JP3918690B2 - Image input / output device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image input / output device capable of reading and printing an image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a housing (referred to as a scanner housing) that houses a carriage on which an image sensor is mounted and a housing (referred to as a printer housing) that accommodates a printing unit such as an ink jet printer head (so-called second floor). An image input / output device integrated with a building structure is known. The scanner housing is arranged on the upper stage of the printer housing in order to support the document table on which the document is placed.
[0003]
In a carriage movement type image scanner, a circuit mounted on a carriage that reciprocates in a housing and a circuit fixed to the housing are electrically connected by a flexible flat cable (FFC). The FFC is gently bent and folded inside the scanner housing. When the FFC is deformed with the movement of the carriage and the FFC comes into contact with the document table, dirt is attached to the back surface of the document table glass, or the document table is scratched by friction. Generally, since the platen glass is fixed to the scanner housing so as not to be detachable, the user cannot remove the dirt adhering to the back surface of the platen glass. Further, there is a problem that dirt and scratches attached to the platen glass due to rubbing against the FFC are read as an image.
[0004]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image scanner including a double bottom structure housing in which a folded portion of an FFC is dropped in order to prevent friction between the FFC and the document table (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-219315 (FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the scanner housing of the image input / output device is provided with a double bottom for dropping the FFC folding portion, there is a problem that the scanner housing becomes larger in the height direction. Therefore, when the double bottom for dropping the FFC folding portion is applied to the scanner housing of the image input / output device, there is a problem that the entire image input / output device becomes larger in the height direction.
[0007]
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image input / output device that prevents contact between the FFC and a document table without increasing the overall height of the device.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a box-shaped scanner housing supporting a document table, a scanning circuit having a linear image sensor, and the scanning circuit are mounted, and the document table includes an interior of the scanner housing. A carriage that reciprocates parallel to the board surface, a processing unit that processes the output signal of the scanning circuit and outputs image data, one end electrically connected to the scanning circuit, and the other end electrically connected to the processing unit A flexible flat cable that has a folded portion gently curved inside the scanner housing, the folded portion being deformed as the carriage moves, and a printer housing provided below the scanner housing; An image input / output device including a printing unit housed in the printer housing and configured to print image data. Height and section recess that fits the bottom of the folded portion when maximized are formed in the bottom of the scanner housing, characterized in that the recess fits into the remaining space of the printer housing.
[0009]
In general, in an image input / output device, the outer dimensions of a scanner housing are determined according to the maximum size of a document that can be read, and the outer dimensions of the printer housing are determined according to the dimensions of the bottom of the scanner housing. That is, in the image input / output device, generally, the outer dimension of the printer housing is determined according to the maximum size of the original that can be read. When the external dimensions of the printer housing are determined in this way, the size of the internal space of the printer housing becomes larger than the space required by the mechanical elements of the printing unit, and a residual space is formed in the printer housing.
[0010]
According to the image input / output device according to claim 1, the concave portion in which the lower portion of the folded portion is accommodated when the height of the folded portion is maximized is formed in the bottom portion of the scanner housing, and the recessed portion is accommodated in the remaining space of the printer housing. Contact between the FFC and the document table can be prevented without increasing the overall height of the apparatus.
[0011]
The image input / output device according to claim 2 is characterized in that the concave portion is accommodated in an ink cartridge replacement opening formed in the printer housing.
[0012]
According to the image input / output device according to claim 2, the concave portion of the scanner housing is accommodated in the ink cartridge replacement opening that is originally provided in the image input / output device having a printing portion such as an inkjet method. It is not necessary to change the structure of the printer housing for storage.
[0013]
4. The image input / output device according to claim 3, wherein the concave portion includes a first slope contacting the folded portion and a second slope not contacting the folded portion, and the slope of the first slope is the second slope. It is characterized by being greater than the slope of the slope.
According to the image input / output device according to claim 3, since the slope of the first slope contacting the folded portion is larger than the slope of the second slope not contacting the folded portion, the volume of the recess that occupies the inside of the printer housing. It is possible to increase the depth of the concave portion in which the FFC is accommodated while suppressing. Therefore, according to the image input / output device of the third aspect, the physique of the entire device can be reduced.
The image input / output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a scanner housing supporting a document table, a scanning circuit having a linear image sensor, the scanning circuit is mounted, and an interior of the scanner housing is formed on a surface of the document table. A carriage that reciprocates in parallel, a processing unit that processes the output signal of the scanning circuit and outputs image data, one end electrically connected to the scanning circuit, and the other end electrically connected to the processing unit. A flexible flat cable having a gently curved folded portion inside the scanner housing, the folded portion being deformed as the carriage moves, a printer housing provided below the scanner housing, and the printer housing A printing unit which is stored in the printer and prints the image data, and a concave shape on the inner wall surface of the bottom of the scanner housing An inner wall surface, a convex outer wall surface on the bottom outer wall surface of the scanner housing, and the lower portion of the folded portion is accommodated when the height of the folded portion is maximized, and the printer housing and the scanner housing And a recess that fits in the remaining space in the outer shell.
The image input / output device according to claim 5, wherein, in the concave portion, an angle formed by a surface on the scanning circuit side when the height of the folded portion is maximized from a bottom surface of the concave portion is an opposite surface. It is smaller than the angle formed from the bottom surface of the recess.
The image input / output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the concave portion formed in the bottom portion of the scanner housing is formed as a convex portion on the back side of the scanner housing, and an accommodating portion in which the convex portion is accommodated is formed in the printer housing. It is characterized by.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of an image input / output device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016]
The scanner housing 18 is formed in a box shape with an upper opening, and is connected to the printer housing 56 so as to be swingable by a hinge (not shown). When the scanner housing 18 is in the fully closed position shown in FIG. 1A, the bottom 42 of the scanner housing 18 is supported by the printer housing 56.
[0017]
The document table 22 is a transparent glass plate that closes an opening formed in the upper portion of the scanner housing 18, and is fixed to the scanner housing 18. Documents up to A4 size can be placed on the surface of the document table 22.
[0018]
The sensor carriage 16 is formed in a box shape and is accommodated in the scanner housing 18. The sensor carriage 16 is slidably supported on a guide rod 28 fixed to the scanner housing 18. The sensor carriage 16 is locked to a belt (not shown) that is rotated by a drive mechanism 15. The drive mechanism 15 is housed in the scanner housing 18 and includes a pulley, a gear train, a motor, and the like around which the belt is wound. The sensor carriage 16 reciprocates in the axial direction of the guide rod 28 as the belt rotates.
[0019]
A scanning circuit board 24 and an optical system 14 on which the linear image sensor 20 is mounted are mounted inside the sensor carriage 16. The optical system 14 includes a light source, a mirror, and a lens (not shown). The light source irradiates the vicinity of the scanning line of the original, and the mirror and the lens form a reflected light image on the irradiated scanning line of the original on the linear image sensor 20. The linear image sensor 20 is mounted on the scanning circuit board 24 in a posture in which RGB light receiving elements are arranged linearly in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. The linear image sensor 20 scans the optical image on the scanning line input by the optical system 14 and outputs an electrical signal correlated with the density of the optical image. The scanning circuit board 24 is mounted with a linear image sensor 20 and a circuit for driving the linear image sensor 20 and the light source.
[0020]
The FFC 34 is accommodated in a posture in which the folded portion 30 is formed inside the scanner housing 18. In this embodiment, the portion from the end portion 32 fixed to the scanning circuit board 24 to the portion starting to contact the bottom portion 42 of the scanner housing 18 corresponds to the folded portion 30 of the FFC 34. The folded portion 30 is gently curved and is bent approximately 180 degrees. One end 32 of the FFC 34 is electrically connected to the scanning circuit board 24. The other end portion 12 of the FFC 34 is electrically connected to the processing unit 10. The FFC 34 transmits an output signal of the linear image sensor 20 to the processing unit 10 and transmits a control signal of the processing unit 10 to the scanning circuit board 24. The folding portion 30 is deformed as the sensor carriage 16 moves. The FFC 34 is slack when the sensor carriage 16 is positioned in the vicinity of the end (standby position) of the movement range, that is, the length of the folded portion 30 is maximized. Therefore, when the repulsive force against the bending of the FFC 34 is sufficiently large, the height of the folded portion 30 is maximized when the sensor carriage 16 is positioned in the vicinity of the (standby position). When the sensor carriage 16 is positioned in the vicinity of the (standby position), the lower portion of the folding portion 30 is positioned in the vicinity of the center of the scanner housing 18.
[0021]
The printer housing 56 is formed in a box shape and is located below the scanner housing 18. The printer housing 56 supports the scanner housing 18 in a swingable manner. The printer housing 56 accommodates a processing unit 10, a printing unit 58, and a power supply unit (not shown). The projection of the printer housing 56 onto the horizontal plane is almost congruent with the projection of the scanner housing 18 onto the horizontal plane. When the scanner housing 18 is in the fully closed position, the upper portion of the side wall of the printer housing 56 and the lower portion of the side wall of the scanner housing 18 are connected without substantial steps. Since the scanner housing 18 is large enough to read an A4 size document, the printer housing 56 forms a larger internal space than the physique of the printing unit 58 and the like.
[0022]
The printing unit 58 includes a paper transport mechanism (not shown), a print head 54, a printer carriage 52 on which the print head is mounted, and a printer carriage drive mechanism. The paper transport mechanism includes a paper feed roller, a paper discharge roller, a gear train that drives these rollers, a motor, and the like.
[0023]
The printer carriage 52 is slidably supported on the guide rod 50. The printer carriage 52 is locked to a rotating belt by a driving mechanism (not shown). The printer carriage 52 reciprocates in the axial direction of the guide rod 50 as the belt rotates. The drive mechanism of the printer carriage 52 includes a pulley, a gear train, a motor and the like around which a belt is wound.
[0024]
The print head 54 is mounted on the printer carriage 52. The print head 54 includes, for example, a nozzle that ejects ink, a piezo element, an ink passage, and the like, and fixes ink droplets on a sheet by an inkjet method. The ink cartridge 48 is detachably fixed to the printer carriage 52. The ink cartridge 48 is a container in which ink of each color is stored. The ink stored in the ink cartridge 48 is supplied to the nozzles of the print head 54 through the ink passage. Note that the printing unit 58 is not limited to the inkjet method, and may be configured to be compatible with various printing methods such as a laser method.
[0025]
The processing unit 10 performs image processing on the signal output from the scanning circuit board 24 by performing gamma correction, shading correction, color space conversion, and the like. The processing unit 10 performs halftone processing, resolution conversion processing, color space conversion processing, and the like on the image data to create print data, and controls the printing unit 58 based on the print data. When the image input / output device 1 functions as a scanner controlled by a PC, the image data created by the processing unit 10 is output to the PC through an interface (not shown). When the image input / output device functions as a printer controlled by a PC, print data is input to the processing unit from the PC through an interface.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom member 66 of the scanner housing 18.
The bottom portion 42 of the scanner housing 18 is constituted by a thin bottom member 66 reinforced by a large number of ribs 64. The bottom member 66 is integrally formed by injection molding. A recess 46 is formed in the approximate center of the bottom 42. The recess 46 has a first inclined surface 40, a flat surface 38 and a second inclined surface 36. The first inclined surface 40, the flat surface 38, and the second inclined surface 36 are arranged in this order in a direction parallel to the moving direction axis of the sensor carriage 16. The slope of the first slope 40 is set larger than the slope of the second slope 36. Accordingly, the depth of the recess 46 is deeper on the first slope side than the center and shallower on the second slope side than the center. The flat surface 38 corresponds to the deepest part of the recess 46. As shown in FIG. 1, when the sensor carriage 16 is located at the standby position, the FFC 34 is most loosened, so that the height from the bottom 42 to the top 26 is maximized. At this time, the part of the FFC 34 that is farthest from the sensor carriage 16 in the sub-scanning direction (the right direction in FIG. 1) is located slightly closer to the end than the center of the bottom 42 of the scanner housing 18. At this time, the top 26 of the FFC 34 is located immediately above the center of the bottom 42 of the scanner housing 18. A flat surface 38 formed between the first inclined surface 40 and the second inclined surface 36 extends from the substantially center of the bottom 42 of the scanner housing 18 in the sub-scanning direction (right direction in FIG. 1). When the top 26 of the FFC 34 is the highest, the configuration of the recess 46 is set so that the lowest portion of the folded portion 30 is supported by the flat surface 38 of the bottom 42 in the scanner housing 18.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom member 66 is formed with a lead-out port 62 that guides the FFC 34 into the printer housing 56. The FFC 34 is inserted into the outlet port 62 and pulled out from the outlet port 62 into the printer housing 56.
[0028]
The FFC 34 extends from the outlet 62 in the main scanning direction (lower left direction in FIG. 2), bends in an L shape before the second inclined surface 36, extends in the sub-scanning direction (right direction in FIG. 2), and extends to the second inclined surface 36. And fits in the recess 46. The FFC 34 is always in contact with the bottom 42 from the outlet 62 through the second inclined surface 36 to the center of the flat surface 38. As the sensor carriage 16 moves in the sub-scanning direction, the section of the FFC 34 in contact with the bottom 42 is extended toward the end 32 on the carriage side.
[0029]
A hinge mounting portion 60 is formed at the corner of the bottom member 66. A hinge (not shown) is attached to the hinge attachment portion 60. This hinge connects the bottom member 66 to the printer housing 56 in a swingable manner.
[0030]
An operation panel mounting portion 68 is formed at the center of the end portion of the bottom member 66 facing the hinge mounting portion 60. An operation panel 70 (see FIG. 3) is attached to the operation panel attachment portion 68.
[0031]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the image input / output device 1. FIG. 3 shows the fully opened posture of the scanner housing 18.
The operation panel 70 is provided with a plurality of switches 74 and a liquid crystal display 72. A menu for controlling the processing unit 10 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 72. The menu is operated by a plurality of switches 74.
[0032]
An ink cartridge replacement opening 44 is formed in the upper part of the printer housing 56. The ink cartridge replacement opening 44 is formed such that when the printer carriage 52 reciprocates, at least a part of the ink cartridge 48 is exposed regardless of the position of the printer carriage 52.
[0033]
The bottom surface of the bottom portion 42 of the scanner housing 18 is raised on the back surfaces of the first inclined surface 40, the flat surface 38 and the second inclined surface 36. That is, the concave portion 46 forms a convex portion on the bottom surface of the scanner housing 18. The recess 46 is formed at a position that fits into the ink cartridge replacement opening 44 when the scanner housing 18 is fully closed and protrudes from the ink cartridge replacement opening 44 into the internal space of the printer housing 56. The recess 46 does not interfere with other elements accommodated in the printer housing 56, such as the printer carriage 52 and the ink cartridge 48. That is, the concave portion 46 fits in the remaining space of the printer housing 56 in which the printing unit 58, the processing unit 10, the power supply unit, and the like are accommodated.
[0034]
The configuration of the image input / output device 1 has been described above. 4A to 4C are schematic views showing the internal structure of the scanner housing 18. Hereinafter, the deformation of the FFC 34 accompanying the movement of the sensor carriage 16 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0035]
The position shown in FIG. 4A is the standby position of the sensor carriage 16. That is, when reading is started, the sensor carriage 16 moves from the standby position shown in FIG. 4 (A) to the position shown in FIG. 4 (C) in the sub-scanning direction (right direction in FIG. 4). When is finished, the process returns to the standby position shown in FIG.
[0036]
The slack of the folded portion 30 becomes maximum at the standby position. That is, the length of the folded portion 30 is maximum at the standby position. When the repulsive force with respect to the bending of the FFC 34 is sufficiently large, the radius of curvature of the slack portion when bent and folded by 180 degrees increases as the slack increases. Therefore, when the repulsive force against the bending of the FFC 34 is sufficiently large, the height from the lower end of the folded portion 30 of the top 26 of the folded portion 30 of the FFC 34 is maximized at the standby position where the slack is maximized.
[0037]
When the sensor carriage 16 moves to the position shown in FIG. 4B, the slack of the FFC 34 becomes smaller than the standby position, and when the sensor carriage 16 moves to the position shown in FIG. 4C, the slack of the FFC 34 becomes minimum. Therefore, when the repulsive force with respect to the bending of the FFC 34 is sufficiently large, the height of the top 26 of the folded portion 30 from the lower end of the folded portion 30 is shown in FIGS. 4 (A), 4 (B), and 4 (C). Lower in order.
[0038]
In the image input / output device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the lower portion of the folded portion 30 is accommodated in the concave portion 46 formed in the bottom portion 42 when the top 26 of the FFC 34 is the highest. More specifically, the shape of the bottom portion 42 is set so that the lower end of the folded portion 30, that is, the portion where the FFC 34 and the bottom portion 42 begin to contact is supported by the flat surface 38 of the lowest concave portion 46. Therefore, the height of the internal space of the scanner housing 18 can be suppressed at a portion other than the recess 46 without bringing the FFC 34 into contact with the document table 22.
[0039]
Further, in the image input / output device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the concave portion 46 is accommodated in the remaining space of the printer housing 56, the document table 22 and the document table 22 can be formed without increasing the overall height of the printer housing 56 and the scanner housing 18. Contact of the FFC 34 can be prevented.
[0040]
In the image input / output device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the depth of the recess 46 is deeper on the first slope side than the center and shallower on the second slope side than the center. Since the folded portion 30 contacts the concave portion 46 on the sub-scanning direction side from the center of the concave portion 46, the depth of the concave portion 46 is more required on the first slope side than the center. That is, in the image input / output device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the depth of the recess 46 is set sufficiently and sufficiently by adjusting the slopes of the first inclined surface 40 and the second inclined surface 36. The bumps corresponding to the recesses 46 in the bottom 42 of the housing 18 are small. Therefore, the recess 46 can be accommodated in the small remaining space of the printer housing 56. That is, according to the image input / output device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the overall size of the device can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of an image input / output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a bottom member of a scanner housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an image input / output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of a scanner housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image input / output device 10 Processing part 16 Sensor carriage (carriage)
18 Scanner housing 20 Linear image sensor (image sensor)
22 Document table 24 Scanning circuit board (scanning circuit)
34 FFC (flexible flat cable)
36 Second slope 38 Flat face 40 First slope 42 Bottom 44 Ink cartridge replacement opening 46 Recess 58 Printing part 66 Bottom member

Claims (6)

A box-shaped scanner housing supporting the platen;
A scanning circuit having a linear image sensor;
A carriage mounted with the scanning circuit and reciprocatingly moving inside the scanner housing in parallel with the surface of the platen;
A processing unit for processing the output signal of the scanning circuit and outputting image data;
One end is electrically connected to the scanning circuit, the other end is electrically connected to the processing unit, and a folded portion that is gently curved is provided inside the scanner housing. The folded portion is moved along with the movement of the carriage. Flexible flat cables that deform
A printer housing provided below the scanner housing;
An image input / output device comprising a printing unit housed in the printer housing and printing image data;
An image input / output apparatus, wherein a recess for accommodating a lower portion of the folded portion when the height of the folded portion is maximized is formed in a bottom portion of the scanner housing, and the recessed portion is accommodated in a remaining space of the printer housing.   The image input / output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recess is received in an ink cartridge replacement opening formed in the printer housing.   The recess has a first slope that contacts the folded portion and a second slope that does not contact the folded portion, and the slope of the first slope is greater than the slope of the second slope. The image input / output device according to claim 1. A scanner housing supporting the document table;
A scanning circuit having a linear image sensor;
A carriage mounted with the scanning circuit and reciprocatingly moving inside the scanner housing in parallel with the surface of the platen;
A processing unit for processing the output signal of the scanning circuit and outputting image data;
One end is electrically connected to the scanning circuit, the other end is electrically connected to the processing unit, and a folded portion that is gently curved is provided inside the scanner housing. The folded portion is moved along with the movement of the carriage. Flexible flat cables that deform
A printer housing provided below the scanner housing;
A printing unit housed in the printer housing for printing the image data;
A bottom inner wall surface of the scanner housing has a concave inner wall surface, a convex outer wall surface on the bottom outer wall surface of the scanner housing, and a lower portion of the folded portion when the height of the folded portion is maximized. A recess that fits in a residual space in an outer shell formed by the printer housing and the scanner housing;
An image input / output device comprising:   In the recess, the angle formed by the surface on the scanning circuit side when the height of the folded portion is maximized from the bottom surface of the recess is smaller than the angle formed by the opposite surface from the bottom surface of the recess. The image input / output device according to claim 1 or 4,   5. The concave portion formed in the bottom portion of the scanner housing is formed as a convex portion on the back side of the scanner housing, and a housing portion in which the convex portion is accommodated is formed in the printer housing. The image input / output device described in 1.

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