JP2006205398A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means capable of improving operability of a scanner by facilitating placement of a manuscript on the scanner in a vertical-installation type image recorder having a printing function and a scanning function. <P>SOLUTION: This compound apparatus 1 records an image by conveying a recording paper sheet P in a flat thin boxy printer enclosure 20. The compound apparatus 1 comprises a vertical-installation type printer section 2 to be placed such that a thickness-extension direction of the printer enclosure 20 is of a vertical direction. The compound apparatus further comprises a scanner section 3 wherein a reading face 32a as one face of a flat thin boxy scanner enclosure 30 is opposite to the printer enclosure 20, the top end side of the scanner enclosure 30 is made to be openable, the lower end of the scanner enclosure 30 is pivoted to the printer enclosure 20, and an image of a manuscript Q placed on the reading face 32a can be read in the inclination attitude of the scanner enclosure 30 that the reading face 32a is inclined at a prescribed angle from the vertical face to the opening side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vertical image recording apparatus having both a printer function and a scanner function.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image recording apparatus having both a printer function and a scanner function is known as a multi-function device (MFD). FIG. 10 shows an external configuration of a conventional image recording apparatus. As shown in FIG. 10, the image recording apparatus 90 is provided with a printer unit 91 at the bottom and a scanner unit 92 at the top. The printer unit 91, which is a functional device, is mainly connected to a computer (not shown) and records an image or document on a recording sheet based on image data or document data transmitted from the computer. The unit 92 reads image data of various documents, converts it into image data, and outputs the image data to a computer or the like.

  As shown in the drawing, an opening 93 is formed in the front of the printer unit 91, and a paper feed tray 94 and a paper discharge tray 95 are provided in two upper and lower stages so as to be exposed to the opening 93. Inside the printer unit 91, a laterally substantially U-shaped transport path is formed so that the paper feed tray 94 and the paper discharge tray 95 are continuous, and the inkjet recording head is transported in the transport path. A recording unit that scans in the width direction and ejects ink droplets is provided. By such a printer unit 91, the recording paper accommodated in the paper feed tray 94 is fed to a conveyance path in the printer unit 91 by conveyance means such as a conveyance roller (not shown), and in the conveyance path by the recording unit. After a desired image is recorded, it is discharged to the paper discharge tray 95 and image recording is performed.

  The scanner unit 92 is configured as a so-called flatbed scanner, and a platen glass and an image reading carriage (not shown) are provided below a document cover 96 that can be opened and closed as a top plate of the image recording apparatus 90. An image reading carriage is scanned in a predetermined direction so as to read an image of a document placed on the platen glass.

  Like the printer unit 91 of the image recording apparatus 90 described above, in the case where the recording paper is held by the paper feed tray 94 or the paper discharge tray 95 in a posture in which the recording surface is substantially horizontal, the width and depth are as shown in the figure. A flat and thin box-shaped device housing larger than the thickness (height) is installed horizontally so that the direction in which the thickness extends becomes the horizontal direction. However, since the horizontally installed image recording device has a large floor area for installation, a vertically installed image recording device in which the direction in which the thickness of the device casing extends is vertical is proposed to reduce the installation space. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-127484 A

  However, when the multi-function device having both the printer function and the scanner function is set to the vertical type, there is a problem that it is difficult to read an image with the scanner in the vertical type. More specifically, when the apparatus is placed vertically, the reading surface of the platen glass of the scanner becomes a vertical surface, so that the document is placed on the platen glass in the scanner unit 92 as in the case of the horizontal image recording apparatus 90 described above. Can not be mounted on. Therefore, the original is positioned so as to be in close contact with the platen glass in a standing posture, and the original is pressed by the original cover, but it is not easy to position the original at a predetermined position of the platen glass on the vertical surface. In particular, when a vertically installed device is installed on the floor, the user bends close to the floor and fixes the document, which causes a problem that the scanner is difficult to use. Further, after the document is positioned at a predetermined position on the platen glass, the document may move from the predetermined position by sliding or peeling off until it is pressed by the document cover, and it is difficult to fix the document. There is also a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and in a vertically installed image recording apparatus having both a printer function and a scanner function, it is possible to easily set a document on the scanner and improve the operability of the scanner. It aims to provide a means.

  An image recording apparatus according to the present invention conveys a recording medium in a flat and thin box-shaped printer casing and records an image on the recording medium, and the direction in which the thickness of the printer casing extends vertically The vertical printer unit installed as a direction and the reading surface that forms one surface of the flat and thin box-shaped scanner housing face the outer peripheral surface of the printer housing, and the upper end side of the scanner housing can be opened and closed. The lower end of the scanner casing is pivotally attached to the printer casing, and the reading surface can read an image on the reading medium on the reading surface in an inclined posture inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical surface toward the open side. And a scanner unit. When the scanner casing is opened to the inclined posture in which the reading surface is inclined to the open side by a predetermined angle from the vertical plane, a gap is generated between the upper end of the scanner casing and the outer peripheral surface of the printer casing. A read medium can be inserted and positioned on the reading surface. Further, since the reading surface of the scanner housing is inclined toward the open side, the read medium can be inserted obliquely downward from the open side of the scanner housing. Further, since the reading surface is inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical surface, the inserted read medium is in close contact with the reading surface by its own weight.

  According to the present invention, in the image recording apparatus, a stopper for hooking a read medium is provided on the lower end side of the reading surface. As a result, the medium to be read inserted from the gap between the scanner housings in the inclined posture slides down along the reading surface due to its own weight, is latched by the stopper, and is fixed at a predetermined position on the reading surface.

  In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the scanner unit may be configured such that the reading medium on the reading surface has an open posture in which the upper end side of the scanner housing is inclined downward by a predetermined angle from a position where the reading surface is a horizontal plane. These images can be read. As a result, the scanner housing can be opened with the printer unit placed vertically, and a thick medium to be read can be read by the scanner unit.

  In the image recording apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the scanner housing may change in posture to at least three postures of a closed posture in which the reading surface is closed to an outer peripheral surface of the printer housing, an inclined posture, and an open posture. It can be opened and closed. As a result, when the printer unit is kept in the vertical position and the scanner unit is not used, the scanner housing is closed to prevent dust and the like from adhering to the reading surface and to save space in the image recording apparatus. In use, image reading can be performed with the scanner housing in a desired posture in accordance with the thickness of the medium to be read.

  According to the present invention, in the image recording apparatus, the scanner housing can be opened and closed so that the posture of the scanner housing changes between the inclined posture and the open posture. In the inclined posture, the image of the thin read medium can be read while the printer unit is in the vertical position, and in the open posture, the image of the thick read medium can be read.

  According to the present invention, in the image recording apparatus, the scanner housing is disposed on the front side of the printer housing. As a result, the space required for tilting and opening / closing the scanner casing can be concentrated on the front side of the printer casing, that is, on the front side of the image recording apparatus.

  As described above, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the scanner housing is opened to the inclined posture in which the reading surface is inclined to the open side by a predetermined angle from the vertical surface, and the scanner housing is opened from the front side of the image recording device. Since the medium to be read can be inserted into the gap formed between the upper end of the body and the outer peripheral surface of the printer casing and can be easily positioned on the reading surface, the operability is good. Further, since the inserted read medium is in close contact with the reading surface inclined by its own weight, the image reading accuracy is improved.

  Further, if the read medium is inserted from the upper end of the scanner housing so as to slide down along the reading surface, the read medium is fixed at a predetermined position by a stopper provided on the lower end side of the reading surface. The read medium can be positioned easily and easily, and operability is good.

  In addition, since the scanner housing can be opened to the open position with the printer unit in the vertical position, it is easy to read a thick read medium while saving the installation area of the image recording device. High nature.

  In addition, when the scanner housing is in an arbitrary posture of a closed posture, an inclined posture, and an open posture, and dust is not attached to the reading surface when the scanner unit is not used, space saving of the image recording apparatus can be achieved. In addition, when using it, the scanner housing can be read in a desired posture according to the thickness of the read medium, etc., so that the installation area of the image recording device is saved. The practicality of the scanner unit is improved as it is.

  In addition, since the scanner housing can be opened and closed so as to change the posture between the tilted posture and the open posture, in the tilted posture, the image of a thin read medium can be read while the printer unit is in the vertical position. In the open posture, it is possible to read an image of a thick read medium.

  In addition, by arranging on the front side of the printer casing and concentrating the space necessary for tilting and opening / closing the scanner casing on the front side of the printer casing, that is, on the front side of the image recording apparatus, Since there is no need for a space other than the installation on the back side, the installation space for installing the image recording apparatus on the wall or the like can be reduced, and the operability is improved because the operation of the apparatus is concentrated on the front side. .

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
FIG. 1 shows an external configuration of a multifunction machine 1 (image recording apparatus) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The multifunction machine 1 is a multi-function device (MFD) having a printer unit 2 on the back side and a scanner unit 3 on the front side, and has both a printer function and a scanner function. is there. Note that the multifunction machine 1 may be further provided with a communication unit to have a facsimile function or the like. The multifunction device 1 is mainly connected to a computer (not shown), the printer unit 2 records an image or document on a recording sheet based on the image data or document data transmitted from the computer, and the scanner unit 3 In addition to reading image data from various originals and converting it to image data, the image data is output to a computer or the like. In addition, image data output from a digital camera connected to a digital camera is recorded on a recording sheet. It is also possible to load various recording media and record image data or the like recorded on the recording medium on a recording sheet.

  As shown in the figure, the printer housing 20 of the printer unit 2 has a width W and a height T corresponding to the maximum width recording paper capable of image recording, for example, A4 size recording paper. The width W and the height T are somewhat larger than the A4 size so that paper can be accommodated and transported in the apparatus. On the other hand, the depth D is smaller than both the width W and the height T, and the overall shape of the printer housing 20 is a flat thin box shape. The printer unit 2 is of a vertical type in which such a printer casing 20 is installed with the direction in which the thickness extends, that is, the longitudinal direction of the side surface of the printer casing 20 as the vertical direction (z-axis direction). . In this way, by using the printer unit 2 as a vertical type, it is possible to reduce the floor area for installing the multifunction machine 1 and to save space such as an office space.

  A recording paper storage unit 21 (not shown) is formed on the back side of the printer housing 20, and a paper discharge port 22 is opened on the upper surface of the printer housing 20. As will be described in detail later, a transport path 23 is formed from the recording paper storage unit 21 to the paper discharge port 22, and the recording paper on which image recording has been performed by the ink jet recording head 24 in the transport path 23 The paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 22.

  An operation panel 4 for operating the multifunction machine 1 is disposed on the upper surface of the printer casing 20 and on the rear side of the paper discharge port 22. The operation panel 4 includes various operation buttons and a liquid crystal display unit. The multifunction device 1 is also connected to a computer and transmitted from the computer via a printer driver or a scanner driver in response to an operation instruction from the operation panel 4. It is designed to operate according to instructions. The upper surface of the printer casing 20 is inclined downward toward the front side, and the operation panel 4 is also arranged corresponding to the inclination. As a result, the various operation buttons and the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 4 can be viewed from both the front side and the top side, so that the visibility can be improved regardless of whether the multifunction device 1 is installed on the table or on the floor. And has the advantage of good operability.

  Further, the side surface of the printer housing 20 is provided with a slot portion 5 into which various small memory cards as recording media can be loaded. As shown in the figure, when not in use, the opening is opened by an openable / closable door. Sealing prevents entry of foreign matters such as dust. It is possible to load a small memory card into the slot unit 5 and read out the recorded image data and display it on the liquid crystal display unit of the operation panel 4 so that an arbitrary image can be recorded on the recording paper by the printer unit 2. is there.

  Further, an ink cartridge storage unit 6 in which, for example, ink cartridges of each color ink of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) is loaded is provided on the side surface of the printer housing 20. As in the case of the slot portion 5, when the ink cartridge is not exchanged, the opening is sealed by an openable / closable door to prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering. The positional relationship between the slot portion 5 and the ink cartridge storage portion 6 is arbitrary. However, as shown in the figure, the slot portion 5 is arranged above the ink cartridge storage portion 6 so that the ink cartridge storage portion 6 has ink. Even if leakage or the like occurs, it is preferable that the electronic components of the small memory card and the slot portion 5 are not contaminated by the ink.

  Further, a handle 7 formed in a U-shape so as not to interfere with the operation panel 4 is provided on the upper portion of the printer casing 20 so as to be swingable so as to fall or stand on the upper surface of the printer casing 20. ing. When the multifunction machine 1 is used, the handle 7 stands up from the upper surface as shown in the figure, and becomes a handle for carrying the device, and when not in use, the handle 7 falls to the upper surface. Thus, the paper discharge port 22 is sealed to prevent foreign matters such as dust and dust from entering the apparatus. Such swinging of the handle 7 may be performed manually by the user, or may be automatically swung by applying a driving force from a motor or the like in conjunction with activation of the apparatus.

  The scanner unit 3 is configured as a so-called flat bed scanner. As shown in the figure, the scanner housing 30 of the scanner unit 3 also has a width and height corresponding to a maximum original capable of reading an image, for example, an A4 size original, and has a width and height higher than that of the A4 size. Somewhat big. On the other hand, the thickness (depth) is smaller than both the width and the height, and the entire shape of the scanner housing 30 is a flat thin box shape. The reading surface of the scanner unit 3 is configured as one surface of the scanner housing 30 and is opposed to the outer peripheral surface on the front side of the printer housing 20 although not shown in the drawing. Further, the lower end side of the scanner casing 30 is pivotally attached to the printer casing 20, and the upper end side of the scanner casing 30 can be opened and closed to the front side.

  When the scanner unit 3 is not used, as shown in the drawing, the outer shape of the entire apparatus is flat and thin in the same direction as the thickness direction of the printer casing 20 and the scanner casing 30, and the entire apparatus The direction in which the thickness extends is the vertical direction, and the multifunction device 1 as a whole is of a vertical type. Although details will be described later, when the scanner unit 3 is used, the scanner unit 30 is tilted to the front side by grasping the holding unit 31 formed at the upper end of the scanner unit 30, and the reading surface is A desired document is positioned on the platen glass to be configured, and an image of the document is read by an image sensor.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the multifunction machine 1. As shown in the figure, the printer unit 2 is included in the printer housing 20 so as to include a recording paper storage unit 21, a conveyance path 23, an ink jet recording head 24, a platen 25, an electrical component 26, and a paper discharge stack 27. Etc.

  The recording paper storage unit 21 stores recording paper, which is a recording medium, and feeds the recording paper to the transport path 23. The recording paper storage unit 21 stores recording papers of various sizes such as A4 size and below, B5 size, and postcard size. Is possible. Specifically, the recording paper storage unit 21 has a space recessed on the back side of the printer housing 20, and the space includes a partition plate 40 provided inside the printer housing 20, and the printer housing. 20 and a lid 41 constituting the back surface of 20. As shown in the figure, the lid 41 is tiltably provided on the back side of the apparatus. The lid 41 is tilted to open the recording paper storage unit 21 so that a desired recording paper can be loaded. . The plurality of recording papers P stored in the recording paper storage unit 21 are held in a standing posture with the recording surface facing the inside of the apparatus, as shown in the figure.

  As shown in the figure, the lower part of the recording paper storage unit 21 continues to the transport path 23, and the recording paper P held in the recording paper storage unit 21 is separated and transported to the lower part of the partition plate 40 one by one. A paper feed roller 42 for supplying to the path 23 is provided. The paper feed roller 42 is rotated by a drive of a motor (not shown) transmitted by a drive transmission mechanism (not shown) in which a plurality of gears are engaged. On the other hand, a guide 43 for holding the lower end portion of the recording paper P at the paper feed position is disposed below the recording paper storage unit 21 so as to face the paper feed roller 42. The guide 43 is biased toward the paper feed roller 42 by a spring or the like (not shown), and presses the recording paper P against the paper feed roller 42 in a standing posture. Accordingly, when the paper feed roller 42 rotates while being in pressure contact with the recording paper P, the recording paper P is fed downward by the frictional force with the paper feeding roller 42 and fed to the transport path 23.

  In the present embodiment, the recording paper storage unit 21 is provided in the printer housing 20, but a so-called paper feed cassette provided along the back surface outside the printer housing 20 may be used. At this time, the sheet feeding cassette may feed the recording sheet to the transport path 23 while standing, or the sheet feeding cassette may be slightly inclined during use.

  The conveyance path 23 is formed downward from the lower part of the recording paper storage unit 21, is reversed near the bottom of the printer housing 20, and then extends upward to be formed on the upper surface of the printer housing 20. 22 leads to. Accordingly, the recording paper P fed from the recording paper storage unit 21 is transported downward in a standing posture by the transporting path 23, and then reversed so as to make a U-turn to be in a standing posture again and transported upward. Then, the paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 22. In this way, the conveyance path 23 is a U-shaped path along the thickness direction of the printer casing 20, and the recording paper P is conveyed in a standing posture, thereby reducing the thickness of the printer casing 20 and the multifunction peripheral. 1 can be reduced in size, and the floor area required for installing the multifunction machine 1 can be reduced.

  The conveyance path 23 is composed of an outer guide surface and an inner guide surface that face each other at a predetermined interval, except for a portion where the inkjet recording head 24 and the platen 25 are disposed. Such an outer guide surface and an inner guide surface may be such that, for example, the guide member is appropriately fixed in the printer housing 20, or the outer guide surface may be formed integrally with the printer housing 20. Although not shown in the figure, if the transport roller is appropriately disposed at a location where the transport path 23 is curved, the recording paper P that contacts the guide surface can be transported smoothly.

  Further, as shown in the drawing, an ink jet recording head 24 is provided at the lowermost portion of the U-shaped transport path 23, that is, at a position where the transport path 23 makes a U-turn. The ink jet recording head 24 is arranged on the inner side of the transport path 23 so as to be able to eject ink droplets downward from its lower surface so as to be able to scan in the width direction of the transport path 23, that is, the y-axis direction in FIG. ing. On the other hand, a platen 25 is disposed outside the conveyance path 23 below the ink jet recording head 24.

  The ink jet recording head 24 includes cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) supplied from a cartridge such as a tube from an ink cartridge (not shown) installed in the printer casing 20. ), While scanning each color ink, the image is recorded on the recording paper P transported on the platen 25. Although not shown in the drawing, the transport path is disposed inside the transport path 23. 23 is mounted on a scanning carriage that is slidably provided on a guide member extending in the width direction, and the scanning carriage is slid along the guide member by a belt driving mechanism or the like, thereby Scanning is possible with the width direction of 23 as the main scanning direction. The ink jet recording head 24 can employ a known structure for discharging each ink. For example, if the side wall of each channel is made of a piezoelectric material and ink droplets are discharged by deformation of the piezoelectric material, the structure can be used. Good.

  The platen 25 horizontally supports the recording paper P transported through the transport path 23 from the ink jet recording head 24 at a predetermined head gap, and the recording paper covers the image recording range of the ink jet recording head 24. It has a horizontal plane that supports P. Although not shown in the drawing, the ink jet recording head 24 ejects ink to the side of the platen 25 outside the image recording range of the ink jet recording head 24 in order to prevent thickening of ink and to remove foreign matters. A waste ink tray for storing the ink and a purge mechanism for sucking and removing foreign matters and bubbles from the inkjet recording head 24 are appropriately provided.

  On the upstream side of the ink jet recording head 24, a pair of transport rollers 44 and a pressing roller 45 are provided that sandwich the recording paper P transported through the transport path 23 and transport it onto the platen 25. On the other hand, on the downstream side of the ink jet recording head 24, a pair of transport rollers 46 and a spur roller 47 are provided that sandwich and transport the recorded recording paper P. A driving force is transmitted to the transport rollers 44 and 45 from a motor (not shown), and is intermittently driven with a predetermined line feed width.

  On the other hand, the pressing roller 45 is urged so as to be pressed against the conveying roller 44 with a predetermined pressing force and is rotatably provided. When the recording sheet P enters between the conveying roller 44, the recording sheet P The recording paper P is retracted by the thickness of the recording paper P, and the recording paper P is sandwiched with the conveying roller 44, so that the rotational force of the conveying roller 44 is reliably transmitted to the recording paper. The spur roller 47 is also provided in the same manner with respect to the transport roller 46. However, since the spur roller 47 is pressed against the recorded recording paper P, the roller surface has a spur shape so as not to deteriorate the image recorded on the recording paper P. It is uneven.

  Accordingly, the recording paper P sandwiched between the transport roller 44 and the pressing roller 45 is intermittently transported on the platen 25 with a predetermined line feed width, and the ink jet recording head 24 is scanned for each line feed and the recording paper P Image recording is performed from the front end side. Thereafter, the leading end side of the recording paper P on which image recording has been performed is sandwiched between the conveying roller 46 and the spur roller 47, and the recording paper P is conveyed on the leading end side to the conveying roller 46 and the spur roller 47, and on the rear end side. While being sandwiched between the roller 44 and the pressing roller 45, it is intermittently conveyed with a predetermined line feed width, and image recording is similarly performed by the ink jet recording head 24. When the recording paper P is further conveyed, the trailing edge of the recording paper P passes through the conveying roller 44 and the pressing roller 45, and the nipping by these is released, and the conveying roller 46 and the spur roller 47 have a predetermined line feed width. It is conveyed intermittently and image recording is similarly performed by the inkjet recording head 24. After image recording is performed on a predetermined area of the recording paper P, the transport roller 46 is continuously driven to rotate, and the recording paper P held by the transport roller 46 and the spur roller 47 is in a standing posture on the transport path 23. It is conveyed upward.

  A paper discharge roller 48 and a pressing roller 49 are provided on the further downstream side of the conveying path 23, and the recording paper P on which image recording has been performed is sandwiched in the same manner as the conveying roller 44 and the pressing roller 45. Then, the recording paper P is conveyed until the leading edge of the recording paper P protrudes from the paper discharge port 22. A paper discharge stack 27 is provided on the downstream side of the paper discharge roller 48 and the pressing roller 49, and the recording paper P on which image recording has been completed is discharged in a standing posture with its leading end protruding from the paper discharge port 22. Stored in the stack 27.

  The electrical component 26 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a bus and an ASIC (required for controlling the printer unit 2 and the scanner unit 3 of the multifunction machine 1. Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc., which controls the rotation of the motor in accordance with information from various sensors and performs transmission / reception with the operation panel 4 and the computer.

  On the other hand, as shown in the drawing, the scanner unit 3 includes an image scanner 33, a guide shaft 34, a scanning carriage 35, and the like so as to be enclosed in a scanner housing 30 and a platen glass 32.

  The platen glass 32 is a transparent member to which an original for image reading is in close contact, and is a rectangular flat plate that is slightly larger than the maximum size of the original for image reading, here the A4 size. As described above, the flat and thin box-shaped scanner housing 30 is also larger than the A4 size, and the platen glass 32 is provided on the surface on the side where the scanner housing 30 faces the outer peripheral surface of the printer housing 20. The reading surface 32 a is configured and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the scanner housing 30 is configured.

  An image scanner 33 is provided in an internal space formed by the scanner housing 30 and the platen glass 32 so as to face the platen glass 32. The image scanner 33 is a so-called CIS (Contact Image Sensor), extends in the vertical direction (z-axis direction in FIG. 1) of the platen glass 32, and can scan in the width direction (y-axis direction in FIG. 1) of the platen glass 32. It has become. Specifically, a scanning carriage 35 is provided on a guide shaft 34 extending in the width direction in the scanner housing 30 so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the guide shaft 34. 33 is mounted. The scanning carriage 35 is slid along the guide shaft 34 by a belt driving mechanism or the like, so that the image scanner 33 can scan in the width direction of the platen glass 32.

  Near the both ends of the lower end portion of the scanner housing 30, shafts 36 are respectively provided with the width direction as an axial direction, and the shaft 36 is supported by a bearing portion (not shown) of the printer housing 20. The scanner housing 30 can be opened and closed to the front side of the printer housing 20 around the shaft 36.

  The configuration of the printer unit 2 and the scanner unit 3 is an example, and the printer unit 2 can of course be changed from a so-called inkjet printer to a laser printer, and the image sensor of the scanner unit 3 is replaced with a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). However, in general, an inkjet printer can make the printer unit 2 smaller and lighter, and the CIS has a shallower depth of focus than a CCD. Since the scanner unit 3 is thinned by adopting CIS, it is preferable to employ these in order to make the multifunction device 1 small and thin.

Hereinafter, an image reading method by the scanner unit 3 of the multifunction machine 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner housing 30 of the scanner unit 3 has a closed posture in which the reading surface 32 a configured by the platen glass 32 is closed to the outer peripheral surface on the front side of the printer housing 20, and the reading surface. An inclined posture in which 32a is inclined to the open side by a predetermined angle from the vertical plane (see FIG. 3), and an open posture in which the upper end side of the scanner housing 30 is inclined downward by a predetermined angle from the position where the reading surface 32a is a horizontal plane ( It can be opened and closed in three positions (see FIG. 4).

  When the scanner unit 3 is not used, that is, when the multifunction device 1 is not used, or when only the printer unit 2 is used, the scanner unit 3 is placed in a vertical position by closing the scanner unit 3 as shown in FIG. The space in the thickness direction of the multifunction device 1 can be reduced to save space such as office space. Further, since the reading surface 32a of the platen glass 32 is closed by the outer peripheral surface of the printer housing 20, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from adhering to the reading surface 32a.

  On the other hand, when using the scanner unit 3, the scanner housing 30 is opened to the front side of the printer housing 20, but the scanner housing 30 is disposed on the front side of the printer housing 20. The space required to open and close the body 30 is concentrated on the front side of the printer housing 20, that is, on the front side of the multifunction machine 1. Therefore, since a space other than the installation surface is not required on the rear side of the multifunction device 1, the installation space required when installing the multifunction device 1 near a wall or the like can be reduced.

  When the scanner unit 3 is used, the scanner housing 30 is opened in either the tilted position or the open position in accordance with the thickness of a document (read medium) to be read, and the image is read. Whether the scanner housing 30 is tilted or opened is determined by the thickness of the original. When a thin original such as one plain paper is read, the scanner 30 is inclined, and a thick original such as a book or booklet When reading a heavy document, take the open position. Even when the scanner housing 30 is once inclined and the original is positioned on the reading surface 32a and then closed, the image may be read by the scanner unit 3.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the scanner housing 30 is in an inclined posture. When the user grasps the grip portion 31 of the scanner housing 30 and opens the scanner housing 30 from the closed posture shown in FIG. 2 to the front side, the scanner housing 30 is inclined at an angle α that is inclined. It is temporarily fixed and becomes an inclined posture. Such a temporary fixing of the scanner housing 30 is, for example, a pin receiving portion that is provided with a pin that is urged so as to protrude and retract in the radial direction on the shaft 36 and that engages the bearing portion of the printer housing 20 at an angle α. However, other well-known and arbitrary temporary fixing mechanisms can be employed.

  This creates a gap C between the upper end of the scanner housing 30 and the outer peripheral surface of the printer housing 20. The user can position the original Q on the inclined reading surface 32a by inserting the original Q into the gap C from above the multifunction machine 1. Since the reading surface 32a is inclined toward the open side, that is, the front side, the user can insert the original Q into the gap C by dropping the leading end of the original Q obliquely downward from the front side of the multifunction machine 1. The original Q is brought into close contact with the reading surface 32a by its own weight.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, a stopper 37 is provided at the lower end of the reading surface 32a in the width direction. The stopper 37 is a rubber-like elastic member that protrudes from the lower end of the reading surface 32 a toward the outer peripheral surface of the printer housing 20, and its upper surface forms a latching surface across the width direction of the reading surface 32 a. When the scanner housing 30 is in the closed posture, the stopper 37 is compressed and deformed by contacting the outer peripheral surface of the printer housing 20, and is elastically recovered by opening the scanner housing 30 and is read in an inclined posture. A gap between the lower end of the surface 32 a and the outer peripheral surface of the printer housing 20 is sealed.

  As described above, the document Q inserted through the gap C slides down along the reading surface 32a due to its own weight, and the leading end of the document Q comes into contact with the stopper 37 as shown in the figure, so that the document Q is hooked. It is stopped and fixed at a predetermined position on the reading surface 32a. In this way, since the document Q is fixed at a predetermined position with the lower end of the reading surface 32a as a reference, the user looks through the gap C between the scanner housing 30 and the printer housing 20 to position the document Q. There is no need to perform this, and positioning of the original Q is easy. Further, since the original Q is brought into close contact with the reading surface 32a due to its own weight, floating or the like hardly occurs between the reading surface 32a and the original Q, and the image reading accuracy by the image scanner 33 is improved. The image of the document Q is read by scanning the image scanner 33 in such an inclined posture.

  Note that the angle α at which the reading surface 32a is inclined from the vertical surface to the open side in the inclined posture takes into consideration the size of the gap C for inserting the document Q, the stability of the multifunction device 1 placed vertically, and the like. It is set, and is preferably set to about 2, 3 ° to 10 °.

  FIG. 5 shows a state where the scanner housing 30 is in the open posture. When the user grasps the grip portion 31 of the scanner housing 30 and fully opens the scanner housing 30 from the closed posture shown in FIG. 2 or the inclined posture shown in FIG. 3 to the front side, the scanner housing 30 The upper end side of the scanner housing 30 is inclined downward by an angle β from the position where the reading surface 32a is a horizontal plane. In the open posture, the upper end of the scanner housing 30 is in contact with the floor surface. Therefore, a temporary fixing mechanism such as an inclined posture is not particularly required, and has an arbitrary configuration.

  In such an open position, a thick original R such as a book is placed on the reading surface 32a. Although the thick original R is heavy, since the upper end of the scanner housing 30 is in contact with the floor surface in the open position, even if the original R is placed on the reading surface 32a, the vertically placed printer unit 2 is used. Does not become unstable. Further, in the open posture, the reading surface 32a is inclined so as to face the front side of the multifunction device 1, so that it is easy to position the document R at a predetermined position on the reading surface 32a from the front side of the multifunction device 1. is there. The image of the original R is read by scanning the image scanner 33 in such an open posture.

  Note that the angle β at which the reading surface 32a is inclined downward from the horizontal plane in the opened posture is the workability of placing the document R on the reading surface 32a from the front side of the multifunction device 1 and the stability of the multifunction device 1 in the opened posture. The position is set in consideration of the position of the shaft 36 of the scanner housing 30 and the like. Although not shown in the drawing, a film-like cover may be provided to shield the reading surface 32a on which various documents are positioned in an open posture or an inclined posture.

  As described above, according to the multifunction machine 1, dust or the like adheres to the reading surface 32 a when the scanner housing 30 is in an arbitrary posture of the closed posture, the inclined posture, and the open posture and the scanner unit 3 is not used. In addition, the multifunction device 1 can be made space-saving, and when used, the multifunction device 1 can be placed vertically and the installation area can be saved. Thus, image reading can be performed with the scanner housing 30 in a desired posture.

  In the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment, the conveyance path 23 is a U-shaped path along the thickness direction of the printer housing 20. However, in the present invention, the shape of the path of the conveyance path 23 is a U-shape. It is not limited to. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the conveyance path 23 on the downstream side of the ink jet recording head 24 may be an L-shaped path extending substantially laterally below the scanner unit 3 without being inverted upward. it can. When the conveyance path 23 is an L-shaped path, a paper discharge port 28 is formed in the lower front portion of the printer housing 20 instead of the paper discharge port 22 formed on the upper surface, and recording after image recording is performed. The paper P is discharged to the front side of the apparatus.

  As described above, even when the conveyance path 23 is an L-shaped path, the multi-function device 1 can be a vertical type in which the flat and thin box-like printer housing 20 is vertically installed. The area for mounting the printer unit 2 can be further reduced by further reducing the thickness.

  Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the multifunction machine 1A according to the second embodiment includes the printer unit 2 on the back side and the scanner unit 3A on the front side, similarly to the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment. It is a multi-function device provided integrally, and has both a printer function and a scanner function. The multifunction device 1A has a different posture change in which the scanner housing 30A opens and closes to the front side of the multifunction device 1A when the scanner unit 3A reads an image, and the printer unit 2 has the same configuration as the multifunction device 1. In the figure, the same reference numerals are the same as those of the multifunction machine 1, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The scanner unit 3A is configured as a so-called flatbed scanner. As shown in the figure, the scanner housing 30A of the scanner unit 3A is flat as in the scanner housing 30 of the first embodiment. It is a thin box, and the lower end side of the scanner housing 30A is pivotally attached to the printer housing 20, so that the upper end side of the scanner housing 30A can be opened and closed to the front side. The boundary between the upper surface of the printer housing 20 and the upper surface of the scanner housing 30A in a state where the outer shape of the entire apparatus is flat and thin in the same direction as the thickness directions of the printer housing 20 and the scanner housing 30A. A document insertion slot 38 is formed in the document. The document insertion port 38 is formed by notching the approximate center of the upper surface of the scanner housing 30A on the side facing the printer housing 20 in the thickness direction with a readable maximum document width, that is, a width slightly larger than the A4 size width. As shown in the figure, the original insertion port 38 is in a state substantially in the same direction as each thickness direction of the printer casing 20 and the scanner casing 30A, that is, the scanner casing 30A is closed. Thus, a document can be inserted on the reading surface 32a of the platen glass 32.

  As shown in FIG. 8, similarly to the scanner unit 3 of the first embodiment, the scanner unit 3A is included in the scanner housing 30A and the platen glass 32 so that the image scanner 33, the guide shaft 34, A scanning carriage 35 and the like are provided, and the platen glass 32, the image scanner 33, the guide shaft 34, the scanning carriage 35 and the like having the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment are equivalent.

  As shown in the figure, the scanner housing 30A of the scanner unit 3A has an inclined posture in which a reading surface 32a composed of a platen glass 32 is inclined by a predetermined angle from a vertical surface toward the open side, and the reading surface 32a is a horizontal surface. The upper end side of the scanner housing 30 can be opened and closed so as to change its posture from an open posture inclined downward by a predetermined angle.

  As will be described in detail, the scanner housing 30A is inclined as shown in the figure even when the scanner unit 3A is not used or when the scanner unit 3A reads a thin document such as one sheet of plain paper. It is a posture. In the present embodiment, the scanner housing 30A is in a closed state with respect to the printer housing 20 in the inclined posture in which the reading surface 32a is inclined from the vertical surface to the open side by a predetermined angle. Whether it is not used or when reading a thin document, the space in the thickness direction of the multi-function device 1 placed vertically can be reduced to save space such as office space. Further, since it is not necessary to open the scanner housing 30A when reading a thin document, the operation for image reading is simple.

  When a thin document is read by the scanner unit 3A, the user may insert the document Q from the document insertion port 38 without opening the scanner housing 30A. As shown in the drawing, in a state where the scanner housing 30A is closed with respect to the printer housing 20, the reading surface 32a of the platen glass 32 is inclined to the open side by an angle α from the vertical surface. Accordingly, the user can position the original Q on the inclined reading surface 32a by inserting the original Q from the original insertion port 38 from above the multifunction machine 1A. Since the reading surface 32a is inclined to the open side, that is, the front side, the user inserts the original Q into the original insertion port 38 so that the front end of the original Q is dropped obliquely downward from the front side of the multifunction machine 1. For example, the document Q is brought into close contact with the reading surface 32a by its own weight.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, since the stopper 37 is provided at the lower end of the reading surface 32a in the width direction, the document Q inserted from the document insertion port 38 is caused by its own weight. The original Q is slid down along the reading surface 32a and the tip of the original Q comes into contact with the stopper 37, so that the original Q is hooked and fixed at a predetermined position on the reading surface 32a as shown in the drawing. In this way, since the document Q is fixed at a predetermined position with the lower end of the reading surface 32a as a reference, the user does not need to look into the document insertion port 38 to position the document Q, and the document Q is positioned. Work is easy. Further, since the original Q is in close contact with the reading surface 32a due to its own weight, floating or the like hardly occurs between the reading surface 32a and the original Q, and the image reading accuracy by the image scanner 33 is improved. The image of the document Q is read by scanning the image scanner 33 in such an inclined posture.

  Note that the angle α at which the reading surface 32a is inclined from the vertical surface to the open side in the inclined posture takes into consideration the size of the document insertion slot 38 for inserting the document Q, the stability of the multifunction device 1 placed vertically, and the like. Therefore, it is preferable that the angle is about 2 or 3 °.

  On the other hand, when reading a thick original or a heavy original like a book or a booklet, the scanner housing 30A is set to the open posture as in the first embodiment. Since the scanner housing 30A is disposed on the front side of the printer housing 20, the space required to open and close the scanner housing 30A is on the front side of the printer housing 20, that is, on the front side of the multifunction machine 1A. Concentrated. Therefore, since a space other than the installation surface is not required on the back side of the multifunction machine 1A, the installation space required when installing the multifunction machine 1A near a wall or the like can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the user fully opens the scanner housing 30A from the inclined posture shown in the drawing to the front side, the scanner housing 30A is moved from the position where the reading surface 32a becomes a horizontal surface to the scanner housing 30A. The upper end side is in an open posture inclined downward by an angle β. In the open posture, the upper end of the scanner housing 30A is in contact with the floor surface, so that the temporary fixing mechanism is not particularly required and has an arbitrary configuration.

  In such an open position, a thick original R such as a book is placed on the reading surface 32a. Although the thick original R is heavy, since the upper end of the scanner housing 30A is in contact with the floor surface in the open position, even if the original R is placed on the reading surface 32a, the vertically placed printer unit 2 is used. Does not become unstable. In the open posture, the reading surface 32a is inclined so as to face the front side of the multifunction device 1A. Therefore, it is easy to position the document R at a predetermined position on the reading surface 32a from the front side of the multifunction device 1. is there. The image of the original R is read by scanning the image scanner 33 in such an open posture.

  As described above, according to the multifunction machine 1A, when the scanner unit 3 is not used or when a thin document is read, the scanner housing 30A can be inclined to reduce the space of the multifunction machine 1A. The document reading operation is simplified, and when reading a thick document, the multifunction device 1 is placed vertically and the installation area is saved, and the scanner housing 30A is opened to read the image. It can be carried out.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the multifunction machine 1. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the scanner housing 30 is in an inclined posture. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of the stopper 37. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the scanner housing 30 is in an open posture. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of the multifunction machine 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a multifunction machine 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the multifunction machine 1A. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the scanner housing 30A is in an open posture. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus 90.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A ... Multifunction machine (image recording device)
2 ... Printer unit 3, 3A ... Scanner unit 20 ... Printer housing 30, 30A ... Scanner housing 32a ... Reading surface 37 ... Stopper

Claims (6)

A vertically mounted type that transports a recording medium in a flat and thin box-shaped printer casing and records an image on the recording medium, and is installed with the direction in which the thickness of the printer casing extends as the vertical direction. A printer section;
A reading surface forming one surface of a flat and thin box-like scanner casing is opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the printer casing, and the upper end side of the scanner casing can be opened and closed, and the lower end of the scanner casing is connected to the printer casing. An image recording apparatus comprising a scanner unit that is pivotally mounted and capable of reading an image of a medium to be read on the reading surface in an inclined posture in which the reading surface is inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical surface toward the open side.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stopper for hooking a medium to be read is provided on a lower end side of the reading surface.   2. The scanner unit is capable of reading an image of a medium to be read on the reading surface in an open posture in which an upper end side of the scanner housing is inclined downward by a predetermined angle from a position where the reading surface becomes a horizontal plane. Or the image recording apparatus of 2.   2. The scanner housing can be opened and closed so as to change its posture to at least three postures of a closed posture in which the reading surface is closed to an outer peripheral surface of the printer housing, an inclined posture, and an open posture. 4. The image recording apparatus according to any one of items 3.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner housing is openable and closable so as to change its posture between the inclined posture and the open posture. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner casing is disposed on a front side of the printer casing.

Images