and stacking performance deteriorates, such as the discharged document sticking out of the discharge tray.

  Further, in the image reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, mounting detection means and a mechanism for detecting mounting of an optional unit that is unnecessary when the optional unit is not mounted are provided on the main body side or the option side. For this reason, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the image reading apparatus main body and the option unit increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides an image reading apparatus that can be reduced in size, can maintain a good discharge stacking performance without limiting the size of documents that can be processed, and can reduce costs. With the goal.

  In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention is an image reading apparatus including an image reading apparatus main body and an option unit detachably attached to the image reading apparatus main body. The image reading apparatus main body includes an image reading unit that reads an image of a document, a U-turn conveyance path that reverses the front and back while conveying the read document, a straight conveyance path that conveys the read document to the option unit, and a read document Transport path switching means for switching the transport path to the U-turn transport path or the straight transport path.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size, and it is possible to maintain good discharge stacking performance without limiting the manuscript size that can be processed.

  Further, a switching position detecting means for detecting the switching position of the transport path switching means is provided, and the switching position detecting means is used as a mounting detecting means for detecting the mounting state of the image recording apparatus and the image reading apparatus main body, thereby reducing the cost. Can be achieved.

  An embodiment of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus main body and an image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, and shows a state before the image recording apparatus is mounted on the image reading apparatus main body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus includes an image reading apparatus main body 100 and an image recording unit 200 which is an example of an external option unit. In addition to the image recording unit 200, an OCR device, a barcode reader, a MICR device, or the like can be used as an optional unit.

(Image reader main unit)
The image reading apparatus main body 100 stacks and sets a sheet-like document P on the feeding tray 101 with the front side facing up. The uppermost document P stacked on the feeding tray 101 is fed out by driving the feeding roller 102, separated one by one by the conveyance roller 103 and the separation roller 104, and sequentially fed.

  The separately fed document P is conveyed at a predetermined speed along the document conveyance path in the image reading apparatus main body 100 by the conveyance roller pairs 105, 108, 111, and 112. At that time, an image reading sensor 106 which is an example of an image reading unit disposed between the pair of conveying rollers 105 and 108 reads an image on the surface of the document. Subsequently, an image reading sensor 109 which is an example of an image reading unit disposed between the conveyance roller pairs 108 and 111 reads an image on the back side of the document. On the opposite side of the image reading sensors 106 and 109, platen rollers 107 and 110 are arranged.

  This conveyance path is a U-turn (U-shaped) conveyance path 131 from the conveyance roller pair 112 and thereafter toward the discharge tray 114 disposed on the upper surface portion of the image reading apparatus main body 100. The U-turn conveyance path 131 reverses the front and back while conveying the read document. That is, the document P conveyed along the U-turn conveyance path 131 is discharged onto the discharge tray 114 by the discharge roller pair 113 with the back surface facing up.

  At the entrance of the U-turn conveyance path 131, a flapper 115 serving as a conveyance path switching unit is provided. The flapper 115 switches the conveyance path of the read document P to the U-turn conveyance path 131 or the straight conveyance path 130 in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the image recording unit 200 to the image reading apparatus main body 100.

  A tension spring 117 is connected to one end of the arm portion 115a of the flapper 115. The flapper 115 sends the document P to the U-turn conveyance path 131 in a state where the arm portion 115a is pulled by the tension spring 117. Further, the flapper 115 is pushed by a later-described protrusion 209 and rotates against the tension of the tension spring 117, thereby feeding the document P to the U-turn conveyance path 131.

(Image recording unit)
In the image recording unit 200, a U-turn (U-shaped) conveyance path 206 is formed by a pair of conveyance rollers 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 and a guide plate. A front surface image recording device 207 capable of recording an image on the surface of the transported original P can be disposed between the transport roller pair 201 and 202. Further, a back side image recording device 208 capable of recording an image on the back side of the transported document can be disposed between the pair of transport rollers 204 and 205. One or both of the image recording devices 207 and 208 can be selected as necessary.

  Note that the image recording apparatuses 207 and 208 use an inkjet recording head or the like, and the same apparatus can be used. Cost reduction can be achieved by using the same one.

  The image recording unit 200 can be mounted on the U-turn conveyance path 131 side opposite to the discharge tray 114 of the image reading apparatus main body 100, and is mounted on the image reading apparatus main body 100 from the direction of arrow C.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the image reading apparatus in a state where the image recording unit 200 is mounted on the image reading apparatus main body 100. As shown in FIG. 2, when the image recording apparatus 200 is mounted on the image reading apparatus main body 100, the protrusions 209 such as pins provided on the image recording unit 200 pass through the guide holes 119 of the image reading apparatus main body 100 and the flapper 115. The arm portion 115a is pushed in. As a result, the flapper 115 is rotated around the fulcrum 115b to be in a position to send the original P to the straight conveyance path 130 below the U-turn conveyance path 131, and the conveyance path is switched.

  The straight conveyance path 130 conveys the read original document to the image recording unit 200. Accordingly, the original P from which an image has been read in the image reading apparatus main body 100 is conveyed straight through the straight conveyance path 130 without passing through the U-turn conveyance path 131 inside the image reading apparatus main body 100. Then, it is conveyed into the image recording unit 200 by the conveying roller pair 116.

  The document P transported into the image recording unit 200 is turned upside down while being transported through the U-turn transport path 206, returned again into the image reading apparatus main body 100, and discharged onto the discharge tray 114 by the discharge roller pair 113. The

  In the image reading apparatus main body 100, a photo interrupter 118 is provided as an example of a switching position detecting means for detecting the switching position of the flapper 115. It also serves as mounting detection means for detecting the mounting state of the image recording unit 200 to the image reading apparatus main body 100.

  By detecting the movement of the arm portion 115a of the flapper 115 with the photo interrupter 118, it is possible to detect which of the U-turn conveyance path 131 and the straight conveyance path 130 is switched.

  That is, when the image recording unit 200 is attached to the image reading apparatus main body 100, the position displacement of the flapper 115 is detected by the photo interrupter 118. Therefore, the image recording unit 200 is added to the image reading apparatus main body 100 by this detection signal. It can be detected that it is installed correctly. As a result, not only the electrical connection between the image reading apparatus main body 100 and the image recording unit 200 via the communication cable or the connection connector, but also the actual mounting at the correct position without mechanical gaps or positional deviation. You can also check if it is done.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide an attachment detection means for detecting that the image recording unit 200 is attached to the image reading apparatus main body 100 in the image reading apparatus main body 100 or the image recording unit 200.

  In addition to the photointerrupter 118, various detection devices such as a reflective optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a microswitch can be used as the switching position detection means.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system for the image reading apparatus main body 100 and the image recording unit 200. As shown in FIG. 3, in the image reading apparatus main body 100, when the user operates a scan start instruction button on the operation unit 120 mounted in the apparatus or receives a scan start command from an external PC 126. Then, the image reading apparatus main body 100 starts operation.

  The image reading apparatus main body 100 includes a control unit 128. The control means 128 drives the image reading sensors (front surface reading sensor 106, back surface reading sensor 109), and conveying means 102, 103, 105, 108, 111, 112, 113, 116 such as a conveying roller for conveying the original P. The conveyance drive motor 127 to be controlled is controlled.

  Based on the original detection signal from the original detection sensor 129, the image data of the original P read by the image reading sensor (the front side reading sensor 106 and the back side reading sensor 109) at a predetermined timing is AD converted by the AD converters 121 and 122. Is done. Thereafter, predetermined processing is performed by the image processing units 123 and 124 and stored in the image memory. The stored image is transferred from the I / F unit 125 to the external PC 126.

  The image recording unit 200 mounted on the image reading apparatus main body 100 similarly controls the conveyance drive motor 210 that drives the conveyance means 201, 202, 203, 204, 205 such as a conveyance roller for conveying the original P. Means 211 are provided. It should be noted that the conveyance means 201, 202, 203, 204, and 205 are connected by a mechanical drive coupling mechanism such as a coupling gear using the conveyance driving motor 127 on the image reading apparatus main body 100 side without using the conveyance driving motor 210. It may be driven.

  In a state where the image recording unit 200 is correctly mounted, a detection signal from a photo interrupter (conveyance path switching position detection sensor) 118 in the image reading apparatus main body 100 is detected.

  The image recording unit 200 detects a document carried in from the image reading apparatus main body 100 by the document detection sensor 212. An arbitrary character is recorded by an image recording apparatus (front recording means 207, back recording means 208) for recording images on the front and back sides of the document at a predetermined timing, and recording drive circuits 213 and 214 and control means 211 for driving them. Alternatively, image data can be recorded.

  The control means 128 of the image reading apparatus main body 100 and the control means 211 of the image recording unit 200 are connected by a cable so as to be able to transfer data to each other. Then, setting of recording contents, recording position, whether or not to perform recording, and the like can be performed from the operation unit 120 of the image reading apparatus main body 100 or the externally connected PC 126.

  The transport path of the read document is switched in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the image recording unit 200. However, a detection unit for detecting the attachment / detachment of the image recording unit 200 is separately provided to switch the flapper 115 electrically. It is good also as a structure.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the flapper 115 is provided, the image recording unit 200 can be provided on the side opposite to the discharge tray 114 of the image reading apparatus main body 100.

  Thus, it is not necessary to provide a space for mounting the image recording apparatus in the document conveyance path of the image reading apparatus main body 100, and it is not necessary to set a long document conveyance path. Therefore, even when an optional unit such as the image reading apparatus main body 100 is not mounted, the image reading apparatus is not increased in size, and the image reading apparatus can be reduced in size.

  Further, the discharge space for the original P is not narrowed, and the size of the original that can be processed by the image recording unit 200 is not limited. In addition, the document discharge position does not fall downstream in the transport direction, and document discharge stacking performance does not deteriorate, such as the document being discharged out of the discharge tray. Can do.

  In addition, a switching position detection unit that detects a switching position of the conveyance path switching unit is provided, and the switching position detection unit is also used as a mounting detection unit that detects a mounting state of the image recording apparatus and the image reading apparatus main body. Accordingly, it is not necessary to separately provide a mounting detection means or mechanism for detecting the mounting of the optional unit that is not required when the optional unit is not mounted, and the manufacturing cost of the image reading apparatus main body and the optional unit can be reduced.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment (a state before an image recording apparatus is mounted on an image reading apparatus main body). 1 is a configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus (a state in which an image recording apparatus is mounted on an image reading apparatus main body). 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the image reading apparatus. FIG. It is a block diagram of the conventional image reading apparatus. It is a block diagram of the conventional image reading apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

P: Document, 100: Image reading apparatus main body, 101: Feed tray, 102, 103 ... Conveyance roller, 104 ... Separation roller, 105, 108, 111-116 ... Conveyance roller pair, 106, 109 ... Image reading sensor (Image 107, 110 ... Platen roller, 113 ... Discharge roller pair, 114 ... Discharge tray, 115 ... Flapper (corresponding to transport path switching means), 115a ... Arm part, 115b ... Support point, 117 ... Tension spring, 118 ... Photo interrupter (corresponding to switching position detecting means and mounting detecting means), 119 ... guide hole, 120 ... operating section, 121, 122 ... AD converter, 123,124 ... image processing section, 125 ... I / F section, 126 ... PC, 127 ... conveyance drive motor, 128 ... control means, 129 ... document detection sensor, 130 ... straight conveyance path, 131,206 ... U-turn conveyance path, 200 ... image recording unit (corresponding to optional unit), 201- 205 ... Pair of conveying rollers, 207, 208 ... Image recording device, 209 ... Projection, 210 ... Carrying Drive motor

Claims (4)

In an image reading apparatus comprising an image reading apparatus main body and an option unit detachably attached to the image reading apparatus main body,
The image reading apparatus main body includes an image reading unit that reads an image of an original, a U-turn conveyance path that reverses the front and back while conveying the read original, a straight conveyance path that conveys the read original to the option unit, and a read completed An image reading apparatus comprising: a conveyance path switching unit configured to switch a document conveyance path to the U-turn conveyance path or the straight conveyance path. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optional unit has a U-turn conveyance path that reverses the original conveyed from the straight conveyance path and conveys the original to the image reading apparatus main body. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance path switching unit switches a conveyance path of a read document in conjunction with an attaching / detaching operation of the option unit to / from the image reading apparatus main body. . The image reading apparatus main body includes a switching position detecting means for detecting a switching position of the transport path switching means, and the switching position detecting means detects the mounting state of the option unit on the image reading apparatus main body. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image reading apparatus also serves as a means.

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