JP2941912B2 - Recording device with reading function - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device with a reading function, and more particularly to a printer used as an output terminal such as a computer, and more particularly to a device using an electrophotographic process.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as terminals of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer), there are a printer as an output terminal and an image reader as an input terminal, which are connected according to the use of a personal computer user. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the printer and the image reader are connected to the personal computer. 101 is a personal computer, 102 is a printer, and 103 is an image reader.

By connecting the printer 102, information processed by the personal computer 101 can be printed on recording paper. Also, by connecting the image reader 103, character information and image information written on the recording paper can be input to the personal computer 101.

Also, by connecting both the printer 102 and the image reader 103, copying can be used as a facsimile if a personal computer is connected to the network system.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, when both the printer 102 and the image reader 103 are connected to the personal computer 101, there is a problem that an installation area and a space become large and a large desk and rack are required.

Although an input / output terminal in which a printer and an image reader are integrated has been devised, there is a disadvantage that the terminal itself becomes large and expensive.

[Means (and action) for solving the problem]

According to the present invention, in a printer having at least two paper discharge conveyance paths, an image reading device is integrally provided in an upper paper discharge conveyance path, and at least a part of a paper feeding means of the paper discharge conveyance path and a conveyance path. Is used for conveying the original.

With the above configuration, the printer and the image reader are integrated, and the paper discharge conveyance path and members of the printer are also used for reading the document, so that the device has a reading function but is small in size and low in cost. You can do it.

In addition, since the upper discharge transport path of the printer is used for reading the original, the feeding and taking out of the original is easy, and the recording paper is discharged using another lower discharge transport path. As a result, the reading operation does not hinder the printing operation. Further, since they can be used at the same time, they can be used as copiers, that is, they can print input image information on recording paper almost simultaneously.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In the figure, 1 is a printer main body, 2 is a cassette for storing the recording paper S, 3 is a middle plate on which the recording paper S is placed, 4 is a spring,
Reference numeral 5 denotes a paper feed roller, reference numerals 6 and 6 'denote paper feed guides, and reference numerals 7 and 7' denote registration rollers for adjusting the timing to convey the recording paper S. Reference numeral 8 denotes a process cartridge in which a photosensitive drum 9, a developing device (not shown), and a cleaner (not shown) are integrally incorporated. Reference numeral 10 denotes a transfer roller for transferring the developed image on the photosensitive drum 9 to the recording paper S, 11 denotes a conveyance guide, 12 denotes a definition device, 12a denotes an Al fixing roller, 12b denotes a halogen heater serving as a heat source, and 12c denotes a rubber. And is attached to the fixing roller 12a by a spring (not shown).

12d is a fixing entrance guide, 13, 13 'are fixing exit guides, 1
4 and 14 'are discharge (face up) rollers, 15 is a flapper, 16 and 16' are discharge guides, 17 and 17 'are discharge (face down) rollers, 18 is a tray (face up), and 19 is a tray (face up). Down). 20 is the document tray, 21,
21 'is a document conveying roller, 22 is a document detection sensor, and 23 is a long image sensor. Reference numeral 24 denotes a laser unit for scanning the laser light L, and reference numeral 25 denotes a mirror for guiding the laser light L to the photosensitive drum 9.

Next, the printing operation will be described. When a print signal is input from a personal computer (not shown) to which the printer 1 is connected, the paper feed roller 5 makes one revolution, the recording paper S in the cassette 2 is fed, and the registration rollers 7, 7 are fed. ′. The recording paper S is conveyed by the registration rollers 7 and 7 'in synchronization with the image information on the photosensitive drum written by the laser light L, and the image on the photosensitive drum 9 is transferred and fixed by the transfer roller 10 and the fixing device 12. Is performed. When the user of the personal computer discharges the recording paper in the page order, the tray 18 and the flapper 15 are at the positions shown by solid lines, and the recording paper S is transported upward along the paper discharge guides 16 and 16 ', and is discharged by the paper discharge rollers. Drain onto tray 19 by 17, 17 '
Be loaded.

When the user of the personal computer discharges the recording paper S with the printing surface facing up, the tray 18 normally used as a cover of the printer 1 is opened to a dotted line, and a cam member (not shown) is opened. As a result, the flapper 15 moves to the position indicated by the dotted line. The recording paper S having passed through the paper discharge rollers 14 and 14 ′ is linearly conveyed by the flapper 15 and discharged onto a tray 18.
Be loaded.

Next, an original reading operation will be described. The user of the personal computer that reads a document first opens the tray 18 to set it to a state indicated by a dotted line, and then moves the document tray 20 indicated by a solid line to a position indicated by a dotted line. Then, place the original G on the original tray
When the document G is placed on the document tray 20, the document G slides down along the document tray 20, and the leading end of the document G stops against the nip portions of the document transport rollers 21, 21 '. The presence of the original is detected by the original detection sensor 22.
Detects and sends to the personal computer that the preparation for reading is completed. When the user of the personal computer instructs to start reading from the personal computer, the original transport rollers 21, 21 'and the paper discharge roller
The documents 17 and 17 'start rotating, the document G is conveyed, and reading is performed by the image sensor 23. After the reading is completed, the original is placed on the tray 19. At this time, the document G is guided to the rollers 17, 17 'through the upper surface 16a of the guide 16.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the image sensor is provided in the paper discharge conveyance unit of the printer, and the paper discharge conveyance path and the conveyance roller are used for the original reading operation, so that the number of parts is small and the reading function is added. Although it is a compact printer, it is small and low cost.

In addition, since an image sensor is built in the upper discharge transport section in the two discharge transport paths, operations such as setting and taking out of a document are also ready.

In addition, in order to move the document tray 20 to the position indicated by the dotted line for reading, the tray 18 also necessarily moves to the position indicated by the dotted line (either manually or sequentially opened at the same time). Since the recording paper S is automatically discharged onto the tray 18, there is no problem if the reading and printing of the original are performed simultaneously.

Further, since the document conveyance path is substantially linear, paper conveyance is stable, and curling hardly occurs, so that the apparatus is suitable for reading thick paper such as photographs.

Furthermore, while the recording paper S is stacked on the tray 19 with the printing surface facing down, the original G is stacked with the printing surface facing upward, so that the recording paper S and the original G are mixed on the tray 19. Even so, the recognition is easy.

Next, the reading device (sensor 23) will be described in detail.

The reading device has a light source, a plurality of mirrors for reflecting the reflected light of the document illuminated by the light source, a reduction lens for receiving the light reflected by the mirror and converting the reflected light into an electric signal, and a photoelectric conversion element (light receiving element array). doing. The light source is, for example, a cylindrical lamp extending in the horizontal direction (paper width direction) of the image, and the light receiving element array is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupler Device) in which photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a single row in the horizontal direction of the image. Then, the received light image is sequentially scanned and photoelectrically converted. Thus, main scanning is performed. On the other hand, sub-scanning is performed by conveying the document.

In this way, the image is photoelectrically converted while being subjected to main scanning and sub-scanning and surface scanning. The analog signal is digitally converted and output as an image signal.

[Other embodiments]

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Those having the same shape and the same function as those of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a document flapper, which moves to the position indicated by the solid line when the document tray 20 is at the position indicated by the solid line, and moves to the position indicated by the dotted line when the document tray 20 is at the position indicated by the dotted line. Reference numeral 31 denotes a sorting plate which is a part of the exterior of the printer 1.

When the original tray 20 is set to the open position indicated by the dotted line in order to execute the original reading, the original flapper 30 is automatically set to the position indicated by the dotted line, and the discharged original is placed on the sorting plate 31.
Is discharged along the top. Therefore, even when the recording paper S is stacked on the tray 19 at the time of reading, the original G and the recording paper S can be easily distinguished without being mixed.

Also, the document flap is integrated with the document tray 20 set.
Since the 30 moves, there is no erroneous operation and operability is excellent.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Components having the same shape and the same function as those of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

51 is a printer main body, 52 is a multi-feeder, and 53 is a cassette. The cassette 53 contains recording paper S of a size normally used, and the multi-feeder 52 is used when recording paper of other size and type is used.

54 and 54 'are cassette rollers, 55 is a multi-feed roller,
56 is a multi-roller, 57 is a multi-tray, 57 'is a paper guide, and 58 is a pad for separating the recording paper placed on the multi-tray 57 one by one. The multi-tray 57 is normally in a closed state as shown by a dotted line, and functions as a cover of the printer 51, and is opened as shown by a solid line when used.

Reference numeral 59 denotes a fixing entrance guide, 60 denotes a fixing device, 60a denotes a fixing roller, 60b denotes a halogen heater, and 60c denotes a pressure roller. 61
Is a paper discharge (face up) roller, 62 is a flapper, 63 is a document entrance guide, 64 is a document guide, 65 is a tray (face down), 66 is a process cartridge, and 67 is a laser unit.

Next, the printing operation will be described. When the paper is fed from the cassette 53, the paper feed roller 5 makes one rotation and the recording paper S in the cassette is fed, and is conveyed to the transfer unit by the cassette rollers 54 and 54 '.

When the paper is fed from the multi-feeder 52, the multi-feed roller 55 rotates, the recording paper stacked on the multi-tray 57 is fed, and is conveyed to the transfer unit by the multi-roller 56. The paper feeding method is selected by inputting it from a personal computer. After the fixing, when the user discharges with the print side up, the flapper 62 is set to the dotted line state, and the recording paper S is indicated by an arrow A.
Discharged in the direction. On the other hand, when outputting the pages in order with the print surface facing downward, the recording paper S is guided by guides 64 and 64 'and conveyed in the direction of arrow B when the flapper 62 is in the solid line state, and discharged and stacked on the tray 65. Is done.

 Next, the reading operation will be described.

When the flapper 62 is at the position indicated by the solid line, the convex portion 62a of the flapper 62
Is engaged with the lower portion 63a of the document entrance guide 63, and the document entrance guide 63 cannot rotate. Therefore, first, the flapper 62 is switched to the state of the dotted line by the switching means, that is, the paper is discharged upwardly on the printing surface, and then the document entrance guide 63 is rotated by the switching means to be in the substantially horizontal state shown by the dotted line. When a document is inserted in the direction of arrow C, the document detection sensor 22 detects the presence of the document. Subsequently, the original transport rollers 21, 21 'and the discharge rollers 17, 1
7 ′ rotates, and the document is conveyed on the upper surface of the guide 64,
Reading is performed by the image sensor 23.

In this embodiment, both the setting and taking out of the recording paper and the setting and taking out of the document can be performed from the front side of the printer 51, so that the operability is good. Also, since the recording paper S is stacked on the tray 65 with the print surface facing down, the originals are stacked with the print surface facing up, so that even if they are mixed on the tray, it is easy to discriminate them.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in a printer having at least two paper discharge conveyance paths, an image sensor for reading a document is provided in an upper paper discharge conveyance section, and the paper discharge conveyance of the printer is used for document conveyance. At least part of the road and the transport member were shared.

Therefore, a small-sized and low-cost apparatus is realized despite being a printer having a reading function.

Further, since the original is set and taken out in the upper part of the apparatus, the operability is excellent, and the printing of the recording paper is not hindered.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printer embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a printer showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a configuration of a printer showing a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and Fig. 5 is a layout diagram of a conventional personal computer, printer and reader. 1 Printer 2 Cassette 5 Paper feed roller 7 Registration roller 8 Cartridge 10 Transfer roller 12 Fixing device 14, 14 'FU discharge roller 15 Flapper 17, 17 FD discharge roller 18 FU tray 19 FD tray 20 Document trays 21, 21 'Document rollers 23 Image sensor

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of discharge conveyance paths; a document reading sensor; and a document insertion section, wherein the document reading sensor and the document insertion section are disposed at an upper part of the plurality of discharge conveyance paths. A recording device with a reading function, provided near a transport path, wherein at least a part of a recording paper discharge transport path, a transport member, and a stacking tray are used for transporting and stacking originals. 2. A recording apparatus with a reading function according to claim 1, wherein the recording paper and the original stacked on the stacking tray are discharged to opposite sides of their printing surfaces.