JP2957931B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reader unit for projecting image information on an information recording medium such as a microfilm onto a screen and a reader printer having an image forming unit for forming and recording image information on a sheet material. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and in particular, to a sheet discharging means for a sheet material on which an image is formed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a reader printer having a reader unit for projecting image information of an information recording medium such as a microfilm onto a screen and an image forming unit for forming and recording image information on a sheet material. I have.

In such a reader printer, high-speed print processing and large-volume print processing are required in order to quickly retrieve a large amount of image information recorded on a microfilm. In particular, this requirement is the same for a leader printer capable of printing on a relatively large and long sheet material such as an A3 size sheet. In such a leader printer, a large sheet material discharged outside the apparatus is taken out. An apparatus having a structure in which the sheet material is discharged toward the front of the apparatus for the purpose of facilitation (FIG. 12 (a)). On the other hand, even if a large-size sheet material is handled, the sheet can be downsized as a whole. There is an apparatus (FIG. 12B) having a structure in which a material is discharged in a lateral direction of the apparatus.

That is, the reader printer 1 shown in FIG.
In 00, the screen 101 and the transmissive table 102 are arranged on the right side and the image forming unit 103 is arranged on the left side as a layout configuration. A search device 104 that transports the roll-shaped microfilm F100 is mounted on the transmission table 102. Reference numeral 105 denotes a paper discharge unit from which a sheet material on which an image is formed is discharged.

[0005] In the reader printer 200 shown in FIG.
The image forming unit 203 is disposed below the transmission table 202 and the recorded sheet material is discharged to a lateral discharge unit 205. A search device 204 that transports the roll-shaped microfilm F100 is mounted on the transmission table 202.

[0006]

In the case of an apparatus layout as shown in FIG. 12A in which the sheet material is discharged to the front of the apparatus, the sheet material is discharged in front of the operator. And interfere with the operation of the operator,
The sheet material discharge position is provided at a position beside the operator.

However, in this case, the position of the information recording medium such as the microfilm F100 or the like is separated from the image forming position of the sheet material, the optical system such as the mirror is complicated, the storage space is large, and the entire apparatus is large. And it was expensive.

On the other hand, in the case of the apparatus having the structure illustrated in FIG. 12B in which the sheet material is discharged to the side of the apparatus, the optical system can have a simple structure, so that high-speed printing can be performed. It is small and inexpensive.

However, on the other hand, when the discharged sheet material is viewed from the position of the operator, the sheet material is hidden by the shadow of the apparatus, making it difficult to see, making it difficult to confirm information. Further, there is a problem that the work of picking up the sheet material is troublesome because the discharge position is far from the position of the operator.

[0010] In addition, when a plurality of types of sheet materials are to be used, if the sheet discharging portion is located at one place, sheet materials having different sizes may be mixed, and it is troublesome to arrange them. .

Further, in a roll film having a plurality of hierarchies (multiple levels) of search marks (document marks), a lower level (called a file) included in an upper level (called a file) by a reader printer with a searcher. ) May be printed together (called a file print). In this case, if a plurality of file prints are made, the files are not distinguished from each other, so that the recorded sheet materials are mixed and it takes time to organize.

For example, patent information and the like have conventionally been available on a micro roll film having two levels of document marks. One case corresponds to one file and often consists of multiple pages. Therefore, when printing a plurality of records, the above-mentioned function of file printing is often used.

Further, in the case of patent information and the like, items necessary for retrieval are written especially on the first page, and it is very convenient to collect only this page for later organization. However, in the conventional file printing, in order to print a part of only the first page, it is necessary to search again and print again, which is troublesome.

[0014] Further, in a work in which a search is performed according to an instruction from the host computer and a print is performed by a CAR system (a system in which a host computer and a reader printer are connected and an image can be searched according to an instruction from the host computer). However, since sheet materials on which different files are recorded are continuously output, there is a problem that the files are mixed unless the operator is careful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to transfer a sheet material to a different discharge section depending on the size of the sheet material or the file recorded. An object of the present invention is to sort and discharge sheets to assist the operator in organizing, and to classify discharged sheet materials by using search marks configured in a plurality of layers.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a search matrix corresponding to each image frame is provided.
Reading the search mark on an image recording medium having a mark
Searching means for illuminating the image recording medium with a light beam from a light source.
To magnify and project the transmitted light obtained on the screen.
And the optical path of the transmitted light is switched on the photoreceptor.
Exposure to form an image on sheet material by electrophotography
An image recording apparatus comprising:
Discharging the sheet material on which the image is formed by the image forming means;
A first discharge unit provided in the lower stage, and a first discharge unit provided in the upper stage.
A second paper discharge section, and the first paper discharge section and the second paper discharge section.
Conveyance for selectively switching the paper discharge conveyance path to each paper section
Channel switching means, and the search mark is provided in a plurality of layers.
And controls the transport path switching means according to the hierarchy.
Then, the sheet material is divided into a first paper discharge unit and a second paper discharge unit.
It is characterized by being discharged in a similar manner.

In the transfer path switching means, the search means may
When the search mark indicating the rank of the order is detected, the paper is transported.
Switch the route and add a search mark indicating the higher level.
Image frames and lower search marks included in this hierarchy
Switch the sheet material on which the image frame having the
It is also preferable to discharge the paper to the obtained paper discharge unit .

The transfer path switching means indicates a higher hierarchy.
Sheet material on which only image frames having search marks are recorded
To one of the paper exits, and then a search
Image frames with marks and lower-level inspections included in this hierarchy
The sheet material on which the image frame having the search mark is recorded
It is also preferable to discharge the paper to the paper discharge section .

The transport path switching means is provided in the image recording apparatus.
Connected to a host computer that controls
It is also preferable to switch the paper discharge conveyance path according to an instruction from a computer .

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The technology used will be described with reference to the first and second embodiments.
Embodiment 3 describes a characteristic technique related to lighting.
You. (Embodiment 1) A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG.

1 and 2 are schematic structural views showing an electrophotographic forming process means and a paper discharging device of an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a microfilm reader printer to which the present invention can be applied. It is.

In FIG. 3, A is a reader section, B is a printer section, and F is a microfilm or photographic film as an information recording medium, which is mounted on a transparent mounting table (not shown).

Reference numeral 1 denotes a halogen lamp for projection, 2 denotes a reflector made of a spherical mirror, 5 denotes a reflection mirror, and 6 denotes a condenser lens, and these constitute an illumination unit as illumination means.

7 is a projection lens, 21, 22, 25, 2
6 is a reflection mirror, 27 is a projection screen. Also,
Reference numerals 23 and 24 denote scanning mirrors arranged at 90 ° to each other, and reference numeral 28 denotes a photosensitive drum as an image recording medium.
The scanning mirrors 23 and 24 are movable in the direction of the arrow W or the arrow R, and are normally retracted to a position deviated from the projection optical path a in the direction of the arrow W. After that, it moves in the W direction, scans and exposes the projected image of the film F on the photosensitive drum 28 through the slit 27 through the optical path b, and a copying process by so-called electrophotography is performed. Then, after the exposure of the photosensitive drum 28 to the image is completed, the scanning mirrors 23 and 24 move in the W direction, return to the retracted position, and stop moving.

As shown in FIG. 1, image forming process means such as a primary charger 8, a developing unit 9, a transfer separation charger 10, and a cleaner 11 are provided around the photosensitive drum 28.

Below the photosensitive drum 28, a paper feed cassette 12, in which a sheet material P for forming an image is stored, a pickup roller 13, a transport roller 14, a separation roller 15, a pair of registration rollers 16, a transport belt 17, a fixing inlet A guide 18 and a fixing roller pair 19 are provided.

Next, the paper discharging device will be described.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 32 denotes a side plate, which together with a side plate (not shown) disposed opposite to the side plate 32 constitutes a housing of a sheet discharging device 31 as a sheet discharging means. The paper discharge device 31 is rotatable about a shaft 33 provided on a side plate 32 and can be opened and closed with respect to the device main body.
The device is locked at a fixed position of the apparatus main body by a locking means (not shown) which rotates in conjunction with. When the lock is released by the locking means by rotating the handle 40, the paper discharging device 31
It can be opened counterclockwise.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a pair of discharge rollers, 35 denotes a pair of lower discharge rollers, 36 denotes a pair of upper conveyance rollers, and 37 denotes a pair of upper discharge rollers. Lower paper discharge conveyance path H as the first conveyance path
1 is formed, and the lower paper discharge conveyance path H1 is formed substantially linearly so that the fixing roller pair 19 and the lower paper discharge port 42 as the first paper discharge unit have the shortest distance.

On the other hand, an upper paper discharge conveyance path H2 as a second conveyance path is formed between the paper discharge inlet roller pair 34, the upper paper conveyance roller pair 36, and the upper paper discharge roller pair 37. The upper discharge port is a second discharge portion for discharging the sheet material.

Numeral 38 denotes a flapper as a conveyance path switching means for switching the conveyance path of the sheet material to one of the lower paper discharge conveyance path H1 and the upper paper discharge conveyance path H2.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a rotation about the shaft 38a, and when the tip portion 38b of the flapper 38 rotates counterclockwise (see FIG. 1), the sheet material enters the lower sheet discharge conveyance path H1.
8 when the tip 38b is rotated clockwise (see FIG. 2).
Is designed to allow the sheet material to enter the upper sheet discharge conveyance path H2.

Reference numeral 39 denotes a conveyance guide disposed in the upper paper discharge conveyance path H2. The conveyance guide 39 is rotatable about a shaft 39a, and acts on the force of an elastic member such as a coil spring (not shown). , And is constantly urged to a fixed position and stopped (see the solid line position in the figure).

The operator can open and close the opening / closing guide 39 by rotating the handle 40 to release the lock of the locking means and open the sheet discharging device 31 in the counterclockwise direction.

When a sheet jam occurs in the upper sheet discharge conveyance path H2, the opening / closing guide 39 is rotated clockwise by a handle (not shown) (in a position indicated by a broken line 3 in the figure).
9 ') The jammed sheet material can be pulled out.

Reference numerals 41a and 41b denote paper discharge trays for stacking sheet materials discharged out of the apparatus from the discharge ports. The paper discharge tray 41 is designed to be hooked and mounted on the paper discharge device 31. Outlet 42 or upper outlet 43
Can be attached to and detached from each other.

Next, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG.
It will be described based on.

[0042] Figure 4, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a re Dapurinta, FIG 4 is a diagram showing a state of attaching the sheet discharge tray 41 in the lower outlet 42, Fig. 5 is a sheet discharge tray 41 the upper outlet 43 FIG. FIG. 6 is an external side view showing the operation position of the reader printer.
When the sheet material is discharged to the lower discharge port as shown in FIG. 4, the lower discharge paper conveyance path H1 is formed almost linearly so that the conveyance path to the discharge port is the shortest distance, so that printing can be performed at high speed. And the possibility that the conveyed sheet material becomes jammed is small.

On the other hand, when the sheet material is discharged to the upper discharge port as shown in FIG. 5, the discharge tray 41 is mounted near the microfilm transfer carrier 44, so that it is discharged as shown in FIG. The operator can easily check the information of the discharged sheet material without obstructing the line of sight of the operator and the sheet material, and the sheet material can be very easily taken.

The above is the description of the first embodiment.
Although the configuration in which the sheet material is discharged to the side surface of the apparatus by the reader printer described as an application example of the paper discharge apparatus in the present embodiment, a configuration in which the sheet material is discharged to the front surface of the apparatus may be employed.

The application of the above-described paper discharge device is not limited to a reader printer, but may be applied to a copying machine, an LB
The present invention can be applied to an image recording apparatus that discharges a sheet material such as a printer, a printer, a facsimile, and the like outside the apparatus.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 7 shows an external appearance of a reader printer capable of selecting two or more sheet material sizes in accordance with an instruction from an operation unit and feeding paper. 12
Reference numerals A and 12B denote paper cassettes. FIG. 8 shows an external view of one of the sheet feeding cassettes 12 as viewed obliquely from above on the rear side.

The sheet material can be placed in the shaded area defined by the partition plate 12c. In order to recognize the sheet material size of the sheet cassette, a thick piece 12a,
12b is attached. As shown in FIG. 7, when inserted into the main body and set, the switch pushes a switch (not shown) to read the size of the sheet cassette.

[0048] Before using this reader printer, which when the sheet material size in advance, by setting the whether the operation unit 124 is discharged from either discharge unit, by selecting the sheet material size, the paper discharge unit Will be decided.

If an image frame reading function as conventionally proposed is used, an automatic sheet material selecting function can be added. Detects the size of the image and automatically selects the sheet material size that can accommodate the image,
Once the sheet material size is determined, the paper discharge section can be automatically determined.

(Embodiment 3) Since a large number of images can be recorded on a micro roll film, the
Document marks 52 and 53 are provided as search marks corresponding to the respective image frames 51 as shown in FIG. As is well known, a searcher reads and counts these document marks 52 and 53 to search for a desired image frame.

Further, since a large number of images are recorded, the length of the document mark may be changed to provide a plurality of hierarchies in consideration of the simplicity of retrieval. FIG. 9 shows an example. The first image frame of a certain file 54 (an upper layer obtained by collecting several lower layer pages) is provided with a longer document mark 52 indicating the beginning of the file, and the subsequent image frame is a shorter document mark indicating a page. 53 is attached.

Since it is very troublesome for an operator to search and print one frame at a time, a file print function for printing all pages in a designated file is provided. When printing a plurality of files using such a function, the files can be clearly distinguished by switching the outlet for each file. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a system in which the search device 57 is connected to the reader printer 55. After inputting an image frame address from the operation unit 58 of the search unit 57 and searching for a desired file, the search unit 57 outputs a print instruction to the reader printer 55.

Further, when the user wants to print the next desired file continuously, the searcher 57 can recognize that the file has changed.
The user can instruct to rotate the flapper 38 (FIG. 1) of the paper discharge device 31 in the printer 5 to switch the paper discharge unit.

The connection between the search device 57 and the reader printer 55 is established by the search device 57 as described above.
Not only to instruct the reader printer 55
In order to inform the searcher 57 of the state of the reader / printer from the side, it is necessary to have a CPU in both sides and to connect by bidirectional serial communication.

FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the CAR system. A system in which a search device 57 and a host computer 59 are connected to the system of the reader printer 55 and the search device 57 described in FIG. 10 is shown. In such a configuration, general-purpose serial communication such as RS232C can be normally performed between the search device 57 and the host computer 59. The searcher 57 receives the address of the desired file on the film and the print instruction from the host computer 59, so that the same operation as the instruction from the operation unit 58 can be performed. Therefore, the paper discharge section of the reader printer 55 can be switched through the search device 57 in accordance with an instruction from the host computer 59.

In the system of the reader printer 55 and the search device 57 described with reference to FIG. 10, all the images in the file are printed, and the image frame with the document mark 52 indicating the beginning of the file is further partially copied. To print and switch the paper output section to discharge
When the retrieval device 57 reads the document mark 52 indicating the beginning of the file, first, after partially printing and discharging, the retrieval device 57 issues a discharge portion switching instruction to the reader printer 55 in the same manner as described above, and the discharge portion is switched. After printing, you can print another part and eject it. The setting of such a function is performed from the operation unit 58 of the search device 57.

Alternatively, in the system as shown in FIG. 11, it can be set by an instruction from the host computer 59.

[0058]

As described in the foregoing, by discharging by sorting sheet material Rikoto consisting discharge unit Do can switch the sheet discharge portion of the sheet over preparative material and upper and lower, the operator Can assist in organizing, and work efficiency is improved.

[0059]

[0060]

That is, a file is provided in the first sheet discharge mode by using a search mark provided in a plurality of levels corresponding to each image frame of the image recording medium. Paper and the second paper discharge section, so that the paper can be discharged.
Classification work can be reduced, and the risk of files being mixed can be reduced.

When printing a file, it is possible to prepare a mode in which only the first page of the file is output to one paper output unit and the other paper output unit is used to print all pages in the file. Using prints instead of indexes has made it easier to organize.

Also, having a function of switching the paper discharge section in response to an instruction from the host also serves as a sorter, and can reduce the risk of mixing files.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a main configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an optical system of a reader printer.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a reader printer.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a reader printer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a reader printer to which the present invention is applied and an operation state of an operator.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a reader printer capable of handling a plurality of sheet material sizes.

FIG. 8 is a view of a sheet material placing means.

FIG. 9 is a micro roll film with a two-level document mark.

FIG. 10 is a system block diagram including a search unit.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a CAR system.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a conventional reader printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A Reader unit B Printer unit H1 Lower paper discharge transport path (first transport path) H2 Upper paper discharge transport path (second transport path) F Microfilm 31 Paper discharge device (paper discharge means) 38 Flapper (transport path switching) Means) 42 Lower discharge port (first discharge section) 43 Upper discharge port (second discharge section)

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-260433 (JP, A) JP-A-4-80176 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03B 27/32 G03G 15/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A search mark corresponding to each image frame;
Search for reading the search mark on an image recording medium provided
And means, said image recording medium is illuminated with a light beam from a light source
And the reader means the resulting transmitted light enlarged and projected scan clean, the switching the optical path of the transmitted light is exposed on the photosensitive member, comprising an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet material by an electrophotographic method image in the recording apparatus, for discharging the sheet material with an image formed by said image forming means comprises a first sheet discharge portion provided in the lower, a second sheet discharge portion provided in the upper, the first Paper discharges respectively leading to the paper discharge part and the second paper discharge part
A transport path switching unit for selectively switching a transport path, wherein the search mark is configured in a plurality of layers, and
Controls the conveyance path switching means in accordance with the
An image recording apparatus which classifies and discharges paper into a first paper discharge unit and a second paper discharge unit. Wherein said conveyance path switching member is Haishi搬 when the searching means detects the search mark indicating a higher hierarchy
Performs switching of sending passage, an image frame having a search mark lower included in the image frame and the hierarchy has a search mark indicating the upper hierarchy serial
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, the recording sheets material, characterized by leaving discharging the switched paper discharge unit. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transport path switching means is a sheet on which only image frames having a search mark indicating a higher hierarchy are recorded.
The material is discharged to one of the paper output units, and the image frame having a search mark indicating the next higher hierarchy and the image frame having a lower search mark included in this hierarchy
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet material on which the image is recorded is discharged to the other discharge unit. Wherein said conveyance path switching member is connected to a host computer for controlling the image recording apparatus, according to claim, characterized in that switching the discharge transport path by an instruction from the phosphate <br/> preparative computer The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .