JP2013166356A - Recording medium reading and writing apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium reading and writing apparatus that prevents user's hand from being pinched by a shielding member and can also prevent a shielding mechanism from being broken and an image forming apparatus including the recording medium reading and writing apparatus.SOLUTION: An MFP 20 has an instruction input part 21 for a user to input an operation instruction. An expansion unit 30 has: an input/output terminal part that has an opening to attach/detach a recording medium; a shielding member that shields the opening from the external world; a reader/writer 33 that includes a drive part that drives the shielding member; and a control device 31 that controls the drive part. The control device 31 opens the shielding member when detecting end of access of the recording medium and controls the drive part to shut the shielding member after detecting that the recording medium is pulled out and receiving, by the instruction input part 21, a shutting instruction input by a user.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium read / write device having a structure in which an opening for inserting a recording medium such as a memory card or a USB memory is opened and closed by a shutter (shielding member), and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  Various devices that read various recording media such as memory cards and provide services are put on the market, and such devices need to read and write data on the card. If the user accidentally removes the card during this read / write operation, the data in the card may be destroyed, so the opening for card attachment / detachment should be shielded from the outside so that the card is not removed during read / write. There is a device with a simple mechanism.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a vending machine provided with a shutter that moves upward and closes when an IC card is inserted into a card insertion portion, and rises and opens when a sales operation and a settlement process are completed. .

JP 2004-102361 A

  However, when the shielding mechanism is provided in this manner, even if the user accidentally pinches the hand when the shielding member closes and the injury does not occur, the user feels uncomfortable or the shielding member is driven. There is concern that the mechanism will be damaged.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a recording medium read / write device that prevents a user from being pinched by a shielding member and prevents damage to the shielding mechanism, and an image forming apparatus including the same. Objective.

The present invention is a recording medium read / write device that reads / writes data from / to a recording medium according to an instruction from an instruction input unit for a user to input an operation instruction,
An input / output terminal portion having an opening for attaching and detaching a recording medium, a shielding member for shielding the opening from the outside, a driving portion for driving the shielding member, and a control portion for controlling the driving portion; Have
When the control unit detects that the recording medium has finished accessing, it opens the shielding member, detects that the recording medium has been pulled out, and instructs the instruction input unit to close by the user. The drive unit is controlled to close the shielding member after receiving an instruction input.

  In the recording medium read / write device of the present invention, the control unit controls to open the shielding member when detecting that a foreign object is caught in the shielding member.

  In the recording medium read / write device according to the present invention, when the control unit starts the control for closing the shielding member, the shielding member is used when a predetermined time has passed since the start of the control without an instruction from the user to close the shielding member. It is characterized by closing.

  In the recording medium read / write device of the present invention, the recording medium read / write device includes a plurality of input / output terminals corresponding to a plurality of types of recording media, and the shielding member is formed of a single member that shields the plurality of openings from the outside. It is characterized by.

Further, the recording medium read / write device of the present invention includes a read / write unit of the rotary recording medium, and a tray with a drive mechanism for placing the rotary recording medium,
The control unit controls the opening / closing of the shielding member and the exposure / storage of the tray in conjunction with each other.

The present invention also provides an image forming system in which a first device and a second device are configured in parallel on the left and right,
The first device includes an instruction input unit for a user to input an operation instruction, and the second device includes the recording medium read / write device according to claim 1. Features.

  According to the present invention, there is a risk that a hand may be pinched when the shielding member is closed by triggering that some condition is satisfied on the apparatus side, but the hand may be pinched because it does not close until an instruction is input from the instruction input unit. It is possible to reduce and prevent breakage of the shielding mechanism. In particular, the recording medium does not fall before the opening and the shielding member closes while the user is picking it up.

  In addition, when it is detected that a foreign object is caught in the shielding member, the foreign object can be removed by controlling to open the shielding member.

  In addition, when the control for closing the shielding member is started, the opening of the input terminal portion remains exposed by closing the shielding member when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the control even if there is no instruction to close the user. You don't have to be in a state.

  In addition, the present shielding member is a single member that shields the openings of a plurality of recording media from the outside, so that all the openings can be shielded from the outside at once, and the openings are individually shielded. Thus, a simple structure can be obtained.

  Further, by interlocking opening / closing of the shielding member and exposure / storage of the tray of the rotating recording medium, the user does not have to operate the tray separately when the rotating recording medium is used, and the operation is simplified.

  In addition, since the instruction input unit is provided on the first device side and the recording medium read / write device is provided on the second device side, when the user inputs an instruction to close the shielding member to the instruction input unit, the recording medium As a result, the user moves away from the reader / writer, and as a result, the user can be prevented from inadvertently pinching his / her hand.

1 is an overall block diagram of an image forming system including a recording medium read / write device according to the present invention. 1 is an overall external view showing an entire image forming system. It is a block diagram which shows the control apparatus of an expansion unit. It is a block diagram which shows a reader / writer. It is an external appearance enlarged view of a reader / writer. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a shutter. It is the schematic of the opening / closing operation | movement structure of a shutter. 3 is a flowchart showing image forming processing by the image forming system 10. It is a flowchart of the media mounting process of step S6. It is a flowchart of the media extraction process of step S8. It is a flowchart which shows the process which closes the shutter of step S25. It is a figure which shows the operation screen of service selection. It is a figure which shows the operation screen which selects the recording medium to mount. It is a figure which shows the operation screen which mounts a recording medium and closes a shutter. It is a figure which shows the operation screen which pulls out a recording medium and closes a shutter. It is a flowchart which shows the other process of the shutter close process of step S25. It is a flowchart which shows the other process of the media extraction process of step S8.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of an image forming system provided with a recording medium read / write device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an overall external view showing the entire image forming system.
The image forming system 10 has a configuration in which an expansion unit 30 is connected to an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 20 that is a digital multifunction peripheral.

The MFP 20 includes an instruction input unit 21 that receives user operations, a NIC (Network Interface Card) 22 that is an expansion card for connecting to a network, an MFP control unit 23 that controls each unit, and an electrophotographic system that is a printer in the MFP. The first image forming apparatus 24 and the original reading unit 25 are provided.
The instruction input unit 21 is, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel that accepts user operations, displays operation details, and allows the user to input by touching the operation display portion.
The first image forming apparatus 24 is an electrophotographic printer inside the MFP 20 and contains B5-A3 size plain paper in a paper cassette.

The expansion unit 30 includes a control device 31, a second image forming device 32 mainly for printing photographs, and a reader / writer (recording medium read / write device) 33 for reading and writing each recording medium.
The second image forming apparatus 32 is a sublimation type printer and accommodates L-size special paper. The reader / writer 33 can read / write recording media (recording media) such as various memory cards and CD-Rs. In the photo printing mode, the image data in the memory card can be read and printed.

  The extension unit 30 and the MFP 20 are installed side by side in parallel, the instruction input unit 21 is provided on the MFP 20 side, and the reader / writer 33 is provided on the extension unit 30 side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control device 31 of the expansion unit 30.
The control device 31 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 41 that controls each unit, a storage unit 42 that stores data, a drawing unit 43 including a video chip, a serial communication unit 44, and a NIC 45.
The storage unit 42 includes a storage medium such as a ROM, a RAM, and an HDD. The storage unit 42 temporarily stores data read by the reader / writer 33 or stores a program for performing processing of each unit.
The drawing unit 43 includes a video memory, and generates an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal of the instruction input unit 21.
The serial communication unit 44 is for connecting to the touch panel of the instruction input unit 21 and transmits / receives input operation data.
The NIC 45 is used to connect to the NIC 22 in the MFP 20 via a network or to connect to an external server via the Internet.
The control device 31 also controls the second image forming device 32 and the reader / writer 33. The control device 31 in the expansion unit 30 controls the reader / writer 33 as a control unit. However, the reader / writer 33 may have the control unit.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the reader / writer 33. FIG. 5 is an enlarged external view of the reader / writer 33, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the shutter operation, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the shutter opening / closing operation structure.

The reader / writer 33 includes an input / output terminal unit 51 for reading / writing data from / to a recording medium, a rotary recording medium read / write unit 52, a shutter position detection sensor 53, and a driving unit 54.
The input / output terminal 51 includes first to nth input / output terminals 51-1 to 51-n according to the type of media, and each includes an opening for attaching and detaching media. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, an input / output terminal 51-1 for a CompactFlash (registered trademark) or a microdrive (registered trademark), an input / output terminal 51-2 for an xD picture card (registered trademark), an SD card ( Registered trademark) and miniSD card (registered trademark) input / output terminal 51-3, infrared (IrDA, IrSS, IrSimple) input / output terminal 51-4, smart media (registered trademark) input / output terminal 51-5, Input / output terminal 51-6 for Memory Stick (registered trademark) or Memory Stick Duo (registered trademark), input / output terminal 51-7 for microSD card (registered trademark), input / output terminal 51- for USB memory 51-8 8 is considered.
The rotary recording medium read / write unit 52 reads / writes data from / to a rotary recording medium such as a CD (registered trademark), a DVD (registered trademark), or a Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark).

The drive unit 54 includes a shutter drive mechanism 55 including a stepping motor for driving the shutter, and a rotary recording medium drive mechanism 56. The drive mechanism for the rotary recording medium includes a tray drive mechanism 57 that exposes and stores the tray for mounting the rotary recording medium, and a drive unit 56 that includes a disk rotation mechanism, a pickup mechanism, and the like. As will be described in detail later, the shutter drive mechanism 55 and the tray drive mechanism 57 are interlocked so that the tray is exposed when the shutter is opened, and the tray is accommodated when the shutter is closed. This eliminates the need for the user to perform tray exposure / accommodation operations when the user is a rotating recording medium.
Note that the shutter drive mechanism 55 and the tray drive mechanism 57 may not be interlocked, and the tray exposure / accommodation operation may be performed separately.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a shutter (shielding member) 70 rotates and covers the opening of the input / output terminal 51 to prevent the recording medium from being inserted or removed. The shutter is formed of a single member such as a translucent plastic so as to cover all of the plurality of openings, and shields it from the outside at once. For this reason, it is not necessary to cover an opening part separately, and it can be made a simple structure.

  A rotation shaft 71 of the shutter 70 is rotated by a stepping motor 55. The opening / closing of the shutter 70 is detected by the position detection sensors 53a and 53b. The open / closed state is detected by the sensor 53a for detecting the open position and the sensor 53b for detecting the closed position.

Next, the processing operation of the image forming system will be described.
The image forming system 10 performs a copy process and a photo print process according to a service (copy mode, photo print mode) selected by the user on the menu screen of the instruction input unit 21.

Here, the copy mode is a mode in which a document read by the document reading unit 25 is printed by the first image forming apparatus (printer in MFP) 24 in accordance with user settings.
The photo print mode is a mode in which photo data read from the media connected to the media reader is printed by the second image forming apparatus (sublimation printer) 32.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing image forming processing by the image forming system 10.
In step S1, the control device 31 causes the drawing unit 43 to generate and display the operation screen 101 shown in FIG. 12 on the display unit of the instruction input unit 21 (all subsequent operation screens are displayed by the drawing unit 43. Generate and display images). An operation instruction 102 “select service” and selection icons 103 and 104 for “copy” and “photo print” are displayed. Until the user selects any icon, the control device 31 displays the screen of FIG. When the user selects “Copy” 103, the copy mode is set and the process proceeds to Step S3. If the user selects “photo print” 104, the photo print mode is set and the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S3, the control device 31 displays a copy mode setting screen. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the user has turned on the start button (step S4), and if it is turned on (step S4; Y), the first image forming apparatus 24 performs a copy process (step S5), and step Return to S1.
In step S6, the user mounts media on the reader / writer 33, and the control device 31 confirms whether the user has turned on the start button (step S7). When the start button is turned on (step S7; Y), the user performs media extraction processing (step S8). Next, a printing process is performed by the second image forming apparatus 32 (step S9), the printed image data is deleted from the storage unit 42 (step S10), and the process returns to step S1.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the media mounting process in step S6.
In step S11, the control device 31 causes the instruction input unit 21 to display an operation screen 111 for selecting a recording medium to be mounted shown in FIG. On the operation screen 111, an operation instruction 112 “Select media type” is displayed, and an “SD card” icon 113, a “USB memory” icon 114, and a “CD / DVD” icon 115 are displayed. Let the user choose.

  The control device 31 confirms that the media type has been selected (step S12; Y), rotates the shutter 70 in the opening direction using the stepping motor 55, and opens the shutter (step S13). At this time, the tray drive mechanism 57 of the rotary recording medium is interlocked to expose the tray. As shown in FIG. 14, the control device 31 displays an operation screen 121 on the instruction input unit 21. “Load media and press“ Close shutter ”button. Is displayed, and a “shutter close” button 123 is displayed.

  The control device 31 confirms whether the medium selected in step S11 is loaded (step S14). When a recording medium is loaded in the input / output terminal unit 51 or the rotary recording medium read / write unit 52, it is possible to detect which medium is loaded. If a medium different from the selected medium is loaded (step S14; N), the process waits until the medium is loaded. Then, the control device 31 displays an error on the instruction input unit 21 and displays a warning so that the selected medium is loaded.

  When the selected medium is loaded (step S14; Y), it is confirmed whether the close button 123 is turned on by the user (step S15). When the close button 123 is turned on (step S15; Y), the control device 31 drives the stepping motor 72 to close the shutter 70 (step S16). At this time, the tray is accommodated by interlocking with the tray driving mechanism 57 of the rotary recording medium.

  The control device 31 reads the image data in the loaded medium, expands it as an icon on the instruction input unit 21, and displays it (step S17). It is confirmed whether the user has selected an icon of an image to be printed on the screen (step S18), and if selected, the selected image data is temporarily stored in the storage unit 42 (step S19).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the media extraction process in step S8.
In step S21, the control device 31 displays the operation screen 131 on the instruction input unit 21, as shown in FIG. “Pull out the media and press the“ Close shutter ”button. Is displayed, and a “shutter close” button 133 is displayed. And it is confirmed whether the close button was pushed (step S22). When the close button is pressed, the control device 31 confirms whether the recording medium has been removed (step S23). When the recording medium is removed (step S23; Y), the control device 31 closes the shutter 70 by the stepping motor 55 (step S25). At this time, the tray is accommodated by interlocking with the tray driving mechanism 57 of the rotary recording medium.
When the recording medium has not been removed (step S23; N), the control device 31 sounds a warning sound (step S24) and returns to step S21.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the process of closing the shutter in step S25.
The control device 31 starts a timer (step S31). The motor 55 is rotated in the direction in which the shutter 70 is closed (step S32). The control device 31 confirms whether the shutter 70 has changed from the “open state” based on the detection result of the shutter position detection sensor 53a (step S33). If the shutter 70 has not changed (step S33; N), the process proceeds to step S36.

  If the shutter 70 has changed from the “open state” (step S33; Y), the control device 31 confirms whether the shutter 70 has been closed based on the detection result of the shutter position detection sensor 53b (step S33). S34). When the shutter 70 is in a closed state (step S34; Y), the process proceeds to step S36.

  When the shutter 70 is not in the closed state (step S34; N), it is confirmed whether a certain time has passed (step S35). Assuming that it normally takes 1 second to close the shutter 70, and it takes 3 seconds, the control device 31 determines that an abnormality has occurred. If a predetermined time has elapsed with the shutter 70 not closed, the process proceeds to step S36.

  In step S36, the control device 31 stops the timer, and stops the rotation of the motor 55 in step S37.

  Since the shutter is closed when the user gives an instruction to close by pressing the “close” button, the possibility that the hand is caught in the shutter is reduced, and therefore the breakage of the shielding mechanism can be prevented. In particular, the recording medium does not fall before the opening and the shutter closes while the user is picking it up. Further, when the close button is operated, it is possible to prompt the user to move the reader / writer away from the expansion unit 30 where the reader / writer 33 is arranged toward the MFP 20 provided with the instruction input unit 21, and as a result It is possible to prevent a person from accidentally pinching their hands.

  In photo print mode, media loading → accepting user image data selection → temporarily save selected image data on the control device side so that the user never forgets to leave with media installed The process is controlled so that printing is performed on the premise that the media has been pulled out reliably by using the process of → media removal → printing.

<Other embodiment 1>
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing another process of the shutter closing process in step S25.
What differs from FIG. 11 is steps S48 to S50. In step S48, the motor is rotated in the opening direction. In step S49, a predetermined time is waited, and in step S50, the rotation of the motor is stopped.

In FIG. 11, the control device 31 determines that the shutter is abnormal when the shutter has passed a certain time (for example, 3 seconds) in step S45, and stops the rotation of the motor. However, in FIG. 17, the shutter is closed. It usually took 1 second, and when it took 3 seconds, it was judged that a foreign object was caught in the shutter, and was opened slightly.
Thus, since the shutter 70 is kept open, the user can remove the foreign matter.

<Other embodiment 2>
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing another process of the media extraction process in step S8.
The difference from FIG. 10 is the portion of steps S61, S67, and S68. In step S61, the timer is reset and the timer count is started. If the close button is not pressed in step S53, the control device 31 confirms whether the recording medium has been removed (step S57). If not removed (step S57; N), the process returns to step S53. If removed (step S57; Y), it is confirmed whether the timer has expired after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S58). If the time is not up (step S58; N), the process returns to step S53. If the time is up (step S58; Y), the shutter is closed (step S53).

  In the process of FIG. 10, even if the recording medium is pulled out, the process is not completed unless the close button is pressed. In the present embodiment, when a predetermined time or more has elapsed even after the recording apparatus is pulled out, for example, when 2 minutes have elapsed, the process proceeds to a process of time-up and closing the shutter.

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is possible to

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming system 21 Instruction input part 22 NIC
23 MFP control unit 24 First image forming device 25 Document reading unit 30 Expansion unit 31 Control device 32 Second image forming device 33 Reader / writer 42 Storage unit 43 Drawing unit 44 Serial communication unit 51 Input / output terminal unit 52 Rotating recording medium Read / write units 53, 53a, 53b Position detection sensor 54 Drive unit 55 Shutter drive mechanism 56 Rotation recording medium drive mechanism 56 Drive unit 57 Tray drive mechanism 70 Shutter 71 Rotating shaft

Claims (6)

A recording medium read / write device for reading / writing data from / to a recording medium according to an instruction from an instruction input unit for a user to input an operation instruction,
An instruction input unit for the user to input operation instructions;
An input / output terminal portion having an opening for attaching and detaching the recording medium;
A shielding member that shields the opening from the outside;
A drive unit for driving the shielding member;
A control unit for controlling the driving unit;
Have
The controller is
When it is detected that the recording medium has finished accessing, the shielding member is opened,
The drive unit is controlled to close the shielding member after detecting that the recording medium is pulled out and the instruction input unit receives an instruction input for instructing the user to close the recording medium. Recording medium read / write device.   The recording medium read / write device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls to open the shielding member when detecting that a foreign object is caught in the shielding member.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the control for closing the shielding member is started, the control member closes the shielding member when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the control without an instruction from the user to close. 2. A recording medium read / write device according to 2. Having multiple input / output terminals corresponding to multiple types of recording media,
The recording medium read / write device according to claim 1, wherein the shielding member is a single member that shields the plurality of openings from the outside. A read / write unit of a rotating recording medium;
A tray with a drive mechanism for placing a rotating recording medium;
With
5. The recording medium read / write device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the opening / closing of the shielding member and the exposure / storage of the tray in conjunction with each other. An image forming system in which a first device and a second device are configured in parallel on the left and right,
The first device has an instruction input unit for a user to input an operation instruction;
6. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the second device includes the recording medium read / write device according to claim 1.

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