JP3260842B2 - Electronic file device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic file device for reading document and image information of various documents and adding search information to a large-capacity storage medium such as a magneto-optical disk for storage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to save a storage space for a large number of documents created or provided in an office or the like, and to enable efficient retrieval of required documents when required, an electronic file device (electronic filing system, Optical filing systems, etc.) have been developed and are being used considerably.

Such an electronic file device is a scanner (image scanner) for reading at least the document and image information of a document, and the information read by the scanner is classified for each document and registered in a storage medium such as a magneto-optical disk. The main body includes an external storage device having a function of searching for the registered information, a controller, and the like, and a display for displaying information read by a scanner and information searched by the main body. Generally, the system is configured by an input device such as a mouse which is a keyboard and a pointing device for inputting information and instructions, and a printer such as a laser printer for printing retrieved information and the like. .

A conventional electronic file device includes a CRT display, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like on a dedicated system table for storing or installing the scanner, the device body (including an external storage device and a controller), a printer, and the like. The mainstream is the large one that is used by mounting it.

[0005]

However, such a large-sized electronic filing device requires a dedicated installation space, and therefore cannot sufficiently contribute to saving space in an office or the like. Of the users, it was not possible for each person to easily use and arrange documents on their desks.

Therefore, recently, a large-screen liquid crystal display is used instead of the CRT display, and a liquid crystal display is mounted on the front of the apparatus body to reduce the size. And a printer installation space are required. In particular, since the scanner is used to set and read documents, the scanner must be installed at a position close to the apparatus main body for easy operation.

For this reason, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-6667, an electronic file device in which a display and a sheet scanner are integrated into a device main body has been developed.

However, when the apparatus main body, the display and the scanner are integrated as described above, the whole becomes considerably large and heavy, and cannot be easily carried. If a jam occurs, it becomes difficult not only to remove the jam, but also the workability of maintenance and inspection of the transport mechanism and image reading unit deteriorates. There was a problem that it became complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has been made to greatly reduce the size of an electronic filing device so that it can be easily used on a personal desk, and to take out a jam sheet with a simple structure. And maintenance inside the scanner
The purpose is to enable easy inspection.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic file apparatus comprising a sheet scanner, an apparatus body, and a display as described above.
The display is mounted on a front surface of the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body is detachably mounted on the scanner.

In the electronic filing apparatus, the scanner is configured such that the sheet insertion slot, an inner case containing a sheet conveying mechanism inserted in the insertion slot and an image reading means, and the inner case are slidable in the front-rear direction. It is preferable that the sheet feeding mechanism be constituted by an outer case that is fitted and supports the apparatus main body, and that the transport mechanism can open the sheet transport path in a state where the inner case is pulled out from the outer case toward the near side.

Further, it is desirable to provide a pair of guide members for regulating both side edges in the width direction of the sheet set in front of the sheet insertion opening of the inner case so as to be slidable in the width direction. Further, in the electronic filing device, a paper feed tray for mounting a sheet-form document to be set is detachably provided on the front side of the sheet insertion opening of the inner case, and the paper feed tray is stored when not in use. It is preferable to provide the paper tray storage section at the lower part of the inner case.

In these electronic file devices, the scanner detects whether the inner case is at a predetermined storage position in the outer case or is pulled out from the position, and sends the detection result to the device body. It is desirable to provide a means for notifying.

[0014]

In the electronic filing apparatus according to the present invention, the main body of the apparatus is detachably mounted on the scanner as described above, and the display is mounted on the front of the main body. The entire apparatus (excluding the printer) can be installed, and if a thin display such as a liquid crystal display is used as the display, the entire apparatus can be made extremely compact.

Therefore, it can be placed on a personal desk or the like and used easily. At this time, it is possible to perform all operations using only a mouse or a keypad without using a large keyboard as an input device for search information, commands, and the like. It can also be placed under or beside, or shared with other data processing devices such as a plurality of electronic file devices, personal computers, word processors, and the like.

When a sheet jam occurs in the scanner or when maintenance or inspection is performed inside the scanner, the upper surface of the scanner is opened by lowering the apparatus body from above the scanner. By simply opening, jam paper can be easily taken out and maintenance and inspection can be performed.

Further, if the scanner is constituted by an inner case accommodating the sheet conveying mechanism and the image reading means, and an outer case which is slidably fitted in the inner case back and forth direction and supports the apparatus main body, By simply pulling out the inner case from the outer case while the apparatus main body is placed on the upper side, it is possible to open the sheet conveyance path and take out jammed paper.

By providing a pair of sheet guides in front of the sheet insertion opening of the inner case, the read document can be reliably set at a predetermined position corresponding to the size and guided to the transport path. In addition, a paper tray for setting the document to be read is detachably provided on the front side of the sheet insertion slot of the inner case, and its storage section is provided at the bottom of the inner case, so that the tray can be removed when not in use. Can be stored in the lower part of the inner case, and can be used effectively on a desk or the like.

When the inner case is pulled out of the outer case, if the inner case is detected and notified to the apparatus main body, the apparatus main body can stop its operation and stand by, and malfunction can be prevented. It can prevent inviting.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic file device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a usable state.

This electronic file device includes a device main body 1 and
Large-screen liquid crystal display (hereinafter simply "display")
2), a sheet reading type scanner (sheet scanner) 3, and a mouse 5 as a pointing device
Alternatively, the keypad 6 is provided. Note that a printer such as a laser printer is also connected if necessary. However, it is not always necessary to arrange it adjacently, and it is not shown because it can be shared with other devices.

The apparatus main body 1 is configured such that a flat box-shaped horizontal portion 1a placed on the upper surface of the scanner 3 and a vertical portion 1b standing upright are fixed in an inverted T-shape. A magneto-optical disk drive 10 is built in the horizontal portion 1a, and a magneto-optical disk
0a and an operation lamp La are provided. Reference numeral 11 denotes a power switch.

A mouse connector 12 and a keypad connector 13 are provided on the right side of the horizontal portion 1a in the drawing, and the left button 5
interface of mouse 5 having a and right button 5b
A plug 52 provided at the end of the cable 51 can be inserted, and a plug 62 provided at the end of the interface cable 61 of the keypad 6 can be inserted into the connector 13. In addition,
A large keyboard used in an ordinary word processor or the like can be connected to the connector 13. Alternatively, only one of the mouse 5 and the keypad 6 may be connected.

On the front surface of the vertical portion 1b of the apparatus main body 1, a display 2 comprising a display screen 21 and a frame portion 22 around the display screen 21 is provided.
Is mounted so as to be tiltable and rotatable at the center of the back surface of the camera. Thereby, the display 2 can be tilted in the direction of arrow A, and further rotated 90 ° in the direction of arrow B,
It is also possible to switch from the illustrated portrait screen to the landscape screen. Reference numerals 23, 23 denote a pair of concave portions provided near the diagonal points of the frame portion 22. The concave portions are formed so that the thumb can be easily put on the display 2 when the display 2 is tilted or rotated.

In the apparatus main body 1, a scanner 3 is provided.
A control circuit including a microcomputer, an image processing circuit, and an image memory for classifying the information read by the method for each document and registering the information on the magneto-optical disk, and searching for the registered information and displaying the information on the display 2 , A hard disk drive, etc. The back and left sides of the apparatus main body 1 will be described later with reference to FIG.

The scanner 3 comprises a flat box-shaped inner case 31 and an outer case 32 having an open front surface. The inner case 31 has a sheet insertion opening 33, a conveying mechanism for the sheet inserted therein, and an image reading device. Means (a line image sensor and its driving circuit, etc.)
Reference numeral 2 fits the inner case 31 slidably in the front-rear direction like a drawer, and supports the apparatus main body 1 mounted thereon. The sheet conveying path can be opened in a state where the inner case 31 is pulled out from the outer case 32 toward the near side. The details will be described later.

A pair of paper guides 34, 34 for restricting both side edges in the width direction of a sheet to be set can be slid in the width direction (right and left direction in the figure) in front of the sheet insertion opening 33 of the inner case 31. Is provided.

The sheet insertion opening 3 of the inner case 31
A paper tray 35 on which a sheet-shaped document to be set is placed is detachably provided on the front side in front of the paper tray 3, and a paper tray storage section 36 for storing the paper tray 35 when not in use.
Are provided along the lower surface of the inner case 31. The paper feed tray 35 is provided with a foldable auxiliary tray 35a, and when setting a long-sized document, it is spread and used as shown. When the scanner is not used, the auxiliary tray 35a can be folded and the paper feed tray 35 can be removed from the inner case 31, and can be inserted and stored in the paper feed tray storage section 36.

At the upper end of the rear end of the outer case 32, a paper discharge tray 37 for discharging the read sheet is also provided detachably, and further provided with a foldable auxiliary tray 37a. On both sides of the front end of the inner case 31, there are provided column-shaped end blocks 31a and 31b, and a power lamp Lb and a misfeed indicator lamp Lc are provided in the right end block 31b in the drawing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a separated state immediately before the apparatus main body 1 is mounted on the scanner 3. The paper feed tray 35 of the scanner 3 is stored in a paper feed tray storage section 36.
The paper ejection tray 37 is shown in a detached state. A pair of positioning annular ridges 32a, 32a is formed on the upper surface of both sides behind the outer case 32 of the scanner 3, and a pair of rubber feet 14 provided on the lower surfaces of both sides of the horizontal portion 1a. , 14 are aligned, the apparatus main body 1 is lowered, and is positioned and mounted on the scanner 3.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a paper discharge guide which is provided at the upper end of the rear end of the outer case 32 so as to be inclined. Paper discharge tray support pieces 38a, 38a are integrally formed on both left and right ends of the paper discharge guide. 39,3
Reference numeral 9 denotes a pair of left and right paper feed tray locking grooves formed on the upper part of the front surface of the inner case 31, reference numeral 40 denotes an upper cover provided on the upper surface of the inner case 31 so as to be openable and closable, and reference numeral 41 denotes a lock release button for the upper cover 40. is there.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the scanner 3 in a state where the inner case 31 is pulled out from the outer case 32 toward the near side, and a part of the right side surface of the outer case 32 is cut away. The upper surface of the outer case 32 is formed in an H shape, and is largely open. The lower surface is also open, but a pair of slide rails 42 are formed on both sides to slidably support the inner case 31.

An end block 43 is attached to the lower part of the rear end surface of the inner case 31 along the width direction. A micro switch 44 is attached to the rear end of one end of the inner case 31, and the inner case 31 is attached to the outer case 32. When the inner case 31 is at a predetermined storage position, the micro switch 44 is turned on, and is turned off when the inner case 31 is pulled out even a little. That is, the microswitch 44 is a means for detecting whether or not the inner case is at the predetermined storage position, and notifies the apparatus main body 1 of the detection result.

A curl code 45 is provided between the rear end of the inner case 31 and the rear end of the outer case 32 to supply power to the sheet conveying section and the image reading section in the inner case 31. Along the rear end surface, a straight cord is provided and connected to a power connector (not shown). 46 is a read image signal, a command signal, a micro switch 4
4 is a flat cable for transmitting the detection signal, etc.
It is folded to extend and contract, pulled out from the rear end of the inner case 31, and connected to a signal connector provided at the rear end of the outer case 32.

The curl cord 45 and the flat cable 46 expand and contract in response to the inner case 31 being pulled out and pushed into the outer case 32, so that the inner case 31 does not sag at the time of pushing and hinders sliding of the inner case 31.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the scanner 3 and the lower part of the apparatus main body 1 as viewed from the rear side, and both are connected by a power supply connecting cord 47 and a signal interface cable 48. The apparatus main body 1 is supplied with power from a commercial power supply by a power cord 15. In addition to a power connector 16 and an interface connector 17a for connecting to the scanner 3, a book scanner connection,
Interface connectors 17b, 17c, and 17d for connecting a laser printer, a communication unit, and the like are provided. In addition, a floppy disk drive device 18 is provided in the left side surface facing the front of the vertical portion 1b.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view when a paper feed tray is mounted on the scanner 3, and as shown in FIG.
The paper feed tray 35 accommodated therein is picked up from the paper feed tray storage section 36 of FIG. 1 and completely pulled out in the direction of arrow C, and then the paper feed tray locking groove is shown in FIG. 3
9 and 39, and are horizontally moved in the direction of arrow E, and a pair of hook-shaped portions 35b, 35b provided at the ends are inserted into the paper feed tray locking grooves 39, 39 and locked. Good.

When the paper feed tray 35 is detached from the scanner 3 and stored, the reverse operation may be performed. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing a state where a sheet document to be read by the scanner 3 is set.

First, as shown in FIG.
A pair of paper guides 34, 34, which are symmetrically slid relative to the sheet 9, are slid according to the width of the sheet document 7 (actually, there is a paper size index), and then the sheets to be read at one time The documents 7 are stacked on the paper feed tray 35, moved in the direction of arrow F, and pushed in along the paper guides 34, 34 from the sheet insertion slot 33 to abut against a stopper (not shown) as shown in FIG. Good.

Thereafter, when a reading start command is sent from the apparatus main body 1 to the scanner 3, the set sheet documents 7 are sequentially conveyed one by one from the lower side to read the document and image information on the lower surface. At that time, if a sheet misfeed (transport failure) occurs, the misfeed indicator lamp Lc is turned on. A method for removing jammed paper in that case will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, the inner case 31 of the scanner 3 is fully pulled out from the outer case 32 toward the near side.
Although the drawing shows the state in which the sheet feed tray 35 is detached and stored, the sheet documents may be pulled out with the sheet feed tray 35 attached until the sheet documents are set. Then, when the lock release button 41 is pushed in the direction of arrow P to release the lock of the upper cover 40, the upper cover 40 can be rotated in the direction of arrow Q with the other hand to open as shown in FIG. .

Then, the transport roller 50 provided on the upper cover 40 side and the transport roller 51 provided on the fixed portion side opposed thereto, and the feed roller (not shown) provided on the fixed portion side near the sheet insertion port 33 are provided. The sheet transporting path of the sheet transporting mechanism is opened, and the jammed paper 7 '(sheet document 7 jammed due to misfeeding) can be easily taken out by pinching it with a finger as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 9, 52 is a line image sensor for reading an image, 53 is a lock lever,
Reference numeral 4 denotes a spring that constantly biases the lock lever 53 in the locking direction. When the lock release button 41 is pressed, the lock lever 53 turns left against the biasing force of the spring 54 to release the lock. Reference numeral 55 denotes a gear, which meshes with a drive gear (not shown) on the fixed portion side and transmits the rotational force of the motor to the transport roller 50 on the upper cover 40 side.

After the jam paper is taken out, the upper cover 40
Is completely closed and automatically locked, and the inner case 31 is slid into the outer case 32 and pushed into a predetermined storage position, so that it can be used. While the inner case 31 is being pulled out, the micro switch 44 shown in FIG.
Is in a standby state, and does not operate even if the operator operates the mouse 5 or the like in a state where the inner case 31 is not completely housed.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the paper discharge tray 37 of the scanner 3 is lowered toward the front side so as to cover the upper surface of the outer case 32. If the paper feed tray 35 is stored in the lower part of the inner case 31 and the paper discharge tray 37 is tilted in this way, it becomes extremely compact without taking up extra space, and when the scanner 3 is not used for a long time or stored on a shelf or the like. Or when moving to another location.

In this embodiment, a liquid crystal display (preferably a large white screen) is used as a display. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an electronic display using electroluminescence, a plasma display, or a flat CRT display may be thin. Any of them can be used.

Although the scanner has a double case and the inner case can be pulled out of the outer case, an upper case capable of opening a sheet conveying path on the upper surface of an integrated case formed in a flat box shape. Can be opened and closed to remove jammed paper and perform maintenance and inspections.
By lowering the apparatus main body from above the scanner, the upper cover can be opened to facilitate the operation. In the case of a small electronic file device, such a configuration is sufficiently practical.

[0048]

As described above, in the electronic filing apparatus according to the present invention, as long as there is space for a scanner, the entire electronic filing apparatus can be mounted on the scanner by mounting the apparatus main body with the display on the front. (Excluding a printer) can be installed, so that the installation space is significantly reduced as compared with the conventional one. Also,
If a thin display is used, the whole can be made extremely compact.

Therefore, it can be placed on a personal desk or the like and used easily. At this time, it is possible to perform all operations using only a mouse or a keypad without using a large keyboard as an input device for search information, commands, and the like. It can also be placed under or beside, or shared with other data processing devices such as a plurality of electronic file devices, personal computers, word processors, and the like.

When a sheet jam occurs in the scanner or when maintenance or inspection is performed inside the scanner, the upper surface of the scanner is opened by lowering the apparatus body from above the scanner. By simply opening, jam paper can be easily taken out and maintenance and inspection can be performed.

Further, if the scanner is constructed so that the inner case containing the sheet conveying mechanism and the image reading means can be pulled out from the outer case supporting the apparatus main body, the inner case can be used with the apparatus main body mounted on the scanner. By simply pulling the case forward, the sheet conveying path can be opened and jammed paper can be taken out.

If a pair of sheet guides is provided on the front side of the sheet insertion opening of the inner case, the read document can be surely set at a predetermined position according to the size. In addition, a paper tray for setting the document to be read is detachably provided on the front side of the sheet insertion slot of the inner case, and its storage section is provided at the bottom of the inner case, so that the tray can be removed when not in use. Can be stored in the lower part of the inner case, and can be used effectively on a desk or the like.

When the inner case is pulled out of the outer case, if the inner case is detected and notified to the apparatus main body, the apparatus main body side can stop the operation and stand by, and malfunction can be prevented. It can prevent inviting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a usable state of an electronic file device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a separated state immediately before the apparatus main body 1 is mounted on the scanner 3 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing only the scanner 3 in a state where an inner case 31 is pulled out from an outer case 32 toward the near side.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the scanner 3 and the lower part of the apparatus main body 1 as viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when a paper feed tray 35 is mounted on the scanner 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a sheet document to be read by the scanner 3 is set on a paper feed tray 35.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the sheet document is completely set to a position where a sheet can be fed.

FIG. 8 shows an inner case 31 of the scanner 3 and an outer case 32;
FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view showing a state in which it is fully pulled out from the front side.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a state in which a sheet conveying path of the sheet conveying mechanism is opened and jammed paper 7 'is taken out.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the paper discharge tray 37 of the scanner 3 is moved to the outer case 32.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which it is tilted to the near side so as to cover the upper surface of the first embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 1 Main body 1a Horizontal part 1b
Vertical section 2 Liquid crystal display 3 Scanner 5
Mouse 6 keypad 7 sheet document 7 '
Jam Paper 10 Magneto-optical Disk Driver (MOD) 11
Power switch 14 Rubber feet 18 Floppy disk drive (FDD) 21 Display screen 22 Frame 31
Inner case 32 Outer case 33 Sheet insertion slot 34
Paper Guide 35 Paper Tray 36 Paper Tray Storage, 37
Discharge tray 38 Discharge guide 39 Feed tray locking groove 40 Upper cover 41 Lock release button 42 Slide rail 43 End block 44
Micro switch 45 Curl code 46 Folded flat cable 47 Power supply connection cable 48 Interface cable 49 Center mark 50, 51 Transport roller 52 Line image sensor 53
Lock to lever

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yuko Ogasawara 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Kawai 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yagi Yagi, 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiro Kurita 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd. Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Akira Imai 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd. Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Miaki Takeuchi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Company, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-3-212055 (JP, A) JP-A-2-109174 (JP, A) JP-A-2-31222 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. ⁷ , DB name) G06T 1/00 G 06F 1/16 G06F 17/30 H04N 1/00 H04N 1/21

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A scanner for reading document and image information of a sheet document, a registration unit for classifying the information read by the scanner for each document and registering the information in a storage medium, and a search unit for searching the registered information. An electronic file device comprising a main body of the apparatus and a display for displaying information read by the scanner, information registered or registered by the registration means, information retrieved by the retrieval means, and the like. An electronic file device comprising the display mounted thereon and the apparatus main body removably mounted on the scanner. 2. The electronic filing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner includes an inner case that houses a sheet insertion slot, a sheet transport mechanism and an image reading unit inserted into the insertion slot, and moves the inner case back and forth. An outer case that is slidably fitted in the direction and supports the apparatus main body, wherein the transport mechanism allows the sheet transport path to be opened in a state where the inner case is pulled out from the outer case toward the near side. An electronic file device comprising: 3. The electronic filing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a pair of guide members for regulating both side edges in the width direction of the sheet set in front of the sheet insertion opening of the inner case slide in the width direction. An electronic filing device characterized by being provided as possible. 4. An electronic filing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a sheet feed tray on which a sheet-shaped document to be set is placed is detachably provided in front of a sheet insertion opening of said inner case. An electronic filing device, wherein a paper feed tray storage portion for storing a paper tray when not in use is provided at a lower portion of the inner case. 5. The electronic filing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the scanner determines whether the inner case is at a predetermined storage position in the outer case or is pulled out from the position. An electronic file device comprising: means for detecting; and means for notifying the result of detection by the means to the apparatus main body.