JP2006211354A - Image reading recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small image reading recording device easy to use by installing on a desk with reduced installation area and having superior operability. <P>SOLUTION: The image reading recording device includes a scanner unit made up of an original platen for mounting an original, and an original reading means having an optical means for reading an original image by using the original platen; a sheet supporting means which supports a sheet for recording the image; an image recording means arranged at an upper side position of the manuscript reading means for recording the image on the sheet supported by the sheet supporting means; and a sheet ejecting means for ejecting the sheet, on which the image is recorded by the image recording means, to an upper position of the original reading means. In this case, the scanner unit can move from almost horizontal position to almost vertical position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading and recording apparatus having a function of reading an image of a document placed on a document table and a function of forming an image on a conveyed sheet.

  Conventionally, an image reading and recording apparatus having both an image reading function and an image recording function includes a transmission function for reading and transmitting an image on a recording medium, and an image recording function for receiving image information and recording an image on a recording medium. And a copying machine having an image reading function for reading an image on a recording medium and an image recording function for copying the read image onto a recording medium. Examples of image recording means for recording an image on a recording medium include an electrophotographic system, a laser beam printer system, and an ink jet printer system.

  Among these image recording apparatuses, there is known an apparatus provided with a flat bed type image reading means (flat bed scanner) that scans a document image of a document placed on a document table and reads the image. In such an apparatus, a pressure plate for pressing a document placed on the document table is configured to be pivotable so as to be opened and closed.

  In conventional copiers and facsimiles, a recording device such as an electrophotography or an ink jet is disposed below the main body, and an image reading means using a mirror moving scanning reduction optical system or a contact image sensor is disposed above the main body. It is arranged. Recently, in order to reduce the occupied area of the entire apparatus by placing the recording medium discharge tray and the document discharge tray in the main body installation area (wingless), the document reading apparatus having a U-turn path, or between the recording means and the reading means An in-cylinder discharge type copying machine has also been proposed in which a space is provided in the recording medium and a recording medium is discharged into the space.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall structure of a facsimile as a conventional example of this type of image reading and recording apparatus. In FIG. 5, a recording unit which is an ink jet recording apparatus is disposed below the apparatus main body 50, a flat bed scanner reading unit 52 for optically reading an original is horizontally disposed above the main body, and an operation switch is provided on the front of the apparatus. And an operation panel 53 in which display units are arranged.

As another conventional example, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can be cited.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-111062 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-296709

  However, in the configuration of discharging inside the cylinder in order to reduce the installation area, it is necessary to provide a space for discharging inside the cylinder, which is difficult to use as a desktop because the height of the image reading device is high. It sometimes occurred. Further, if a bin sorter is provided for in-cylinder discharge, the height of the image reading apparatus will be further increased. Even if the bin sorter unit is made optional, it is difficult to change the height of the image reading device depending on the presence or absence of the option. Therefore, a large space is provided in the in-cylinder discharge unit regardless of the presence or absence of the optional bin sorter. There is a need.

  Further, as long as the flat bed scanner is installed horizontally, the installation area of the apparatus main body cannot be made smaller than that area.

  Also, during maintenance of the recording unit, it is common to operate the replacement of the toner cartridge or ink cartridge from the top of the recording unit, so that either the recording unit and the reading unit do not interfere with each other. It is necessary to make the device configuration in which the cartridge or the like can be exchanged by sliding or tilting the device from the main body, and there is a drawback that the main body of the device is further enlarged and the operation becomes complicated.

  Furthermore, in consideration of ease of use, the operation panel has to be arranged on the front surface of the flat bed scanner unit, and the installation area of the apparatus main body is increased.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and an image reading and recording apparatus that is small in size and excellent in operability so that the installation area can be reduced and can be easily installed and installed on a desk. There is in place to offer.

The present invention
An original table on which an original is loaded;
A scanner unit comprising the document table and a document reading unit having an optical unit for reading a document image;
Sheet support means for supporting a sheet for recording an image;
An image recording unit that is disposed on an upper side of the document reading unit and records an image on a sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit;
An image reading and recording apparatus comprising: a sheet discharging unit that discharges a sheet on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit to above the document reading unit;
The scanner unit is movable from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.

The present invention also provides
An original table on which an original is loaded;
A scanner unit comprising the document table and a document reading unit having an optical unit for reading a document image;
Sheet support means for supporting a sheet for recording an image;
An image recording unit that is disposed on an upper side of the document reading unit and records an image on a sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit;
An image reading and recording apparatus comprising: a sheet discharging unit configured to discharge a sheet on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit to above the document table;
The scanner unit is movable from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.

The present invention also provides
An original table on which an original is loaded;
A scanner unit comprising the document table and a document reading unit having an optical unit for reading a document image;
Sheet support means for supporting a sheet for recording an image;
An image recording unit that is disposed on an upper side of the document reading unit and records an image on a sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit;
An image reading and recording apparatus comprising: a document table positioned above the document reading unit; and a sheet discharging unit configured to discharge a sheet on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit to the upper side of the document table.
The scanner unit is movable from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.

The present invention also provides
The document table is provided so that the document table can be opened around one side as a rotation axis, and has a cover member that presses the document placed on the document table to the document table side, and is opposite to the document pressing surface of the cover member. A sheet stacking unit for stacking sheets discharged from the sheet discharge unit is provided on the surface.

The present invention also provides
The scanner unit is a cover of the apparatus main body at the substantially vertical position.

The present invention also provides
The operation operation unit is characterized in that the scanner unit is at a position covered by the scanner unit in a substantially vertical position.

The present invention also provides
The scanner unit is
In a substantially vertical position,
It can move up and down.

The present invention also provides
The recording paper stacking auxiliary tray that is a part of the sheet supporting unit can be stored in the recording paper stacking tray that is a part of the sheet supporting unit.

The present invention also provides
It is characterized by comprising.

The present invention also provides
This is characterized by being in the upper part of the apparatus.

The present invention also provides
This is characterized by being provided in the apparatus main body.

The present invention also provides
The scanner unit includes a second sheet stacking unit provided on the side opposite to the document table so as to be openable about one side as a rotation shaft and for stacking sheets discharged from the sheet discharge unit. Is.

  According to the present invention, the second sheet stacking portion serves as a cover of the apparatus main body at the substantially vertical position.

  As described above, the present invention reduces the installation area of an image reading and recording apparatus that discharges recording paper above an image reading unit by moving the scanner unit from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state. can do.

  In addition, an ink jet recording unit is disposed on the upper side of the document reading unit, and the moving direction of the optical means of the document reading unit and the sheet conveying direction are orthogonal to each other, and an image is formed on the recording unit above the document reading unit. By adopting an arrangement configuration that discharges the sheets, it is not necessary to provide a stacking unit for stacking recorded sheets on the side of the apparatus or inside the apparatus. An image reading / recording apparatus having good operability can be provided.

  In addition, a pressure plate that presses the document placed on the document table to the document table side is provided so as to be rotatable in the direction to open the document table, and is discharged from the sheet discharge means on the surface opposite to the document pressing surface. By having a sheet stacking unit for stacking sheets, it is not necessary to provide a sheet stacking tray, and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, by arranging the recording unit on the back side of the device, it is possible to print in the gravitational direction to maximize the printing accuracy by the inkjet recording means, and the recording surface is discharged horizontally and upward to the pressure plate. Can be checked sequentially, and handling of the device that does not stain the printing surface becomes convenient.

  In addition, it is possible to easily replace the cartridge and maintain the recording unit by providing a lid that is rotatably held by the apparatus main body, is provided above the sheet discharge means, and serves as an exterior and a cartridge replacement lid. Operability is improved.

  In addition, the operation unit operation, document setting, recording head replacement, and the like can be front-accessed, and can be easily installed and used on a desk.

  Moreover, storing and carrying around can be made convenient by providing the holder.

  Further, by moving the image reading unit A up to the recording paper discharge port while maintaining the substantially vertical position, it is not necessary to move the image reading unit A to the horizontal position at the time of printing, and the installation area remains small. Can be printed out.

  In addition, the second paper discharge tray is provided so as to be rotatable from a substantially vertical state to a horizontal state, and the recording paper after printing is recorded from the second recording paper discharge port 42 while the image reading unit is maintained in a substantially vertical position. By allowing the paper to be discharged onto the second paper discharge tray 41, it is not necessary to move the image reading unit to the horizontal position at the time of printing out, and printing can be performed while the installation area is small.

  In addition, when not in use, the second paper discharge tray can be arranged in a substantially vertical state on the front side of the original reading unit, and the apparatus main body can be made compact. The second paper discharge tray is a cover member of the apparatus main body in a substantially vertical state. By doing so, the unity feeling of the apparatus is increased and can be carried together.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, each part of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment will be briefly described. 1 and 2 are perspective explanatory views showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  This will be described with reference to the layout of the device mechanism, which is the most characteristic of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image reading and recording apparatus includes a flatbed scanner type document reading unit A as a document reading unit, and a recording unit B as an image forming unit disposed on the back side of the document reading unit A. In addition, a sheet feeding unit C that supports and stores the recording sheet 1 disposed on the back side of the recording unit B and conveys the recording sheet 1 to the recording unit B is provided.

  The document reading portion A is rotatably supported by the scanner hinge 31 and can be rotated from the substantially vertical state shown in FIG. 1 to the horizontal state shown in FIG.

  The recording section B employs what is generally called an ink jet recording apparatus. In the ink jet recording apparatus, since the carriage movement width is required to be wider than the width of the recording sheet 1, the recording apparatus width is wide.

  In view of this, the longitudinal direction of the document reading section A and the moving direction of the image sensor and the conveyance direction G of the recording sheet 1 are arranged to be orthogonal to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when not in use, the document reading section A can be disposed in a substantially vertical state on the front side of the recording section B, and the apparatus main body can be made compact. The document reading unit A serves as a cover member of the apparatus main body in a substantially vertical state. By doing so, the unity feeling of the apparatus is increased and can be carried together.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the document reading section A is arranged below the recording section B so as to be horizontal on the desk when in use, and the apparatus depth direction can be reduced during use, and the installation area of the apparatus can be reduced. Can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, each part will be described in detail. First, the sheet feeding unit C will be described with reference to FIG. A series of recording paper transport paths is indicated by an arrow G.

  As the recording sheet 1, it is possible to use plain paper, a plastic sheet or the like and other materials that can transfer ink. In this embodiment, plain paper cut to B4 size or A4 size is used as the recording sheet 1. A limited number of recording sheets 1 are stored and stacked on the sheet feeding frame 4 by a recording sheet height regulating plate (not shown) provided on the back surface of the recording unit B. Further, the recording paper side guide 3 regulates the width direction of the recording sheet 1. The recording paper stacking auxiliary tray 6 is configured to be stored in the paper feed frame 4. By doing so, the size of the apparatus can be made compact.

  In FIG. 3, a recording paper pressure plate 2 formed on the bottom (back side) of the recording sheet 1 is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft (not shown), and is controlled by one cycle by a drive system (not shown). The recording sheet 1 is brought into contact with the paper feed roller 5 by a pressure plate spring (not shown). Further, the sheet feeding roller 5 is controlled to rotate once in the direction of the arrow shown by a driving system (not shown), and when the recording sheet 1 comes into contact with the rubber portion 5a, the urging force of the recording sheet pressure plate 2 is obtained and the recording sheet 1 is obtained. Is conveyed to the recording unit B.

  Next, the recording unit B will be described.

  In FIG. 3, a recording unit B applies a recording sheet 1 supplied from a paper feeding unit C in accordance with an image signal transmitted from an image reading unit A or a host device such as a personal computer or an image signal such as character data. The image is recorded.

  More specifically, the recording paper presser 10 is pressed toward the LF roller 11 and serves as an upper guide of the recording paper 1 conveyed from the paper feeding unit C, with the pinch roller 10a facing the LF roller 11. Yes. Then, the recording paper 1 is conveyed between the recording cartridge 12 and the platen plate 13, and the recording operation is performed by the recording cartridge 12. In this embodiment, the recording cartridge 12 is mounted on the recording carriage 12a by a motor and a drive system (not shown), and moves with respect to the width direction of the recording sheet 1 by sliding the recording carriage shaft 14. It is configured to print serially.

  Next, the recording sheet 1 after printing and recording is in contact with the printing surface of the recording sheet on the opposite side of the sheet discharge roller 15a that conveys the printed recording sheet 1 downstream of the apparatus and the sheet discharge roller. However, the recording sheet 1 is conveyed from the recording paper discharge port 16 to the outside in the direction indicated by the arrow G so that the printing surface is not soiled by a spur roller 15b made of a material to which no ink is transferred. The paper is discharged onto the pressure plate 21 of the image reading unit A that also serves as a paper discharge tray.

  In the recording section B, the recording cover 7 is configured to be rotatable about the upper cover 9 about the recording cover hinge 8 as a rotation center.

The recording cartridge 12 can be easily loaded or exchanged by opening and closing the recording cover 7 by the operator because the recording cover 7 is provided at the top of the recording unit. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording cover 7 can be opened and closed so as not to interfere with the pressure plate 21 and the image reading unit A, and the recording cartridge 12 can be freely attached and detached. Operability and maintainability are improved.
Next, the flatbed scanner which is the image reading unit A will be described. The contact image sensor 22 is supported by a carriage 23 and is movable along a guide shaft 24 parallel to the sub-scanning direction. The carriage 23 is moved by a timing belt (not shown) driven by a motor (not shown). The image sensor 22 incorporates a light source, a lens, and a photoelectric conversion element (not shown), and moves to the back surface of the contact glass 20 as a document placement table while maintaining a certain distance. The read image is transmitted to a main body image processing unit (not shown) by a flexible cable (not shown).

  The longitudinal direction of the document reading unit A and the moving direction of the contact image sensor 22 and the conveyance direction G of the recording sheet 1 are arranged to be orthogonal to each other.

  Here, the pressure plate 21 placed on the front surface of the contact glass 20 is formed of a material such as sponge or foamed urethane on the surface in contact with the contact glass 20, and is configured to press the document uniformly against the contact glass 20. And a function as a recorded sheet stacking unit (discharge tray) for stacking recorded sheets discharged from the recording sheet discharge port 16 on the surface (upper surface) opposite to the side where the document is pressed. I have. The pressure plate 21 is configured to be rotatable in the direction toward the back of the apparatus with a pressure plate hinge (not shown) as a rotation center. The pressure plate 21 is configured to be detachable in the vertical direction with respect to the document reading portion A.

  The operation panel D of the apparatus will be described. For performing operations such as copy operation, facsimile operation, scanner operation, etc., provided with a display unit 33, a key 34 corresponding to various operations, etc., and a position where the image reading unit A is covered in a substantially vertical state It is in. By doing so, it is possible to prevent dust and dust from entering the operation panel D and to prevent malfunction.

  Further, 32 is disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body.

  By doing so, it can be carried stably.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an image reading and recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  The image reading unit A can be moved to above the recording paper discharge port 16 by using a means (not shown) while maintaining a substantially vertical position.

  By doing so, it is not necessary to move the image reading unit A to the horizontal position at the time of printing out, and printing can be performed with a small installation area.

  6 and 7 are perspective views illustrating the configuration of an image reading and recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. The second discharge tray 41 is rotatably supported by a hinge (not shown), and can be rotated from the substantially vertical state shown in FIG. 6 to the horizontal state shown in FIG.

  The recording paper 1 after printing and recording is conveyed out of the apparatus from a second recording paper discharge port 42 provided below the image reading section A while maintaining the image reading section A in a substantially vertical position. The paper is discharged onto the second paper discharge tray 41.

  By doing so, it is not necessary to move the image reading unit A to the horizontal position at the time of printing out, and printing can be performed with a small installation area.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when not in use, the second paper discharge tray 41 can be disposed in a substantially vertical state on the front side of the original reading unit A in the apparatus front side, and the apparatus main body can be made compact. The second paper discharge tray 41 is a cover member of the apparatus main body in a substantially vertical state. By doing so, the unity feeling of the apparatus is increased and can be carried together.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various main embodiments can be adopted without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course.

  For example, the present invention may be applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine having a configuration in which the longitudinal direction of the original reading unit A and the moving direction F of the image sensor and the conveying direction G of the recording sheet 1 are arranged in parallel. . In addition, the operation panel may be applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having a configuration in which the operation panel is disposed at a position where it is not covered when the image reading unit A is substantially vertical. In the embodiment, the pressure plate 21 as a cover member of the document is configured to be rotatable in the direction toward the back of the apparatus with the pressure plate hinge as a rotation center. However, the pressure plate hinge is disposed on either the left or right side of the apparatus. The present invention may be applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine configured to be rotatable in the left-right direction. Furthermore, although the case where an image sensor is used in the document reading unit has been described, a flat bed scanner of a type in which an optical mirror is moved may be used.

1 is an external perspective view of an image reading and recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view of an image reading and recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an image reading and recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the image reading and recording apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the conventional image recording apparatus. It is an external appearance perspective view of the image reading and recording apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the image reading and recording apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording sheet 2 Recording paper pressure plate 3 Recording paper side guide 4 Paper feeding frame 5 Paper feeding roller 6 Recording paper stacking auxiliary tray 7 Recording cover 8 Recording cover hinge 9 Upper cover 10 Recording paper pressing 10a Pinch roller 11 LF roller 12 Recording cartridge 12a Recording carriage 13 Platen plate 14 Recording carriage shaft 15a Paper discharge roller 15b Spur roller 16 Recording paper discharge port 20 Contact glass 21 Pressure plate 22 Image sensor 23 Carriage 24 Guide shaft 31 Scanner hinge 32 33 Display section 34 Key
41 Second paper discharge tray 42 Second recording paper discharge port A Image reading unit B Recording unit C Paper supply unit D Operation panel

Claims (13)

An original table on which an original is loaded;
A scanner unit comprising the document table and a document reading unit having an optical unit for reading a document image;
Sheet support means for supporting a sheet for recording an image;
An image recording unit that is disposed on an upper side of the document reading unit and records an image on a sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit;
An image reading and recording apparatus comprising: a sheet discharging unit that discharges a sheet on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit to above the document reading unit;
An image reading and recording apparatus, wherein the scanner unit is movable from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. An original table on which an original is loaded;
A scanner unit comprising the document table and a document reading unit having an optical unit for reading a document image;
Sheet support means for supporting a sheet for recording an image;
An image recording unit that is disposed on an upper side of the document reading unit and records an image on a sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit;
An image reading and recording apparatus comprising: a sheet discharging unit configured to discharge a sheet on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit to above the document table;
An image reading and recording apparatus, wherein the scanner unit is movable from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. An original table on which an original is loaded;
A scanner unit comprising the document table and a document reading unit having an optical unit for reading a document image;
Sheet support means for supporting a sheet for recording an image;
An image recording unit that is disposed on an upper side of the document reading unit and records an image on a sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit;
An image reading and recording apparatus comprising: a document table positioned above the document reading unit; and a sheet discharging unit configured to discharge a sheet on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit to the upper side of the document table.
An image reading and recording apparatus, wherein the scanner unit is movable from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position.   The document table is provided so that the document table can be opened around one side as a rotation axis, and has a cover member that presses the document placed on the document table to the document table side, and is opposite to the document pressing surface of the cover member. 4. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sheet stacking unit for stacking sheets discharged from the sheet discharge unit on a surface.   5. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner unit serves as a cover of the apparatus main body at the substantially vertical position.   6. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation operation unit is located at a position where the scanner unit is covered by the scanner unit in a substantially vertical position.   7. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner unit is movable in a vertical direction at a substantially vertical position.   8. The image reading and recording according to claim 1, wherein a recording paper stacking auxiliary tray which is a part of the sheet supporting unit can be stored in a recording paper stacking tray which is a part of the sheet supporting unit. apparatus.   9. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image reading and recording apparatus is located in an upper part of the apparatus.   The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the apparatus is provided in the apparatus main body.   The scanner unit includes a second sheet stacking unit provided on the side opposite to the document table so as to be openable about one side as a rotation shaft and for stacking sheets discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1.   13. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second sheet stacking unit serves as a cover of the apparatus main body at the substantially vertical position.

Images