JP2006270202A - Information system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network system having a novel configuration including an apparatus capable of outputting information to a portable storage medium, thereby enabling to perform its efficient output operation. <P>SOLUTION: In a configuration in which an optical disk drive is incorporated into an MFP of an electronic photograph principal as a function of outputting to a sheet of paper, reference numeral 85 and 86 denote an optical disk drive unit and an unused media stock section, respectively. File data are stored in a memory inside the MFP and output to a sheet of paper as necessary. Also, the optical disk drive unit 85 incorporating the file data is used to bake the file data on an unused DVD-R or DVD-RW etc. transferred from the media stock section 86 and installed, thereby creating an optical disk (portable storage) to be carried as electronic data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information system, and more particularly to an information system in a network environment, and more particularly, to an information system using a portable storage medium as an information output medium.

  In recent years, with the wave of digitalization, for example, a copying machine has a function of a so-called copying machine that simply copies a document, a digital multifunction machine having a scanner function, a fax function, a printer function, etc., MFP ( Multifunction printers and multifunction peripherals have evolved (for example, see Patent Document 1). Along with this, such digital multifunction peripherals and MFPs are also incorporated in computer networks, and the information to be handled runs through the network as so-called electronic data. Furthermore, taking advantage of such characteristics of electronic data, it has come to have an aspect as a device having a filing function for storing a large amount of document data (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  In the era when all data can be conveniently used as electronic data due to the evolution of computers or network systems as described above, data transmission / reception is also generally performed via a network.

On the other hand, there is a demand for a certainty of receiving information while accepting the convenience of exchanging information through such an invisible network. Specifically, there are situations in which information is stored in a portable storage medium represented by an optical memory or the like and handed over directly, or the portable storage medium is carried without being damaged. Further, under such circumstances, a means for efficiently writing information to such a portable storage medium and its peripheral technology are also desired.
JP 2002-202870 A JP 2002-027192 A

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances,
A first object is to provide a network system having a novel configuration including a device capable of outputting information to a portable storage medium so that the output operation can be performed efficiently.

The second object is to make it possible to use such an information system more effectively.
A third object is to make it possible to use such an information system more efficiently.
The fourth object is to make it possible to use such an information system more effectively.
A fifth object is to make it possible to use such an information system more efficiently.
A sixth object is to make it possible to use such an information system more efficiently.
A seventh object is to make it possible to use such an information system more effectively.
An eighth object is to make it possible to use such an information system more efficiently.

  The ninth object is to utilize the characteristics of such an information system so that it can be used more effectively.

A tenth object is to provide a unique method of use for such an information system.
The eleventh object is also to provide other uses unique to such information systems.
A twelfth object is to provide a unique method of use for such an information system.
A thirteenth object is also to provide another method of use unique to such an information system.
A fourteenth object is to make it possible to use such an information system more effectively.
A fifteenth object is to utilize a unique configuration for a new information system and to provide an effective usage method thereof.

A sixteenth object is to provide a specific configuration in the case of outputting to a sheet-like member by such an information system.
A seventeenth object is also to provide another specific configuration in the case of outputting to a sheet-like member by such an information system.

An eighteenth object is to provide a specific configuration when information is written to a portable storage medium by such an information system.
A nineteenth object is also to provide another specific configuration when information is written to a portable storage medium by such an information system.
A twentieth object is to provide still another specific configuration in the case of writing information to a portable storage medium by such an information system.
A twenty-first object is to provide still another specific configuration in the case where information is written to a portable storage medium by such an information system.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
The first invention has a plurality of information terminal devices, an output device for applying a color material to a sheet-like member, and an output device for writing desired information in a portable storage medium, and connecting them to a network line In this information system, a plurality of storage media before the desired information is written are stocked on the output device for writing the desired information on the portable storage medium.

According to a second invention, in the invention described in the first invention, a plurality of types of output devices for writing desired information on the portable storage medium are provided.
According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, a plurality of output devices for writing desired information on the portable storage medium are provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention described in any one of the first to third aspects, the output device for writing desired information in the portable storage medium is provided with a plurality of types of output means in the output device. did.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention described in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the output device for writing desired information in the portable storage medium is provided with a plurality of output means inside the output device. did.
In a sixth aspect based on any one of the first to fifth aspects, the portable storage medium is a formatted storage medium.

In a seventh aspect based on any one of the first to fifth aspects, the portable storage medium is a formatted storage medium and an unformatted storage medium, and is selected as necessary. I made it.
According to an eighth invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, a plurality of storage members for the portable storage media are stocked.

  According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the invention described in any one of the first to eighth aspects, an output device for writing desired information on the portable storage medium includes an output device based on an ink jet principle, and the portable storage device. I printed it on the surface of the media.

A tenth invention is the invention described in the ninth invention, wherein an ink receiving layer is provided on the surface of the portable storage medium.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention described in any one of the first to tenth aspects, desired information is written in the portable storage medium and then stored in the storage member.
In a twelfth aspect of the invention according to the eighth or eleventh aspect, the surface of the storage member is printed by the ink jet principle.

In a thirteenth aspect based on the twelfth aspect, an ink receiving layer is provided on the surface of the housing member.
In a fourteenth aspect based on any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, an output device that applies a color material to the sheet-like member and an output device that writes desired information on a portable storage medium are close to each other. Are connected to the network and output information related to each other.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, an output device that applies a color material to the sheet-like member includes an information input unit, a processing unit, a storage unit, and an output unit. The information is exchanged between them and the respective parts are concentrated in one place, and the output part comprises a plurality of different means, one of which is a means for applying a color material to the sheet-like member. The other is a means for sending electronic information to other devices on the network. The input unit comprises a plurality of different means, one of which is a scanner means for reading a document as image information, and the other is An information input / output device that is means for receiving electronic information from other devices on the network and that has means for integrating a plurality of sheet-like members, and is desired for the portable storage medium. The output device for writing information are arranged in proximity is networked, and to output information related to each other.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention described in any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, the output device that applies the color material to the sheet-like member is an output device that uses a Carlson process principle.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the invention, in the invention described in any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, the output device for applying a color material to the sheet-like member is an output device using an ink jet principle.
In an eighteenth aspect based on any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, the portable storage medium is an optical memory.

In a nineteenth aspect based on the eighteenth aspect, the optical memory is an irreversible memory.
In a twentieth invention according to any one of the first to eighteenth inventions, the portable storage medium is a magneto-optical memory.
According to a twenty-first aspect, in the invention described in any one of the first to eighteenth aspects, the portable storage medium is a semiconductor nonvolatile memory.

According to the first invention, there are provided a plurality of information terminal devices, an output device for applying a color material to a sheet-like member, and an output device for writing desired information in a portable storage medium, which are connected to a network line In the information system connected to the storage medium, a plurality of storage media before the desired information is written is stocked on the output device for writing the desired information on the portable storage medium, so that it is connected to the network line. A command can be issued from an information terminal device, and information can be output to a sheet-like member typified by paper media (so-called printout), and can also be output to portable storage media. You can now store and move.
In addition, since a plurality of storage media are stocked, it is possible to output a plurality of storage media on which information has been written, so that the output paper media and storage media can be distributed to a plurality of people. Became.

  According to the second invention, in the first invention, since a plurality of types of output devices for writing desired information on the portable storage medium are provided, in addition to the above effects, a storage medium for writing information is provided. You can select and output to the optimal storage media.

  According to the third invention, in the first or second invention, a plurality of output devices for writing desired information on the portable storage medium are provided. Even if you need to output and record the data, you can respond quickly.

  According to a fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, the output device for writing desired information on the portable storage medium is provided with a plurality of types of output means inside the output device. Therefore, in addition to the above effects, a desired storage medium can be selected as appropriate and the output can be performed from one output device, so that writing can be efficiently performed at the same place without going to another place. Later storage media can be obtained.

  According to a fifth invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the output device for writing desired information on the portable storage medium is provided with a plurality of output means inside the output device. Therefore, in addition to the above effects, it is possible to quickly respond to the case where output and recording to a plurality of storage media must be performed, and the output can be performed from one output device. You can now get storage media after writing efficiently in the same place without going to the place.

  According to the sixth invention, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, the portable storage medium is a formatted storage medium. In addition to the above effects, Since there is no need to format at the time of writing, the writing can be performed quickly.

  According to a seventh invention, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, the portable storage medium is a formatted storage medium and an unformatted storage medium, and is selected as necessary. Therefore, in addition to the above effects, if you want to process a large amount quickly with the same format, you can select a formatted storage medium and write at high speed. When writing in a specific desired format, an unformatted storage medium can be selected and writing can be performed in the desired format.

  According to the eighth invention, in any one of the first to seventh inventions, a plurality of storage members for the portable storage medium are stocked, so that information can be written in addition to the above effects. The storage medium can be stored, and even when a plurality of storage media in which such information is written are manufactured, there is no problem that there is no storage member for storing the storage medium.

According to a ninth invention, in any one of the first to eighth inventions, an output device for writing desired information on the portable storage medium includes an output device based on an ink jet principle, and the portable storage device. Since it is printed on the surface of the media, in addition to the above effects, it is possible to easily record identification information of portable storage media, etc., and to distinguish information stored inside invisible storage media. It became so.
In addition, since the ink jet principle is non-contact recording, identification information and the like can be recorded on the surface of any shape and type of storage media without depending on the shape of the storage media.

  According to the tenth aspect, in the ninth aspect, since the ink receiving layer is provided on the surface of the portable storage medium, in addition to the above effects, the surface of the portable storage medium is blotted. As a result, it is possible to perform good recording without any problems, and the fixability of the recorded information is improved.

  According to the eleventh invention, in any one of the first to tenth inventions, desired information is written in the portable storage medium and then stored in the storage member. The portable storage media on which the desired information is written can be prevented from being damaged, and can be safely carried.

  According to the twelfth invention, in the eighth or tenth invention, the surface of the storage member is printed by the ink jet principle. In addition to the above effects, the content information is identified from the outside of the storage member. Became visible.

  According to the thirteenth aspect, in the twelfth aspect, since the ink receiving layer is provided on the surface of the storage member, in addition to the above effects, good recording without bleeding on the surface of the storage member. In addition, the fixability of the recorded information has been improved.

  According to a fourteenth invention, in any one of the first to thirteenth inventions, the output device for applying a color material to the sheet-like member and the output device for writing desired information on a portable storage medium are close to each other. In addition to the above effects, sheet-like output (sheet-like document or sheet-like image printout) and its electronic information or related electronic You can get portable storage media with written information in almost the same place, and you can refer to each other at any time and increase its value.

  According to a fifteenth aspect, in any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, an output device that applies a color material to the sheet-like member includes an information input unit, a processing unit, a storage unit, and an output unit. In addition to exchanging information between them, each part is concentrated in one place, the output part is composed of a plurality of different means, one of which is a means for applying a color material to the sheet-like member The other is a means for sending electronic information to other devices on the network, and the input unit comprises a plurality of different means, one of which is a scanner means for reading a document as image information, and the other is a network. An information input / output device that is means for receiving electronic information from other devices above and that has means for integrating a plurality of sheet-like members, wherein desired information is stored in the portable storage medium. In addition to the above-described effects, the system of the present invention outputs information to the sheet-like member that is output. Is not just output to a sheet-like member, it is information processed by issuing a command from a PC connected to a network line, information captured by a scanner means, etc. The processed information can be output to the sheet-like member. In addition, related information can be output to portable storage media, and electronic data can be stored and transferred.

  According to the sixteenth invention, in any one of the first to fifteenth inventions, the output device for applying a color material to the sheet-like member is an output device using the Carlson process principle. In addition to the effects, the output productivity to sheet-like members represented by paper media could be made extremely high.

  According to the seventeenth invention, in any one of the first to fifteenth inventions, the output device for applying a color material to the sheet-like member is an output device using the ink jet principle, so that the above-mentioned effect In addition, color output to a sheet-like member typified by paper media can be easily performed, and can also be easily output to a medium such as a large size or long banner such as A2 to A0.

  According to an eighteenth aspect of the invention, in any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, the portable storage medium is an optical memory. As a portable storage medium in the case of further storing information that has been out / out) as electronic data, it could be highly versatile and very easy to use.

  According to the nineteenth invention, in the eighteenth invention, since the optical memory is an irreversible memory, in addition to the effects described above, the price per storage medium as a consumable is low and very economical. This makes it possible to prevent the falsification of written information.

  According to the twentieth invention, in any one of the first to eighteenth inventions, the portable storage medium is a magneto-optical memory. As a portable storage medium for storing information to be printed / printed) as electronic data, it can be highly versatile and very easy to use.

According to the twenty-first invention, in any one of the first to eighteenth inventions, the portable storage medium is a semiconductor non-volatile memory. As a portable storage medium for storing information to be printed / printed) as electronic data, it can be highly versatile and very easy to use.
In addition, since it is a semiconductor non-volatile memory, it will be stored without loss of data even when the power is turned off, and there will be no mechanical moving parts during operation, and it should be a highly usable information system with high speed response and high reliability. I was able to.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a color image forming apparatus MFP (also referred to as a multifunction printer or a multifunction peripheral) which is a system of the present invention will be described. In addition, embodiment shown below is an illustration and is not limited to this.

  FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an electrophotographic copying apparatus as a representative example of applying a color material to a sheet-like member typified by paper that is preferably applied to the system of the present invention. Needless to say, in addition to paper, a resin film such as an OHP sheet is also preferably used.

  FIG. 1 shows an engine part (image forming part) of the electrophotographic principle (Carlson process). Here, a photosensitive drum 61 (61K, 61C, 61M, 61Y) as a latent image carrier is tandem. 2 shows an image forming unit of an arrayed dry two-component development type full-color image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a full-color image forming apparatus in which photosensitive drums are arranged in tandem. In FIG. 2, the center of a four-tandem color image forming apparatus MFP (multifunction printer, multifunction peripheral). The image forming unit 1 is disposed in the image forming unit 1, the sheet feeding unit 2 is disposed immediately below the image forming unit 1, and the sheet feeding unit 2 is provided with a sheet feeding tray 21 in each stage. A reading unit 3 for reading a document is disposed above the image forming unit 1. On the downstream side (left side in the figure) of the image forming unit 1 in the paper conveyance direction, a paper discharge storage unit, a so-called paper discharge tray 4 is provided, on which the discharged image-formed recording paper is stacked.

  In the image forming unit 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) plural colors are disposed above the intermediate transfer belt 5 formed of an endless belt. The image forming unit 6 is juxtaposed. In FIG. 1, Y, M, C, and K representing colors are attached to the back of each unit to distinguish the image forming units for each color. In each image forming unit 6, a charging device 62, an exposure unit 65, a developing device 63, a photoconductor cleaning device 64, and the like are arranged along the outer periphery of a drum-shaped photoconductor 61 provided for each color. The charging device 62 performs a charging process on the surface of the photoconductor 61, and the exposure unit 65 irradiates the surface of the photoconductor 61 with laser light from the exposure device 7 that irradiates image information with laser light. The developing device 63 develops and visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 61 by toner development, and the photoconductor cleaning device 64 removes and collects the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 61 after the transfer. .

  As an image forming process, an image for each color is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 5 and four colors are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5 to form one color image. At that time, first, yellow (Y) toner is developed in the yellow (Y) image forming section, and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5 by the primary transfer device 66. Next, magenta toner is developed and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 5 in the magenta (M) image forming section. Next, in the cyan (C) image forming unit, cyan toner is developed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5, and finally black (K) toner is developed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5. A full-color toner image in which four colors are superimposed is formed. The four-color toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 5 are transferred by the secondary transfer device 51 to the recording paper 20 fed from the paper feeding unit 2 and fixed by the fixing device 8. The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 4 by the paper discharge roller 41 or is conveyed to the double-sided device 9.

  During double-sided printing, the conveyance path is branched by the branching unit 91, and the recording paper 20 is reversed via the double-sided device 9. Then, the paper skew is corrected by the registration roller 23, and the image forming operation on the back surface is performed in the same manner as the image forming operation on the front surface. On the other hand, after the full-color toner image is transferred, the toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 is removed and collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 52. Reference numeral 92 denotes a reverse paper discharge path from the duplex device 9.

  In the paper feeding unit 2, unused recording paper 20 is stored in the paper feeding tray 21, and one end of the paper feeding unit 2 swings to the bottom of the paper feeding tray 21 until the uppermost recording paper 20 contacts the pickup roller 25. The other end of the bottom plate 24 that is supported is raised. As the paper feed roller 26 rotates, the uppermost recording paper 20 is pulled out from the paper feed tray 21 by the pickup roller 25 and is transported to the registration roller 23 side by the paper feed roller 26 via the vertical transport path 27. . The registration roller 23 temporarily stops the conveyance of the recording paper 20, and sends out the recording paper 20 at a timing so that the positional relationship between the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 5 and the leading edge of the recording paper 20 is a predetermined position. The registration roller 23 functions similarly to the recording paper 20 conveyed from the manual feed tray 84 in addition to the recording paper 20 from the vertical conveyance path 27. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 81 denotes a branch claw and reference numeral 82 denotes a jam paper discharge tray. When a jam occurs on the downstream side of the vertical conveyance path 27, the branch claw 81 is activated and the paper is put on the discharge tray 82. Has the function of deriving.

  In the reading unit 3, the first and second traveling bodies 32 and 33 mounted with a document illuminating light source and a mirror reciprocate in order to scan a document (not shown) placed on the contact glass 31. Moving. The image information scanned by the traveling bodies 32 and 33 is collected on the imaging surface of the CCD 35 installed behind by the lens 34 and read by the CCD 35 as an image signal. The read image signal is digitized and subjected to image processing.

  Note that the reading density (resolution) can be read at a density of 300 dpi, 600 dpi, and 1200 dpi as necessary in the present invention, and the reading density is selected. Further, after being filtered by the three primary color filters of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), it is read as an image signal by the CCD 35 and is taken in as color image data.

  The image information data captured in this way is once stored in the memory inside the MFP. At that time, it may be stored as bitmap data as it is read, or may be stored as data compressed to a capacity of about 1/10 to 1/100 by JPEG (JPEG data). As will be described later, the captured image information data may be printed as data for electrophotography or ink-jet principle as necessary, or as data stored in portable storage media, or other information processing via a network line. It is used by mail delivery to devices, etc., but when it is stored in the MFP for a long time or distributed over the network, it is better to store or distribute it as compressed data in the memory of the MFP itself. The load on the capacity, the load on the network server, the load on the line, etc. can be reduced, and the transmission speed of data transmission / reception in the MFP and on the external network can be increased.

  Next, such image image data is used for optical writing on the surface of the photoreceptor 61 by light emission of a laser diode LD (not shown) in the exposure device 7 based on the image processing signal. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. The optical signal from the LD reaches the photoreceptor 61 (photosensitive bodies for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively) via a polygon mirror and a lens. Further, an automatic document feeder / reader (Auto Document Feeder ADF) 36 for automatically feeding a document onto the contact glass is attached to the upper part of the reading unit 3.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an automatic document feeder / reader (ADF) 36 applied to the present invention. The example shown in FIG. 3 conveys sheet-like documents one by one and reads the reading surface of the reading means. Is a sheet-through type that reads an original image in the process of passing the image. Further, in the present invention, reading means are arranged at two locations along the document conveying path so that the image document information on both sides can be read in the process of conveying the sheet-like double-sided document once.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic document feeder / reader (ADF) 36 of the present invention separates documents one by one from a document set section A for setting a document bundle to be read and a document stack set in the document set section A. Separating and feeding unit B for feeding the sheet, registering unit C having the function of primary abutting and aligning the fed document, and the function of pulling and conveying the aligned document, and turning the conveyed document to turn the document Turn part D for conveying the surface toward the reading side (downward), first reading conveyance part (first reading position) E for reading the surface image of the original document from below the contact glass 31, and after reading the surface image A second reading conveyance unit (second reading position) F for reading the back side image of the document, a paper discharge unit G for discharging the document whose front and back have been read out of the apparatus, a stack unit H for stacking and holding the document after reading is completed, Driving these transport operations Driving unit for performing further, and a controller for controlling a series of operations.

  In the first reading conveyance section E, a contact glass 31, a reading roller 37, and a reading means (first reading means) (not shown) stopped immediately below the contact glass 31 are disposed. The first reading unit reads an image on the surface of the document.

  Further, in the second reading conveyance section F, a reading means (second reading means) 38 provided with a CCD and a reading roller 39 are arranged. The second reading unit 38 reads an image on the upper surface (back surface) of the document. The circumferential surface of the reading roller 39 is arranged to face the reading surface 38a of the reading means 38 in a non-contact state.

  In the present invention, a plurality of sheet originals can be efficiently and sequentially conveyed and image data can be read, but it goes without saying that even if only one original is used, it can be suitably used. The original can be read on both the front and back sides. However, depending on the type of the original, only one side is read or both sides are read. Normally, only one side is read at the first reading conveyance unit (first reading position) E, and in the case of a double-sided document, reading is performed by the second reading unit 38 at the second reading conveyance unit (second reading position) F. I am doing so.

  By the way, as described above, the color image forming apparatus MFP (also referred to as a multi-function printer or multi-function peripheral) according to the present embodiment scans an original by optical scanning, digitizes it, and copies it onto a sheet. In addition to the function as a color copying machine, the image information data of the read original is stored in the memory inside the MFP, the facsimile function for transferring the image information of the original to a remote place by a control device (not shown), the computer This is a multi-function image forming apparatus having a so-called printer function for printing image information to be handled on paper.

  This device alone has such a function. However, as will be described later, it is connected to a network and under server management, other various devices (scanners, various printers, optical disk drives, hard disk drives, etc.) It is also possible to make it a system that operates in cooperation with). Alternatively, the MFP itself of the present invention can be provided with a so-called network server function. In addition to the printer function, the scanner function, the facsimile function, the data storage function, the data editing function, the mail distribution function, and the like as described above. Also, it may be a single information input / output device (concentrated in one place) with a network server function.

Next, an ink jet recording principle as another representative example of applying a color material to a sheet-like member typified by paper will be briefly described.
There are various methods for what is called ink jet recording depending on the principle, but here, as an example, a thermal ink jet method using heat will be described. Although the thermal ink jet method will be described here, an on-demand method using other piezos or a so-called continuous flow type ink jet called a charge control type can be suitably used in the present invention. Not too long.

4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining an example of the inkjet head unit. FIG. 4A is an overall perspective view, and FIG. 4B is an exploded perspective view. The head unit 67 (in the case of other shapes rather than circles, the opening is 100μm ² ~700μm ² about an area equivalent) diameter 10μm~30μm a head chip 68 having a nozzle which ejects fine ink, there And an ink container portion 70 for supplying ink to the tube. The head chip 68 is connected to an FPC (flexible printed circuit) 69, and contacts an electrical contact provided on the FPC with a contact on the carriage side (not shown), thereby receiving an electrical signal from the printer main body side and receiving ink. Recording is performed by jetting. 71 is a back cover, 72 is an ink absorber, and the ink absorber 72 is a sponge impregnated with ink. Even if the carriage moves and vibrates, bubbles are generated in the ink inside the container. There is no structure. When the ink impregnated in the ink absorber 72 is used up, the entire head unit is replaced.

  Next, the ink ejection principle will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (e). FIG. 5A to FIG. 5E are cross-sectional views showing the vicinity of the ejection port in the thermal ink jet method. FIG. 5A shows a steady state in which the surface tension and the external pressure of the ink 10 are in an equilibrium state at the ejection port. FIG. 5B shows a state in which the heating element 11 is heated and the surface temperature of the heating element 11 rapidly rises, a film boiling phenomenon occurs in the adjacent ink layer, a boiling film is formed, and the bubbles 12 grow. At this time, the pressure at the discharge port rises by the amount of bubble growth, the balance with the external pressure is lost, and the ink column 10 begins to grow from the discharge port. FIG. 5C shows a state in which the bubble 12 has grown to the maximum, and the ink column 10 is pushed out from the ejection port portion. At this time, no current flows through the heating element 11, and the surface temperature of the heating element 11 is decreasing. The maximum value of the volume of the bubble 12 is slightly set from the timing of applying the electric pulse.

  FIG. 5D shows a state in which the bubbles 12 are cooled and stored by ink or the like. At the front end of the ink column 10, the ink column 10 moves forward while maintaining the extruded speed, and at the rear end, the ink flows backward due to the decrease in the discharge port internal pressure as the bubble 12 contracts. The ink droplets 13 are cut off from the portion and fly into the air. At the discharge port portion, the external pressure is higher than the internal pressure of the discharge port, so that the meniscus has entered the discharge port greatly. The tip of the ink droplet 13 has a speed of 8 to 18 m / s and flies in the direction of the recording paper. In FIG. 5 (e), the ink is supplied again (refilled) to the discharge port portion by capillary action, and the bubbles are completely extinguished in the process of returning to the state of FIG. 5 (a).

  In addition to such a principle, a method of pushing out almost all ink in front of the bubbles 12 to the outside of the discharge ports by the generated bubbles 12 by selecting the driving control method of the heating element and the dimensions of the discharge ports is also possible. It is. In that case, compared to the above method, the ink droplet formation frequency (driving frequency) per discharge port is 15 kHz to 50 kHz because there is no phenomenon of backflow of ink accompanying the contraction of the bubbles 12 and the necking of the ink column 10. There is a merit that the printing speed can be increased and the printing speed can be increased (in the above-described method, about 5 kHz to 12 kHz is a range in which stable driving is possible).

  The ink jet head having the principle and configuration as described above is designed so that three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) or four colors including black (B) can be printed. 6 is mounted on a carriage 76 as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, 73 is a recording paper, and 74 is an inkjet head unit (the head unit shown in FIG. 4 is arranged for four colors. However, the shapes in the figure do not match), 74Y, 74M, 74C and 74B can print yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B), respectively. 75 is a nozzle of each head, 76 is a carriage, 77 is a guide rod for the carriage, 78 is a screw rod for moving the carriage, 79 is a recording paper transport roller, and 80 is a recording paper pressing roller.

As described above, output means based on the electrophotographic principle and ink jet principle have been described as representative examples of applying a color material to a sheet-like member. However, depending on the application to be used, each MFP having a different output means can be selected as appropriate. That's fine.
For example, the electrophotographic principle is good at high-speed output, and has a recording speed of 20 to 100 sheets or more on A4 size paper per minute.
On the other hand, in the case of the ink jet principle, color output can be performed with a relatively simple configuration. In addition, as in the case of the electrophotographic principle, the size of paper that can be output to some extent is limited by the width of the photosensitive drum, but in the case of the ink jet principle, there is no such limiting factor, and large paper (A0 to A2) In addition, it is possible to output to banner-like long paper.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of such a system of the present invention. The configuration of a part for processing an electrical signal of a printer unit that prints on a recording medium such as paper, and the part for processing an electrical signal of an information writing unit to an optical memory And the configuration of the portion for processing the electrical signal of the information capturing unit from the scanner are shown in detail.

  In FIG. 7, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU for controlling each part of the printer. A RAM 302 temporarily stores the results calculated by the CPU and image data handled by a printer or the like. A ROM 303 stores a program for operating the CPU, font data for generating image data, and the like. Reference numeral 304 denotes a local bus to which the CPU, RAM, and ROM are connected. Reference numeral 305 denotes an I / O bus, which is an internal bus for function expansion. Reference numeral 306 denotes a bridge circuit for connecting the local bus and the I / O bus.

  A printer unit 307 is a part for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper. The printer unit 307 includes various types of printer units such as an inkjet method (thermal, piezo, etc.) in addition to the image forming method based on the electrophotographic principle (Carlson process) as described above. A printer interface unit 308 is used to connect the printer unit to the I / O bus, and can transfer image data stored in the RAM 302 to the printer unit 307 in accordance with instructions from the CPU. It is.

  An optical disk drive 309 is a part for reading information from an optical disk (memory) and writing information on the optical disk (memory). 310 is an optical disk drive interface unit for connecting the optical disk drive and the I / O bus. According to instructions from the CPU, electronic data transferred from the optical disk drive is transferred to the RAM 302, It is possible to transfer from the RAM to the optical disk drive.

  A scanner unit 311 converts an optical signal read from a document placed on a document table (not shown) into electronic data using a CCD or the like, and transfers the electronic data. Reference numeral 312 denotes a scanner interface unit for connecting the scanner unit to the I / O bus. In accordance with instructions from the CPU, electronic data obtained by reading a document transferred from the scanner is transferred to the RAM 302. It is possible.

  314 is an IDE interface and 313 is a hard disk drive (NIC) for spooling image data and storing programs for the CPU 301 to perform various processes. A network interface controller 315 is used to connect to a local area network. Reference numeral 316 denotes an image processing unit (hereinafter referred to as IPU) for performing image processing such as resolution conversion.

  Reference numeral 317 denotes a raster image processor. The image data in the page description language transferred from the outside via the network interface circuit 315 is developed into a bitmap image according to the instruction of the CPU 301, and the bit developed in the RAM 302 Used to store map data. Reference numeral 318 denotes a video RAM into which display data displayed on an external CRT or LCD panel by the CPU is written. A video interface 319 serves as an interface for displaying display data stored in the VRAM on an external CRT or LCD panel. Reference numeral 320 denotes an extended I / O interface, for example, an interface circuit for communication between the mobile device and the CPU 301. Communication forms include forms such as serial communication, wireless communication such as Bicentro interface or Bluetooth.

  As is clear from the above description, the present invention comprises an information input unit, processing unit, storage unit, and output unit, and these units or various devices are network-connected by wireless, wired, optical transmission, or the like. Exchange of information. In addition, each device can be arranged in a distributed manner, but if necessary, each unit or various devices may be concentrated and arranged in one place.

  Note that the information input unit referred to in the present invention is not only the scanner unit but also the I / O interface unit, and although not described, a keyboard, touch panel, digital still camera, digital Information input means such as an image capture device such as a video camera is also included. The processing unit or storage unit also means a CPU, RAM, or ROM as a device or device unit, but also includes a PC, server, and the like incorporated in a network system. Similarly, the output unit includes an I / O interface unit, an information display, various printers, a storage / memory device, and the like.

  As described above, the system of the present invention can be configured to be distributed or concentrated in one place. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus MFP (multifunction printer, multifunction peripheral) has a desired apparatus, server function, and large capacity. It is also preferable to mount and arrange the memory. In other words, epoch-making information that all the work can be done by one MFP by configuring the entire network system or the function in a condensed form in one machine called MFP. I / O device is realized.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of such a configuration in which an optical disk drive is incorporated in an electrophotographic principle (Carlson process) MFP which is a paper output function. In FIG. 8, 85 is an optical disk drive unit, and 86 is an unused media stock section. In this example, the electrophotographic principle (Carlson process) is used as an output device for paper, but the above-described ink jet principle may be used.

  For example, file data such as Microsoft Word file, EXCEL file, PowerPoint file, etc. or converted to Adobe PDF file is saved in the internal memory of the MFP, and output to paper as needed . Also, using the optical disk drive unit 85 in which the file data is incorporated, it is carried as electronic data by burning it from the media stock unit 86 to an unused DVD-R or DVD-RW installed. Create an optical disc (portable storage) that can be used. Note that the output of the paper document and the creation of the optical disc may be performed (almost) at the same time, or only one (print out of the paper document or creation of the optical disc) may be performed as necessary.

  As described above, such an MFP of the present invention is a single unit, and information input / output having a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, a data storage function, a data editing function, a mail distribution function, a network server function, and the like. As described above, the MFP may be connected to a communication network such as a local area network or the Internet via the network interface controller 315 and used as one terminal of the network. In that case, the image information can be taken in by a scanner, compressed as it is or by JPEG, etc., and delivered to a PC connected to the network by wire or wirelessly.

  Various servers are connected to a communication network such as the Internet, and a search server for searching for information or electronic data is stored, and electronic data held therein is distributed according to a request from a user. In addition, there are distribution servers that can provide services such as, various services for mobile devices such as mobile phones, and servers that perform services for mobile devices that can control charging.

  The MFP of the present invention is an information input / output device in which various functions (multifunction) are incorporated in one device, and a user performs a predetermined operation in front of this MFP to edit data, print out, and copy. A series of functional operations of the MFP can be performed, and various data can be transmitted via a communication network such as the Internet.

  As described above, the data includes video data (moving image data) and photographic data (still images) captured by a digital video, a digital camera or the like in addition to the image information read by the scanner. These data may also be directly input and stored in a storage unit (memory) in the MFP using a digital video or a digital camera, or may be input and stored in the MFP using a portable storage medium as a medium. Depending on the type of data, the data is appropriately compressed and stored by a compression technique such as JPEG, MPEG, GIFF, or TIFF.

  In addition, file data such as a Microsoft Word file, EXCEL file, PowerPoint file, or the like converted into an Adobe PDF file as described above is also stored in the memory inside the MFP by network distribution. That is, the MFP of the present invention also has functions such as a data bank and a data library.

In this case, the MFP of the present invention issues a command to various information processing apparatuses and a plurality of PCs as a network center machine, sucks up various data and files held by the various information processing apparatuses and the plurality of PCs, and stores them in a memory inside the MFP. Is done. This operation can be executed by a user performing a predetermined operation in front of the MFP, or can be executed by issuing an instruction to the MFP by an operation from another network-connected PC or the like (stored in a memory). it can. Needless to say, the memory storage in the MFP can be performed using a portable storage medium as a medium.
Various data stored in the MFP in this way can be edited or sent to various information processing apparatuses and a plurality of PCs by network distribution according to a command of the MFP itself by the user's MFP operation. Further, it can be sent to a plurality of various information processing apparatuses and a plurality of PCs at a time.

On the other hand, in the present invention, in addition to using such an MFP as a network center machine or a network server, there is a usage as a network terminal.
In such a case, the MFP of the present invention, in response to commands and requests from various information processing apparatuses and PCs connected to the network, edits, distributes, and outputs the various data to paper media. Functions such as (document output) and outputting to a portable storage medium (creating a portable storage medium) as described later are executed. Also in this case, it can be used as a network server in which data is distributed simultaneously or sequentially to a plurality of other various information processing apparatuses and PCs via an MFP in accordance with instructions from various information processing apparatuses and PCs connected to the network. .

The usage of the MFP of the present invention as a network terminal will be described more specifically.
In the present invention, an information input unit, a processing unit, a storage unit, and an output unit are configured to exchange information between them and to concentrate these units in one place, and the output units are different. It is composed of a plurality of means, one of which is a means for applying a color material to the sheet-like member, and the other is a portable memory such as an optical memory, a magneto-optical memory, or a semiconductor non-volatile memory as described later. A means for writing desired information on a medium, having a scanner for reading a document as image information, storing various image information read by the scanner in a storage unit, and outputting it from an output unit as needed. The information input / output device (MFP) collected as a single device is set as one terminal on the network, and a plurality of PCs (information terminal equipment) and other network systems are configured. To use to connect to the network line with essential equipment.

  In such a system, information can be sent to the MFP from one or more connected PCs (information terminal devices), and the information is stored in the storage unit of the MFP as necessary. Can do. Various information stored in the MFP can be accessed from the PC (information terminal device) side, and an information output command can be issued to the MFP. In this case, for example, printer driver software for issuing a printout (print output to paper) command of the MFP is installed in the PC (information terminal device). Alternatively, software that can issue an instruction to write desired information in a portable storage medium such as an optical memory, a magneto-optical memory, or a semiconductor nonvolatile memory is installed. Thus, by issuing a command from the PC (information terminal device) side, the worker can output information from the PC screen on his / her desk to a portable storage medium without going to the MFP. . In other words, it is possible to produce a portable storage medium in which information is written in the same manner as when a printing instruction is normally issued from a PC (information terminal device) to a printer and printing is performed.

  Here, the information for manufacturing a portable storage medium in which such information is written is, for example, various information stored in the storage unit of the MFP. If an MFP is used as a data storage and various information is usually stored in its storage unit, there is no need to store information on the PC (information terminal equipment) side, and the memory on the PC (information terminal equipment) side. Can be reduced. In other words, by adopting such a system configuration, it is only necessary to provide the necessary minimum memory on the PC (information terminal equipment) side, and the cost of the system can be reduced.

  The information system of the present invention can be used in various other ways. For example, information from another PC (information terminal device) on a network different from a PC (information terminal device) that issues a command to output to a portable storage medium is transmitted from the PC (information terminal device). Can be withdrawn, sent to the MFP, and output to a portable storage medium. That is, the MFP which is the information input / output device of the present invention can be used as a center machine having a network server function for controlling the network.

  Further, a portable storage medium that sends desired information from a PC (information terminal device) to the MFP and uses only the information output function to the portable storage medium of the MFP without going through the storage unit of the MFP. Can also be output. In this case, the information sent from the PC (information terminal device) can be output to a portable storage medium at high speed without applying a load to the storage unit of the MFP because the storage unit of the MFP is not provided.

  A method of using the information output function to the portable storage medium of the MFP without using such a storage unit of the MFP and outputting to the portable storage medium is the above-described portable storage medium. Information in another PC (information terminal device) on a different network from the PC (information terminal device) that issues a command to output is extracted by a command from the PC (information terminal device) and sent to the MFP. It can also be applied to the case of outputting to a portable storage medium. By doing so, it is possible to eliminate the load on the storage unit of the MFP and to output information extracted by the command at high speed to a portable storage medium.

  The information system of the present invention can access the MFP from a network-connected PC (information terminal device), and can process and edit various information stored / saved in the storage unit in the MFP. Then, the processed information can be output to a portable storage medium. As a result, information in the MFP can be processed and edited by a PC (information terminal device) from a location away from the MFP and output to a portable storage medium, so that various information can be processed, edited, and portable. A series of operations such as output to media can be performed efficiently. Further, this network does not necessarily need to be wired, and a network can be constructed by a wireless LAN, so that this series of operations can be performed from a mobile environment.

  Further, not only the various information stored in the storage unit in the MFP, but also the information stored / saved in other PCs (information terminal devices) connected to the network or various information processing apparatuses. Similarly, a series of operations such as various information processing, editing processing, and output to a portable storage medium can be performed.

  In the above description, the PC is mainly described as the information terminal device. However, the work is not limited to the PC, but also from various information processing apparatuses such as a mobile device such as a PDA and a mobile phone. It can be carried out.

  As described above, various functions and roles when the MFP of the present invention is used as a stand-alone device and a network information system constructed by connecting the MFP to another information terminal device such as a PC through a network line. The explanation was given as one terminal.

  Next, as a modification of the latter (when the MFP is positioned as one terminal in the network information system), instead of the MFP, a simple so-called laser printer or inkjet printer using the principle of the Carlson process is used for the color material on the sheet-like member. An example of a network information system positioned as an output device to be given will be described.

  That is, as a representative example of an output device that writes desired information on a portable storage medium, for example, an optical disc drive unit or the like is adopted, and the output device (laser printer, inkjet printer, etc.), a plurality of PCs (information terminal devices), This is an information system combining servers and the like. As will be described later, the portable storage medium may be another portable storage medium / memory and its drive, or information writing / reading means for the drive.

  In the present invention, such an information system can be considered as a system for writing desired information in a portable storage medium. A portable storage medium in which such desired information is written is produced from, for example, a PC (information terminal equipment) operator (= information is written in a portable storage medium before writing information, or after writing. The portable storage medium before information writing is positioned as a consumable item similar to paper used in a printer or the like.

  Therefore, in the information system of the present invention, a plurality of such portable storage media before information writing is stocked in an output device (such as an optical disk drive unit) that writes desired information to the portable storage medium. It is important to prepare an environment where information can be written immediately whenever necessary. That is, there should be no inconvenience that there is no portable storage medium before the information is written and the desired work cannot be performed. Also, the complexity and inefficiency of the operator setting one portable storage medium before writing information each time the work is performed must be avoided.

  In the present invention, in order to solve this problem, for example, a plurality of optical disks such as CD-R before writing are stocked in the drive device. Conventionally, in personal use, when writing on such a CD-R or the like, the user sets the CD-R in the drive one by one. In a so-called office use situation where a portable storage medium such as a CD-R is used such that a PC (information terminal equipment) operator performs such writing, even if the drive device is somewhat larger, It is essential to stock a plurality of such optical discs such as CD-R before writing.

  A description will be given later with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 using an example of an optical disk medium as a representative example of a portable storage medium and storage. However, in order to simplify the drawing, several sheets were stocked. An example is shown. However, in practice, stock is made in quantities of several tens to several hundreds.

  As will be described later, the output device for writing desired information on the portable storage medium is not limited to the CD-R and its drive, but other portable storage media, storage and information are written to them. It may be a writing device (writer) or a reading device (reader), and it is desirable to incorporate a plurality of them into the information system of the present invention. In other words, since it is used by a large number of unspecified operators, if only one output device is used, the demands of many operators cannot be met. Therefore, not only the optical disk medium but also magneto-optical memory, semiconductor memory, etc. It is convenient to incorporate a plurality of types of portable storage media and storage and a writing device (output device) for writing information into them into a network information system.

  Furthermore, since the information system of the present invention is mainly used in offices, its high productivity is required. Therefore, productivity can be improved by incorporating a portable storage medium and a writing device (output device) for writing information into the storage into the network information system.

  There is a scene where one operator operates a plurality of the same output devices to produce a large amount of (information-written) portable storage media, and a plurality of operators are of the same type. When writing to the output device, since a plurality of output devices are prepared, there is a scene where they are assigned and used as appropriate.

  As described above, the plurality of types of output devices and the plurality of output devices are independently connected to the network line. However, as another example, the connection to the network is connected as one output device. A plurality of types of writing means (output means) and a plurality of writing means (output means) may be provided inside the output device. In that case, since there is only one output device, there is a merit that it is possible to share a supply means for portable storage media before writing information as a consumable.

  In addition, as described later, portable storage media before writing information as consumables according to the present invention include various formatted media and unformatted media, and they are prepared and stocked as necessary. . In other words, with the emphasis on productivity, if the same format is used, and if it is desired to produce quickly and in large quantities, the pre-formatted one is used to save time for formatting one by one. Separately, there is a case where it is desired to output in a desired format depending on the operator's request. Needless to say, unformatted ones are easy to price because they are not formatted, and running costs can be kept low. In the present invention, a plurality of these are stocked and supplied, and are used properly according to the operator's request. Further, as described above, a portable storage medium before writing information as a consumable item of the present invention is prepared in a plurality of types and a plurality of stocks corresponding to a plurality of types of output means.

  Next, as will be described in detail later, the portable storage medium after writing information according to the present invention is stored in the storage member so as not to be damaged due to an unexpected accident that occurs when being carried. In the present invention, a plurality of the storage members are similarly stocked in the output device.

  Further, the portable storage medium and its storage member applied to the present invention will be described later, but the information necessary for the surface (for example, the storage medium) using the output means of the ink jet principle as described above. Information that identifies internal information etc.) and design information are printed. This is because the ink jet principle has a characteristic of non-contact recording, so that it is relatively easy to apply to a three-dimensional structure to some extent such as a portable storage medium as in the present invention in addition to providing a coloring material to a sheet-like member. It uses the property that it can be printed.

  Next, an example of an optical disk medium will be described in more detail as a representative example of a portable storage medium and storage applied to the present invention. Needless to say, the portable storage medium and storage of the present invention are not limited to this example.

9 to 12 are diagrams for explaining means for supplying and transporting an optical disk medium before information is written to the optical disk drive unit of the present invention.
In the present invention, a plurality of optical disk media before the information is written are stocked, and are conveyed to the optical disk drive unit one by one as needed to write the information.

  FIG. 9 shows a magazine 100 stocked with a plurality of optical disk media of the present invention (seven in this example). This magazine 100 has a triangular direction indication mark 101 displayed on the surface of the magazine indicated by an arrow A. In the direction, as shown in FIG. 10, the optical disc drive unit 109 is inserted in the direction of arrow A.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of conveying the inserted optical disk medium 103 to the writing unit 110 of the optical disk drive unit 109. The optical disk medium 103 mounted on the conveyance tray 102 is provided on the conveyance tray 102. Two hooks 106 are hooked in the hook groove 104 thus drawn, and are pulled out by the hooks 106 operating in the direction of arrow C.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when the optical disk medium 103 mounted on the transport tray 102 is pulled out.
Thereafter, in the optical disk medium 103, in the writing unit 110, the rotary shaft 107 is fitted into the hole 105 by using the vertical movement of the writing unit 110, and the transport tray 102 is returned to the magazine 100. A notch 111 is provided in the transport tray 102 so that the transport tray 102 can be returned to the magazine 100 even when the optical disc medium 103 is fitted to the rotating shaft 107.

  After fitting the hole 105 into the rotating shaft 107, the optical disk medium 103 writes information on the recording layer by a laser beam emitted from the pickup 108. After the information has been written by the pickup 108, the work is completed by being transported and ejected in the direction of arrow B in FIG. .

  In the above, an example of means for supplying and transporting an optical disk medium for writing information to the optical disk drive unit of the present invention has been shown. The optical disk medium of the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a disk type (outer diameter 120 mm, thickness 1.2 mm, hole diameter 15 mm, storage capacity CD format is not limited to 650 MB or 700 MB). Even if it is the same disk type, the outer diameter is 80 mm and the storage capacity is 185 MB in the CD format, or the rectangular shape (card type) is the business card size 58 mm × 86 mm × 1 mm and the storage capacity is 18 MB to 50 MB in the CD format Furthermore, an optical disc medium having a star shape, an egg shape, or any other external shape and size is applicable.

  In addition, the storage capacity is 20 MB to 700 MB in a CD format using a laser wavelength of 780 nm, 4.7 GB to 17 GB in a DVD format using a laser wavelength of 635 nm / 650 nm, and further, a blue laser using a blue laser having a wavelength of 405 nm. In a format such as a ray disc (or HD DVD), 23.3 GB to 27 GB (HD DVD is single-sided 15 GB, double-sided 30 GB) may be selected and used according to the application.

  In addition to the recording density and capacity, the data recording layer uses a photosensitive organic dye (cyanine, phthalocyanine, azo, squarylium, etc.) for reading. There is a so-called R (Recordable) medium in which a stronger laser beam is applied to cause a semi-permanent reflectance change to the dye, and this change can be recorded only once.

  Depending on the recording format and capacity, there are CD-R, DVD-R, DVD + R, and the like. The reflectance change of the dye is semi-permanent and is an irreversible reaction, so it can be written only once, but it can be used for organic recording and can be used to form a recording layer by spin coating etc. There is an advantage that the production cost is lower than that of a rewritable medium described later. Further, it is a medium suitable for archival use, and is a medium that is used very conveniently when it is not necessary to modify the recorded data or when it is difficult to tamper with it.

  Also, since the price per piece of media is low, paper documents are output as in the present invention, and at the same time, the data (files, etc.) is written as electronic data on the R media and distributed to a large number of people. Very convenient for usage.

  Further, as another optical memory medium, there is a so-called RW (ReWritable) medium that uses a material capable of crystal and amorphous phase change for the data recording layer. As such a material, for example, there is a four-element alloy of Ag-In-Sb-Te (silver-indium-antimony-tellurium).

  The crystal phase is heated up to the melting point all at once, and an irregular atomic state is created. This is an amorphous state. Next, when this state is rapidly cooled, the atoms are frozen in a discrete state, and an amorphous phase is formed even when the temperature is lowered.

  On the other hand, if the temperature is controlled to a relatively intermediate level that does not reach the melting point and then cooled relatively slowly, the atoms can now be recombined and the crystalline phase is It is formed. When erasing data, the crystal phase is changed in this way.

Amorphous is a state in which the arrangement of atoms is messy and has a lower reflectance than a crystal. This change is called pits and lands. The RW media is equipped with lasers with different outputs so that these two temperatures can be reproduced.
This phase change between crystal and amorphous can be made to react reversibly, and therefore has the feature that it can be rewritten, unlike the aforementioned R media.
Also in the case of this medium, there are CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, etc., depending on the recording format and capacity.

  In addition, Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD using a blue laser having a wavelength of 405 nm, which uses the blue laser described above, similarly uses a material utilizing an irreversible reaction or a reversible reaction. , R media and RW media can be realized, and can be suitably used in the present invention.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 9 and the like, such an optical memory is supplied in units of magazines containing a certain amount of optical disk media. However, when high-speed writing is required, it is stocked in this magazine. The optical disk medium that is used may be a previously formatted medium.

  For example, in the case of a CD, when writing to a CD-R with Windows (registered trademark), there are various logical formats for each OS (Romeo, Joliet, RockRidge, ISO9660, etc.). In the MFP of the present invention, instead of formatting the optical disk medium every time data is written, for example, the optical disk medium formatted in advance to ISO9660 level 1 that can be read by most OSs is stored in the magazine. Keep it. This eliminates the time required for format writing at the time of use, allows data to be written immediately, and shortens the creation time of the optical disk medium on which information is written.

  Usually, the most frequently used format should be supplied in such a way that pre-formatted optical disc media can be used immediately (install the formatted optical disc media in the pickup part of the drive). If you want to write in a format different from that format. Considering such points, it is also a good method to provide two optical disk media supply means.

  For example, usually the most frequently used format is supplied in a formatted format and an unformatted format is prepared assuming that you want to write in another format, even if it takes some time to create an optical disc, This is a usage in which formatting and data writing are performed by the MFP (internal write drive) of the present invention.

  Each formatted or unformatted optical disc medium may be stored and supplied in a magazine, as shown in FIG. For example, if the MFP is set to a mode that normally uses an optical disk medium that has been pre-formatted to ISO9660 level 1, and you want to record in a different format, unformatted optical disk medium In this case, the format is used after recording.

  Or, usually, only the most frequently used format is stored in a magazine and supplied in a magazine, and when writing in a special format that is used only occasionally, it is less frequent, so you need to manually feed one by one. You may make it supply.

  The above description has focused on the portable storage medium and the pure optical memory as the storage of the present invention. However, as another portable storage medium, the magneto-optical disk known as MO can be suitably used in the present invention. Magneto Optical Disk) and magneto-optical memory. The capacity is 128 MB, 230 MB, 640 MB, etc., and is appropriately selected depending on the intended use.

  The operating principle is that the recording layer of a disk made of a magnetic material (using various magnetic garnets, manganese / bismuth alloys, barium-based ferrites, etc. as the magnetic material) is heated by irradiating laser light to about 200 degrees. When the temperature rises, a magnetic field is applied to change the direction of the magnetic material to perform writing (recording), and when reading data, the laser beam is emitted at a lower output than at the time of writing, and the difference in reflected light The data is read by detecting this.

  MO is highly reliable because it is not affected by magnetism and has no head crash. Like the above-mentioned optical memory, the MO is a very suitable medium as a portable storage medium incorporated in the information input / output device of the present invention. is there.

  Next, as another storage medium suitably used as the portable storage medium of the present invention, there is a semiconductor flash memory. Normally, data such as DRAM is lost when the power is turned off and is not suitable as a portable storage medium of the present invention, but flash memory is non-volatile and does not have such a problem. There are various shapes, sizes, capacities, etc., such as USB flash memory, smart media, compact flash (registered trademark), memory stick, etc., such as card type and stick type, all of which are convenient to carry.

  In addition, similarly, there is a semiconductor memory known as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) as a non-volatile memory, which can also be suitably used as a portable storage medium of the present invention.

In both cases, data is stored without being erased even when the power is turned off, and unlike the optical memory described above, there are no mechanical moving parts during operation, all can be used by electrical control, high speed response and high reliability It is very easy to use.
The representative examples of various portable storage media and storages applied to the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the examples given here.

  The point of the present invention is to combine paper media and portable electronic information storage / recording media in the scene of information output and storage (recording), and they are associated with each other, and one unit fulfills its function. A portable electronic information storage / recording medium that is collected as a device (or a device configured as a system in one place) and that information is output (printed out) to a paper medium at the same time or as necessary. And can be received by a single device (or a device configured in one place). In other words, paper printout documents, storage media, and storage can be received from a single device or from a single location (not from separate distributed devices).

  In addition, a magazine stocked with multiple storage media and storages is detachably installed in the main body of the device, and if necessary, the storage media and storage are transported to the drive part (information writing part, pickup part) to write information. An example of an optical disk has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to an optical disk, and the form of a magazine, the form of transport, and the writing of information are not limited to an optical disk. The form of (memory) / reading means is slightly different, but the way of thinking is the same and applies in the same way. Furthermore, for each formatted or unformatted storage medium and storage, the method of supply (a method of using a plurality of stock media and selecting them as necessary) is limited to the optical disk media described above. Instead, the present invention is similarly applied to other portable storage media and storages.

  Next, other features of the present invention will be described. In the present invention, as described above, the data output to the paper medium is stored and recorded in the portable storage medium and storage, but such storage and recorded storage medium and storage, that is, information writing The later storage media and storage are physically carried using their portability.

  Such information can be transmitted and received as electronic data using a network line, but in some cases, it may be better to carry it as in the present invention. Or you may be forced to do so. Therefore, a portable storage medium or storage as in the present invention is used. However, when such a storage medium or storage itself is carried, information cannot be read due to contamination or damage. Accidents occur in which it becomes impossible, and subsequent data addition or editing becomes impossible. Therefore, in the present invention, such a portable storage medium and storage are used by being put in a member.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the configuration of the present invention, which is an example of an MFP using the electrophotographic principle (Carlson process) as an output device for a sheet-like material such as paper. Needless to say, the MFP may be an inkjet-based MFP as described above. Here, an optical disk is used as the portable storage medium and storage. In FIG. 13, 85 is an optical disk drive unit, 86 is an unused media stock portion, and 87 is a storage member stock portion.

  As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the file data such as Microsoft Word file, EXCEL file, PowerPoint file, or converted to Adobe PDF file is saved in the internal memory of the MFP. Output paper if necessary. In addition, by using the optical disk drive unit 85 in which the file data is incorporated, it can be carried as electronic data by burning it from the media stock unit 86 to an unused DVD-R or DVD-RW installed. Create an optical disc (portable storage). Note that the output of the paper document and the creation of the optical disc may be performed (almost) at the same time, or only one (print out of the paper document or creation of the optical disc) may be performed as necessary. After the writing to the optical disk is completed, the optical disk medium 103 is stored in the storage member 88 stored in the storage member stock portion, and is in a safe state for carrying.

  FIGS. 14 to 21 show examples in which the optical disk medium 103 is stored in the storage member 88. In the figure, 88 is a storage member, which is made of plastic, vinyl sheet, paper, or the like. Reference numeral 89 denotes a storage unit in which the optical disk medium 103 is stored. Reference numeral 90 denotes a lid provided on the storage member 88 as required.

  FIGS. 14 to 18 are examples in which a disk-type optical disk medium 103 having an outer diameter of 120 mm is accommodated, and FIG. In the central part of the storage part 89, a projection part (height of 1 to 2 mm) having an outer diameter of 15 mm that fits into a hole having a hole diameter of 15 mm provided in the optical disk medium 103 is provided. I agree. The lid part 90 is openable and closable.

  FIG. 15 shows an envelope-shaped storage member 88 made of paper. After the optical disk medium 103 is stored in the storage portion 89, the lid portion 90 is bent and covered to prevent dust and the like from entering.

  16 and 17 are slightly different in shape from those in FIG. 15, but the storage structure is the same. After the optical disk medium 103 is stored in the storage member 88 made of paper or vinyl (FIGS. 16A and 17), the lid 90 is folded and the lid is closed (FIG. 16B).

  FIG. 18 also has an envelope shape, but has a hole smaller than the outer shape of the optical disk medium 103 at the center so that it can be easily taken out.

  19 to 21 show an example in which a pseudo card type optical disk medium 103 similar to an oval shape with both sides of a disk cut off is stored. The storage principle is the same as that of the above-described disk type, and is composed of an envelope-shaped storage member 88, and has a lid 90 as required. 20A shows a state in which the lid portion 90 is opened, and FIG. 20B shows a state in which the lid portion 90 is semi-closed.

  Although several examples of storing the optical disk medium 103 of the present invention have been described above, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 13, a storage member 88 for storing such an optical disk medium 103 is always provided in the storage member stock portion 87. I stock several. Then, if necessary, the storage member 88 is taken out from this, and the optical disk medium 103 after writing is stored in the storage member 88 so that it can be safely carried.

When the storage member 88 is taken out from the storage member stock portion 87 and the optical disk medium 103 after writing is stored, it may be performed by a person as long as the number is one or two. When storing the optical disk medium 103, it should be automated.
In view of this point, the present invention has a function of packaging a portable storage medium in which desired information is written as a function of the MFP.

FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram showing a process for storing (packaging) a portable storage medium 205 (such as a card-type optical disk medium or a card-type semiconductor nonvolatile memory).
A portable storage medium 205 in which desired information is written (FIG. 22A) is sandwiched between storage members 207. The storage member 207 is formed by temporarily folding a base material 208 (FIG. 22B), in which cardboard, a resin sheet, or the like is cut into a rectangular shape and partially cut out, at the temporary folding portions 207a to 207d. (FIG. 22 (c)).

  In the storage member 207, the lower protective surface 207e having a large area is overlaid on the portable storage medium 205 (FIG. 22D), and the portable storage medium 205 and the storage member 207 are reversed together (FIG. 22). 22 (e)). Then, the other upper protective surface 207f of the storage member 207 is folded along the temporarily folded portion so as to be superimposed on the portable storage medium 205, and the two flaps 207g and 207h are attached to the side of the portable storage medium 205. It is folded so as to be protected, and a portable storage medium 210 after packaging is completed (FIG. 22 (f)).

  The above is a process for storing (packaging) a portable storage medium provided as a function of the MFP of the present invention. An example of a mechanism for performing such a process will be described below with reference to FIG. To do.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining a process for storing a portable storage medium provided in the MFP of the present invention. The portable storage medium 205 in which desired information is written is transported to the stacking table 269. Placed. The packaging mechanism 253 includes a robot arm unit 273 that takes out the portable storage medium 205 from the stacking table 269, a storage member handling unit 274 that holds the storage member 207, and a temporary folding unit 275 that temporarily folds the storage member 207. And a folding unit 276 that folds the storage member 207 so as to sandwich the portable storage medium 205 therebetween.

  The robot arm unit 273 and the storage member handling unit 274 are general-purpose multi-axis robot mechanisms having articulated arms. A robot hand 273 a that sandwiches the portable storage medium 205 and the storage member 207 is provided at the tip of the arm of the robot arm unit 273. At the tip of the arm of the storage member handling unit 274, a suction pad 274a for sucking and holding the storage member 207 is provided.

  The robot arm unit 273 and the storage member handling unit 274 superimpose the transportable storage medium 205 on the lower protective surface 207 e of the storage member 207 and transfer it to the folding unit 276.

  The temporary folding unit 275 includes a fixing jig 278, a movable jig 279 that moves down so as to overlap the end surface of the fixing jig 278, and a moving mechanism that moves the movable jig 279 up and down, although not shown in detail. The storage member 207 is temporarily folded at the temporary folding portions 207a to 207d.

  The folding unit 276 includes a box-shaped base 282 placed in a state where the portable storage medium 205 is stacked on the storage member 207, and an upper protective surface 207 f of the storage member 207 on the portable storage medium 205. A folding arm portion 283 that is folded into the arm portion 283, and a pivot mechanism that pivots the arm portion 283. Here, the upper protective surface 207f of the storage member 207 is folded along the temporary folding portion so as to be superimposed on the portable storage medium 205, and the two flaps 207g and 207h protect the side surface of the portable storage medium 205. Thus, the portable storage medium 210 after packaging is completed.

  Since the storage member 207 is described as an example of paper packaging here, it is prepared as a large number (plurality) of base materials 208, but in the form of a final storage member in advance, a large number ( You may prepare multiple (stock) pieces. In particular, the plastic case as shown in FIG. 14 is stocked as a plurality of completed cases.

  Next, other features of the present invention will be described. In the present invention, as described above, the data output to the paper medium is stored and recorded in the portable storage medium and storage, but when such storage medium and storage are viewed from the outside, I don't know what is remembered. Therefore, at least simple information that can be associated with the output paper media (printed-out document) is given, and it can be viewed from the outside. It is necessary to make sure that it can be visually confirmed by looking at itself.

  In the present invention, in view of this point, visual information is recorded on the surfaces of storage media and storage members. Specifically, output means based on an ink jet principle, which is a means for applying a color material to paper media, is used.

  The recording based on the ink jet principle is non-contact recording or direct recording, and the recording medium is not limited to paper, but can be recorded in a three-dimensional form. Therefore, various storage media and storage housing members used in the present invention may have various shapes depending on the shape of the storage media and storage. If recording or direct recording is performed, information can be easily output (recorded) on the surface.

  Specifically, the desired information can be written on the surface of the storage member by transporting various storage media and storage after storage to the ink jet recording head portion (portion for performing ink jet output) by transport means suitable for each. it can. In this case, it is more preferable to form an ink receiving layer on the surface to which the ink adheres so that the ink can easily adhere to the surface of the storage member or a good pixel that does not bleed is obtained.

  For example, even if ink jet recording is performed on the case surface of an optical disk made of polycarbonate resin or the like, the ink adhesion is not so much, so the recorded information often disappears just by touching with the hand. Alternatively, even when a paper package is used as the storage member, depending on the paper material, bleeding may occur and good ink pixels may not be formed.

In order to avoid such a situation, the ink receiving layer is formed on the surface of the polycarbonate resin or the surface of the paper for packaging. Specifically, a fine powder layer such as calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) is formed as an ink receiving layer together with a binder resin.

  As another example, instead of recording directly on the storage member in this way, a paper label or the like may be provided on the surface and recording may be performed thereon. In this case, a recorded paper label may be separately prepared and affixed to the surface of the storage member, or the storage member having the paper label affixed may be appropriately transported to the ink jet recording unit and recorded on the paper label surface. Also good. The label is not limited to paper, but may be a resin film. In that case, as described below, ink corresponding to the material of the storage member surface is selected. If the label has an ink receiving layer as described above on its surface, even a resin film label can be handled in accordance with paper.

  In general, when recording on a paper medium by the ink jet principle, water-based ink containing water as a main component of the solvent is used as the ink. For example, when recording directly on plastic such as polycarbonate, a normal ink is used. It is better to use solvent-based ink or oil-based ink because the ink does not soak into the fiber of the paper and it takes time to dry. Or it is better to use UV curable ink. However, this also includes the presence or absence of an ink receiving layer, recording directly on the case surface / recording on the label, label material (paper / resin film), and ink jet principle used (thermal ink jet method / on-demand using piezo) The optimum ink or the ink jet principle to be used for it is appropriately selected according to the system).

  FIG. 24 shows another configuration example of the present invention, which is an MFP having a dedicated inkjet recording unit 96 for writing information to a storage member by the inkjet principle. Reference numeral 95 denotes a paper feed cassette. Here, a plurality of dedicated labels or portable storage medium storage members are stocked. Reference numeral 97 denotes an ink jet recording / discharging tray, which is a recorded label or a discharging member for a storage member. The storage member is used well both before and after storing portable storage media (with built-in portable storage media), but recording should be performed after storage. When the storage member is considered, the storage member after storage has a bulge and is not in the form of a sheet like paper. Therefore, when the ink jet recording unit that outputs to a paper medium is diverted, it may be difficult to convey.

  However, as in this example, when the storage member has a dedicated inkjet recording unit 96 that performs recording based on the ink jet principle, a complicated mechanism of mixed conveyance of the paper medium and the storage member can be avoided, so that a jam or the like can be avoided. This is advantageous because troubles are less likely to occur.

  Next, still another feature of the present invention will be described. As described above, the present invention enables output (printout) to a paper medium by the Carlson process principle or the ink jet principle, writing information on a portable storage medium, and storing it in a storage member so that it can be carried. It is a thing.

  In addition, the present invention also has a function of integrating a so-called paper document output to a paper medium, or a sheet-like member such as an OHP sheet and a portable storage medium stored in the storage member. To the MFP. FIG. 25 is an example.

  In FIG. 25, a portable storage medium 210 (FIG. 25 (a)) after completion of packaging, in which desired information is written and put in a storage member such as paper or a plastic bag, is connected to a paper document 211 by a stapler 212. It is made integral (FIG. 25 (b)). Also in this case, if only one document and one storage medium are integrated, a person may perform the operation manually. However, in the case of integrating more documents and storage media, Thus, it should have a function to be integrated with the MFP. In the present invention, in order to realize this, a plurality of staples (staples) as staples and consumables are stocked.

  Although detailed description is omitted, this stapling operation can be performed by utilizing the function of the MFP of the present invention that binds a plurality of documents. That is, the paper document is sorted by a sorter (not shown) that aligns the pages of the output paper document, the portable storage medium after the packaging placed in the storage member is poured into the discharge path, and the paper document is The document and the storage medium stored in the storage member may be bound in the same manner as binding.

  The above explanation is an example of binding a paper document and a storage member of a portable storage medium after packaging with a stapler (stapling), but the present invention is not limited to this. In order to integrate the two, for example, a double-sided tape or a paste may be used. In any case, such integration members (stapler, double-sided tape, glue, etc.) are always housed in the MFP of the present invention as consumables. Further, not only paper documents but also sheet-like output materials (sheet-like documents and sheet-like image printouts) that are output (printed out) by the MFP (printout apparatus based on the Carlson process principle or ink jet principle) of the present invention. Applies to all things.

  Next, still another feature of the present invention will be described. Since the information input / output device of the present invention handles paper, the paper dust, toner, ink, and the like are always in the environment or in the vicinity of the device. Therefore, the semiconductor laser for recording in a storage such as an optical memory of the present invention and the pickup unit (see 108 in FIG. 10) composed of the optical system are destined to be easily contaminated with paper dust, toner, ink, and the like.

  Further, unlike a semiconductor non-volatile memory which is another example of the present invention, information is written / read (output) by electrical input / output, and a storage such as an optical memory is physically composed of a pickup unit and a storage. This is due to the operating principle itself of performing mechanical operation, but it is also prone to failure (life of the laser diode or failure of the mechanical operating part). In particular, the floating of paper dust, toner, ink, etc., which is unique to the present invention, is an important factor that causes mechanical operation failure.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in order to compensate for the low reliability due to such dirt or failure, the pickup unit can be detached from the drive part, and it is used due to failure or contamination of the optical system such as a lens. It is possible to easily replace the lens or clean the lens part when it interferes with the lens.

  Thus, in the case of the present invention having such a storage such as an optical memory in the MFP, even if the optical system is contaminated by paper dust, toner, ink, etc., or the mechanical operation part of the pickup unit fails Since this can be attached and detached, there is an advantage that the function can be easily recovered.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an image forming unit of a full-color image forming apparatus of a dry two-component development system in which photosensitive drums as latent image carriers according to the first embodiment of the present invention are arranged in tandem. 1 is a diagram illustrating an entire full-color image forming apparatus of a dry two-component development system in which photosensitive drums as a latent image carrier according to a first embodiment of the present invention are arranged in tandem. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an automatic document conveying / reading apparatus applied to a full-color image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the recording device of the inkjet principle which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation principle of the ink ejection in the thermal inkjet system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a structure of the printing operation of the inkjet recording which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a detailed explanatory diagram of an electric processing unit such as a printer unit, an optical memory, a scanner, and a hard disk according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration in which an optical disk drive unit is incorporated in an MFP as one configuration example of the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view of a magazine storing a plurality of optical disk media before information writing applied to the present invention. FIG. It is a figure explaining the operation principle of mounting | wearing an optical disk medium to the optical disk drive unit applied to this invention, information writing, and discharge | emission. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement which conveys the optical disk medium after magazine insertion to the writing part. It is sectional drawing which shows a state when the optical disk medium mounted in the conveyance tray is pulled out. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration in which an optical disc drive unit and a storage member stock unit are incorporated in an MFP as one configuration example of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example which accommodates a disk type | mold optical disk medium. It is a figure which shows the other structural example which accommodates a disk type | mold optical disk medium. It is a figure which shows the further another structural example which accommodates a disk type | mold optical disk medium. It is a figure which shows the further another structural example which accommodates a disk type | mold optical disk medium. It is a figure which shows the further another structural example which accommodates a disk type | mold optical disk medium. It is a figure which shows the structural example which accommodates the pseudo | simulation card type optical disk medium. It is a figure which shows the other structural example which accommodates a pseudo card type optical disk medium. It is a figure which shows the further another example of a structure which accommodates a pseudo card type optical disk medium. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the storage (packaging) process of a card-type portable storage medium. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a mechanism for performing a process of storing (packaging) a card-type portable storage medium provided in the MFP of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an MFP having a dedicated inkjet recording unit for writing information on a storage member by an inkjet principle as one configuration example of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example which integrates the storage member which accommodated the paper document and the storage medium.

Explanation of symbols

A: Document setting unit, B: Separation feeding unit, C: Registration unit, D: Turn unit, E: First reading conveyance unit (first reading position), F: Second reading conveyance unit (second reading position) , G ... paper discharge unit, H ... stack unit, 1 ... image forming unit, 2 ... paper feed unit, 3 ... reading unit, 4 ... paper discharge tray, 5 ... intermediate transfer belt, 6 ... image forming unit, 7 ... exposure Device: 8: Fixing device, 9: Double-sided device, 10: Ink, 11: Heating element, 12: Air bubble, 13: Ink droplet, 20 ... Recording paper, 21 ... Paper feed tray, 23 ... Registration roller, 24 ... Bottom plate, 25 ... pickup roller, 26 ... paper feed roller, 27 ... vertical conveyance path, 31 ... contact glass, 32 ... first traveling body, 33 ... second traveling body, 34 ... lens, 35 ... CCD, 36 ... automatic document Conveyance reading device, 37... Reading roller, 38... Reading means (second reading means), 3 a ... reading surface, 39 ... reading roller, 41 ... discharge roller, 51 ... secondary transfer device, 52 ... intermediate transfer belt cleaning device, 61 ... photosensitive member, 62 ... charging device, 63 ... developing device, 64 ... photosensitive member Cleaning device, 65 ... exposure unit, 66 ... primary transfer device, 67 ... head unit, 68 ... head chip, 69 ... FPC, 70 ... ink container unit, 71 ... back cover, 72 ... ink absorber, 73 ... recording paper 74 ... Inkjet head unit, 75 ... Nozzle, 76 ... Carriage, 77 ... Guide rod, 78 ... Screw rod, 79 ... Recording paper feed roller, 80 ... Recording paper pressing roller, 81 ... Branch claw, 82 ... Jam paper discharge Tray, 84 ... manual feed tray, 85 ... optical disc drive unit, 86 ... media stock section, 87 ... storage member stock section, 88 ... storage member, 89 ... storage section 90 ... lid part, 91 ... branching part, 92 ... reverse paper discharge path, 95 ... paper feed cassette, 96 ... ink jet recording part, 97 ... ink jet recording paper discharge tray, 100 ... magazine, 101 ... triangle direction indication mark, 102 ... Conveying tray, 103 ... optical disc medium, 104 ... hook groove, 105 ... hole, 106 ... hook, 107 ... rotating shaft, 108 ... pickup, 109 ... optical disc drive unit, 110 ... writing unit, 111 ... notch, 205 ... portability Storage medium, 207 ... storage member, 208 ... base material, 207a ... provisional folding part, 207b ... provisional folding part, 207c ... provisional folding part, 207d ... provisional folding part, 207e ... lower protection surface, 207f ... upper protection surface, 207g ... Flap, 207h ... Flap, 210 ... Portable storage media after package end, 211 ... Paper Document 212, stapler, 253 ... packaging mechanism, 269 ... stacking base, 273 ... robot arm unit, 273a ... robot hand, 274 ... storage member handling unit, 274a ... suction pad, 275 ... temporary folding unit, 276 ... folding unit 278 ... Fixing jig, 279 ... Movable jig, 282 ... Base, 283 ... Folding arm part, 301 ... CPU, 302 ... RAM, 303 ... ROM, 304 ... Local bus, 305 ... I / O bus, 306 ... Bridge circuit 307 ... Printer unit 308 ... Printer I / F, 309 ... Optical disk drive, 310 ... Optical disk drive I / F, 311 ... Scanner, 312 ... Scanner I / F, 313 ... Hard disk drive, 314 ... IDE I / F .

Claims (21)

  In an information system comprising a plurality of information terminal devices, an output device for applying a color material to a sheet-like member, and an output device for writing desired information on a portable storage medium, which are connected to a network line An information system characterized by stocking a plurality of storage media before the desired information is written in an output device for writing the desired information on the portable storage medium.   The information system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of output devices for writing desired information to the portable storage medium are provided.   The information system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of output devices for writing desired information on the portable storage medium are provided.   4. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the output device for writing desired information on the portable storage medium includes a plurality of types of output means inside the output device.   5. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the output device for writing desired information on the portable storage medium includes a plurality of output means inside the output device.   The information system according to claim 1, wherein the portable storage medium is a formatted storage medium.   6. The information system according to claim 1, wherein the portable storage medium is a formatted storage medium and an unformatted storage medium, and is selected as necessary.   The information system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of storage members for the portable storage medium are stocked.   9. The output device for writing desired information on the portable storage medium comprises an inkjet-based output device, and prints on the surface of the portable storage medium. 1. The information system according to 1.   The information system according to claim 9, wherein an ink receiving layer is provided on a surface of the portable storage medium.   11. The information system according to claim 1, wherein desired information is written in the portable storage medium and then stored in the storage member.   12. The information system according to claim 8, wherein printing is performed on a surface of the storage member by an ink jet principle.   The information system according to claim 12, wherein an ink receiving layer is provided on a surface of the storage member.   An output device for applying a color material to the sheet-like member and an output device for writing desired information on a portable storage medium are arranged close to each other and connected to a network to output information related to each other. The information system according to any one of claims 1 to 13.   The output device for applying a color material to the sheet-like member includes an information input unit, a processing unit, a storage unit, and an output unit, and exchanges information between them and concentrates each unit in one place. The output unit comprises a plurality of different means, one of which is a means for applying a color material to the sheet-like member, the other is a means for sending electronic information to other devices on the network, The input unit includes a plurality of different units, one of which is a scanner unit that reads a document as image information, the other is a unit that receives electronic information from another device on the network, and a plurality of sheets. An information input / output device having means for integrating the members, which is arranged close to the output device for writing desired information on the portable storage medium and connected to the network. The information system according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and outputs information related to each other.   The information system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the output device for applying a color material to the sheet-like member is an output device using a Carlson process principle.   The information system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the output device for applying a color material to the sheet-like member is an output device using an ink jet principle.   The information system according to claim 1, wherein the portable storage medium is an optical memory.   The information system according to claim 18, wherein the optical memory is an irreversible memory.   The information system according to claim 1, wherein the portable storage medium is a magneto-optical memory.   The information system according to claim 1, wherein the portable storage medium is a semiconductor nonvolatile memory.