JP6222435B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus typified by a facsimile or a printer, and more particularly to a recording apparatus having both a scanner function and a recording function.

  In recording apparatuses represented by facsimiles, printers, etc., and in particular recording apparatuses that record on a recording medium by ejecting ink, what is also called a multi-function machine that has both a scanner function and a recording function There is. Many multifunction devices have, for example, a flatbed scanner unit at the top of an apparatus main body (recording unit) that performs ink jet recording.

  An example of such a multifunction machine is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this multifunction machine, when a copy operation of a document larger than the maximum size that can be read by the scanner unit is performed, a document that protrudes from the scanner unit and hangs down is recorded on the recording unit. It is a technical problem to be solved that the sheet discharged from the sheet is covered and it becomes difficult for the user to check the image recorded on the sheet. For this reason, the multifunction peripheral described in Patent Document 1 shifts the sheet discharge area with respect to the readable area in the scanner unit.

JP 2013-58980 A

  By the way, when reading a large document (a document having a size larger than the size of the document reading area) as described above, a plurality of reading operations (divided reading) are performed, and the obtained image is stored inside the recording apparatus (or connected externally). It is also possible to obtain an image of the entire manuscript by stitching together.

  Thus, when performing a plurality of document reading operations, the user slides or rotates the document. The operability of such user operations is not necessarily good in the conventional multifunction peripherals including the multifunction peripheral described in Patent Document 1.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus with a scanner excellent in operability when performing an original reading operation having a size larger than the original reading area.

  In order to solve the above problems, a recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention records a scanner unit for reading a document placed on a document table, and records information read by the scanner unit on a recording medium. A maximum recording medium size that can be recorded is larger than a size of a document reading area for reading a document on the document table, and the scanner unit opens and closes the document reading area. A cover and a hinge portion that allows the cover to rotate, the hinge portion being outside the original reading area in a direction perpendicular to a direction connecting the original reading area and the cover. The size of the original reading area provided on both sides of the original reading area and protruding from the original reading area on the base end side of the cover. And having a gap through which a document of large size on the outer side of the scanner unit.

  According to this aspect, in the recording apparatus including the scanner unit and the recording unit, the base end side of the cover that opens and closes the document reading area has a size larger than the size of the document reading area that protrudes from the document reading area. Since there is a gap through which the document passes outside the scanner unit, it is possible to avoid complicated operations such as folding the document when reading the large size document and rotating the document when performing divided reading. Becomes better.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the gap is formed both in an opened state and a closed state.

  According to this aspect, since the gap is formed in both the open state and the closed state of the cover, closing the cover at the time of reading suppresses the entry of light from the outside and provides a good reading result. Can be obtained.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, in the direction orthogonal to the direction connecting the document reading area and the gap, the gap includes the entire area of the document reading area. It is formed in this.

  According to this aspect, in the direction orthogonal to the direction connecting the document reading area and the gap, the gap is formed so as to include the entire area of the document reading area. The portion that protrudes from the document reading area can be passed outside the scanner unit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, a recording medium for supplying a recording medium positioned between the document reading area and the gap into the recording unit. A supply port; and an opening / closing body that opens and closes the recording medium supply port, and the opening / closing body supports the document protruding from the document reading area when the opening / closing body is closed. .

  According to this aspect, since the opening / closing body that opens and closes the recording medium supply port for supplying the recording medium into the recording unit supports the document protruding from the document reading area, the opening / closing body supports a higher position. Can support the original, and can prevent the original from slipping or dripping from the original table.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the support position where the opening / closing body supports the document is higher than the document table.

  According to this aspect, since the support position at which the opening / closing body supports the document is higher than the document table, the document can be supported at a higher position, and the document can be more reliably prevented from slipping or dripping from the document table. Can be suppressed.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth or fifth aspect, the cover has a notch that avoids the opening / closing body in a closed state during rotation, and the opening / closing body opens while the cover opens. In the closed state, the gap is formed between the notch and the opening / closing body.

  According to this aspect, the cover has a notch that avoids the opening / closing body in a closed state when the cover is rotated, and in the state where the cover is open and the opening / closing body is closed, the gap is separated from the notch. Since it forms between the said opening-closing body, the notch which avoids the said opening-closing body forms the said clearance gap, and can comprise the said clearance gap at low cost.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the scanner unit and the recording unit are operated on a side opposite to the side where the gap is provided across the document reading area. And a panel that supports a document that protrudes from the document reading area.

  According to this aspect, since the panel that constitutes the operation unit of the scanner unit and the recording unit supports the document that protrudes from the document reading area, the effect of suppressing dripping or slipping of the document from the document table is obtained. can get.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a support position at which the panel supports a document is higher than the document table.
According to this aspect, since the support position at which the panel supports the document is higher than the document table, it is possible to more surely prevent the document from slipping or dripping from the document table.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh or eighth aspect, the support surface for supporting the document in the panel forms a substantially horizontal plane.
According to this aspect, since the support surface for supporting the document in the panel forms a substantially horizontal plane, it is possible to more effectively suppress the document from slipping or drooping from the document table.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to ninth aspects, the guide unit guides an edge of the document when the document is slid along a direction connecting the document reading area and the gap. Is provided outside the original reading area.

  According to this aspect, since the guide portion that guides the edge of the document when the document is slid along the direction connecting the document reading region and the gap is provided outside the document reading region, the document reading When separately reading (sliding) a document having a size larger than the area, it is possible to suppress document misalignment and skew, and to obtain a good reading result.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the printer according to the invention as viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the printer according to the invention as viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the printer according to the invention as viewed from the front side. The elements on larger scale of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where a document is passed through a gap in FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a paper conveyance path of the printer according to the invention. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a paper conveyance path of the printer according to the invention. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a paper conveyance path of the printer according to the invention. The top view of a scanner unit. A side sectional view of a scanner unit. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a printer control system according to the present invention. (A), (B), (C) is a diagram showing the position of the original when the divided reading mode is executed. The figure which occupies the joint position with the reading range at the time of division | segmentation reading mode execution. The figure which shows an example of the guidance screen at the time of division | segmentation reading mode execution. The figure which shows an example of the guidance screen at the time of division | segmentation reading mode execution. The figure which shows an example of the guidance screen at the time of division | segmentation reading mode execution. The top view of the scanner unit which concerns on other embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described below, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims. Assuming that these are also included in the scope of the present invention, one embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  1, 2 and 3 are external perspective views of the printer 1 according to the present invention as seen from the front side. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the cover 4 of the scanner unit 3 is closed, and FIG. 2 shows that the manual feed cover 6 is opened. FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the paper support 15 is unfolded, and FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the cover 4 and the tilt panel 5 of the scanner unit 3 are opened and the paper discharge receiving tray 8 is protruded.

4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which a document is passed through the gap 35 in FIG. 4, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are side sectional views showing a sheet conveyance path of the printer 1.
9 is a plan view of the scanner unit 3, FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the scanner unit 3, FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control system of the printer 1, and FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12 C) is a diagram showing the position of the original when the divided reading mode is executed, FIG. 13 is a diagram occupying the connecting position with the reading range when the divided reading mode is executed, and FIGS. 14 to 16 are guidance screens when the divided reading mode is executed. It is a figure which shows an example. FIG. 17 is a plan view of a scanner unit according to another embodiment.

  Note that, in the xyz orthogonal coordinate system shown in each figure, the x direction and the y direction are horizontal directions, of which the x direction is the paper width direction in the recording unit 3 and also the left-right direction of the apparatus. In addition, the y direction is the paper conveyance direction in the recording unit 3 and is also the apparatus depth direction. Furthermore, the z direction is the direction of gravity and is also the device height direction. The definition of each direction in the scanner unit 2 will be described later.

■■■ 1. Overall printer configuration ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
In the following, first, the overall configuration of the printer 1 as an embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention will be outlined. 1 to 3, the printer 1 includes a scanner unit 3 as a scanner unit above a recording unit (apparatus body) 2 that performs ink jet recording on a recording sheet (hereinafter, “sheet P”) as an example of a recording medium. That is, it is configured as a multi-function machine having a scanner function in addition to the ink jet recording function.

The scanner unit 3 is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the recording unit 2 via a rotation shaft (not shown). By rotating, the scanner unit 3 is closed (FIG. 1) and opened (not shown). And can take. When the scanner unit 3 is opened, the inside of the recording unit 2 is exposed, and an ink cartridge replacement operation or a paper jam processing operation (not shown) can be performed.
The upper cover 4 of the scanner unit 3 is an openable / closable cover. By opening the cover 4, the document table 30 of the scanner unit 3 appears.

  Reference numeral 5 on the front side of the apparatus includes an operation unit 5a including a power button, operation buttons for performing various print settings / recording, and a display unit 5b for displaying print setting contents, print image previews, various guidance displays, and the like. This is a tilt panel. The tilt panel 5 can be tilted, and is provided so as to be tiltable between a state in which the panel surface is substantially vertical (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a state in which the panel surface is substantially horizontal (FIG. 3). It is provided so that the angle can be maintained in any desired posture.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes an openable and closable manual feed cover in the upper rear portion of the recording unit 2. By opening the manual feed cover 6 as shown in FIG. 2, paper P can be manually fed using the manual feed port 6a. It is like. When the manual feed cover 6 is opened, the paper support 15 can be developed, and the paper P supplied from the manual supply port 6a is supported by the paper support 15 in an inclined posture.

  Subsequently, the configuration of the recording unit 2, particularly the sheet conveyance path, will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. The printer 1 according to this embodiment includes a lower tray 24 and an upper tray 26 detachably attached to the bottom of the apparatus, and feeds recording sheets one by one from the lower tray 24 or the upper tray 26. Note that the paper accommodated in the lower tray 24 is indicated by the symbol P1, and the paper accommodated in the upper tray 26 is indicated by the symbol P2, respectively. say.

  Reference numeral 25 denotes an openable / closable cover provided on the lower tray 24. By opening the cover 24, the lower tray 24 and the upper tray 26 are exposed to the front side of the apparatus and can be attached and detached.

The feed roller 9 that is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown) is provided on the roller support member 10 that swings about the rotation shaft 11, and the upper tray 26 is in the retracted position (not shown). Rotates in contact with the uppermost sheet P1 stored in the lower tray 24, thereby feeding the uppermost sheet P1 out of the lower tray 24.
Further, when the upper tray 26 is in the abutting position (FIGS. 5 to 7), the feeding roller 9 rotates in contact with the uppermost one of the sheets P2 accommodated in the upper tray 26, so that the uppermost tray 26 is rotated. Sheet P2 is sent out from the upper tray 26.

  Subsequently, a separation slope 12 is provided at a position facing the leading ends of the lower tray 24 and the upper tray 26 in the recording unit 2, and the sheet P fed from the lower tray 24 or the upper tray 26 has a leading edge. As the sheet advances to the downstream side in contact with the separation slope 12, the uppermost sheet P to be fed is separated from the next and subsequent sheets P.

  An intermediate roller 13 that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) is provided at the tip of the separation slope 12, and the sheet P is curved and reversed by the intermediate roller 13 and heads toward the front side of the apparatus. Reference numerals 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d are driven rollers that can be driven and rotated, and at least the paper P is nipped by the driven rollers 14a and 14b and the intermediate roller 13 and sent downstream.

  The driven roller 14d is a driven roller that nips the sheet P, which is switched back from the transport driving roller 16 to the upstream side (left side in FIGS. 6 to 8), with the intermediate roller 13 for duplex printing.

  At the end of the intermediate roller 13, a transport driving roller 16 that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) and a transport driven roller 17 that is driven to rotate in contact with the transport driving roller 16 are provided. , And sent to the bottom of the recording head 20 constituting the recording means.

  Subsequently, the recording head 20 for ejecting ink is provided at the bottom of the carriage 19, and the carriage 19 is driven so as to reciprocate in the main scanning direction (x direction: front and back direction in FIGS. 6 to 8) by a motor (not shown). Is done.

  A support member 18 is provided at a position facing the recording head 20, and the support member 18 defines an interval between the paper P and the recording head 20. On the downstream side of the support member 18, a discharge driving roller 21 that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) and a discharge driven roller 22 that is driven to rotate in contact with the discharge driving roller 21 are provided. The paper P on which recording has been performed by the recording head 20 is discharged toward the paper discharge receiving tray 8 by these rollers.

  The paper discharge receiving tray 8 located above the upper tray 26 is stored in the recording unit 2 by a motor (not shown) (FIGS. 1 and 2), and protrudes forward of the recording unit 2 (FIG. 3). 6 to 8), the sheet P is projected to the front side of the recording unit 2 and can receive the paper P that is recorded and discharged.

  The above are the main components on the paper transport path. The paper transport path is a paper transport path (broken line R1 in FIG. 6) through which the paper P sent from the lower tray 24 or the upper tray 26 is transported. In addition, a reverse conveyance path (broken line R2 in FIG. 7) for reversing the paper P on which recording has been performed on the first surface (front surface), and a manual feed path (manually fed via the manual feed guide 7) ( 8 includes a broken line R3).

  The reverse conveyance path R2 drives the conveyance drive roller 16 in the reverse direction, conveys it between the intermediate roller 13 and the driven roller 14d with the side that was the rear edge of the paper at the time of recording as the leading edge, and is reversed by the intermediate roller 13 This is a conveyance path for sending again between the conveyance driving roller 16 and the conveyance driven roller 17.

  The manual feed path R3 is formed by the manual feed guide surface portion 7 that appears by opening the manual feed cover 6 at the upper rear and the paper support 15 that supports the paper P that is manually fed through the manual feed guide portion 7. Supply path.

In the present embodiment, the width of the paper that can be transported through the paper transport path R1 and the reverse transport path R2 is the lateral width of the A4 size paper (width in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction) with the longitudinal direction of the A4 size paper as the transport direction. Maximum size. In addition, the width of the sheet that can be transported through the manual feed path R3 is set such that the longitudinal direction of the A3 size sheet is the transport direction and the lateral width of the A3 size sheet (the width in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction) is the maximum size.
The paper discharge receiving tray 8 is formed according to the width of the A4 size paper. That is, the width of the paper discharge receiving tray 8 is smaller than the width of the manual paper feed port 6a.

■■■ 2. Configuration of Scanner Unit 3 ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Next, the configuration of the scanner unit 3 will be described in detail. The scanner unit 3 includes a document table 30 and a cover 4. The cover 4 is rotatably connected to the end of the scanner unit 3 on the −y direction side via hinges 29 and 29. For this reason, in this embodiment, the cover 4 is rotated with the end on the + y direction side in the closed state as the free end and the end on the −y direction as the base end. 30a) is opened and closed.

  The upper surface of the document table 30 forms a placement surface on which the document is placed, and the document table 30 is formed of a transparent glass plate. A frame-shaped frame 31 is provided around the upper surface of the document table 30. A rectangular area provided by the frame 31 is formed as a document reading area (hereinafter denoted by reference numeral 30a). The document reading area 30a is one step lower than the upper surface of the frame 31 as a frame (see FIG. 9 and the like).

In the present embodiment, the document reading area 30a is an area that can be read by a reading unit 32 to be described later, but the size of the document table 30 (the area surrounded by the frame 31) and the size of the document reading area 30a are as follows. In the embodiment, they are almost equal.
In the present embodiment, the document reading area 30a is located at the center of the printer 1 in the apparatus width direction (x direction).

  A document pressing mat 4b formed of an elastic material (for example, sponge) is provided on the side of the cover 4 facing the document reading area 30a. For this reason, the document placed in the document reading area 30 a is pressed by the document pressing mat 4 b provided on the cover 4, and the surface to be read comes into close contact with the document table 30. Accordingly, the document pressing mat 4b is formed to have substantially the same size as the size of the document reading area 30a.

Here, in the present embodiment, the side (y-side) on which the hinge 29 of the cover 4 is provided is the rear side of the apparatus with respect to the original reading area 30a, and the hinge 29 of the cover 4 is provided across the original reading area 30a. The opposite side (y + side) is the front side of the apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 9, a reading reference position S is set at a corner on the front side of the apparatus in the document reading area 30a. More specifically, the reading reference position S is set at the corner on the right side when viewed from the front side of the apparatus.

  The reading reference position S is a position for aligning the corners of the document, and the scanner unit 3 recognizes the reading reference position S as the corner of the document and performs reading. An arrow-like reference position mark 33 is provided in the vicinity of the reading reference position S, and the user uses this reference position mark 33 to indicate that the right front corner when viewed from the front side of the apparatus is the reading reference position. Can be recognized.

  Subsequently, in the present embodiment, the scanner unit 3 is a flatbed scanner, and a reading unit 32 that is movable with respect to the document reading region 30a is provided below the document table 30 as shown in FIG. . In this embodiment, the reading unit 32 is provided so as to move along the x direction.

  The reading unit 32 is configured as an optical unit that irradiates light on a document placed on the document table 30 and receives reflected light from the document to read information on the document. For example, the reading unit 32 is a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) system or It is configured as a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) type optical unit.

  Here, the scanner unit 3 and the recording unit 2 are controlled by the control unit 27 (FIG. 11). Further, the control unit 27 receives various operation signals from the operation unit 5a of the tilt panel 5, and sends signals to the display unit 5b to perform various displays on the display unit 5b. Further, the control unit 27 transmits and receives signals to and from the printer driver 101 as a “scanner control program” that operates on an external computer (PC) 100 connected to the printer 1. The external PC 100 may or may not be connected to the printer 1.

Image information read by the scanner unit 3 is processed by the control unit 27, and the control unit 27 controls the recording unit 2 based on the processed information to perform ink jet recording. Alternatively, if the external PC 100 is connected, the image information read by the scanner unit 3 is processed by the printer driver 101, and the control unit 27 receives the processed information. Based on the information received from the printer driver 101 by the control unit 27, the recording unit 2 is controlled to perform ink jet recording.
Similarly, a divided reading mode to be described later is executed by software operating in the control unit 27 or executed by the printer driver 101 operating in the external PC 100.

  Here, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the maximum paper size (for example, A3 size) that can be recorded in the recording unit 2 is set larger than the size of the document reading area 30a (for example, A4 size). . Hereinafter, a document having a size larger than the size of the document reading area 30a is referred to as a document MS and is illustrated. The control unit 27 reads the entire document MS in a divided reading mode (multiple document reading operation), which will be described later, and combines the read image information to generate image information of the entire document MS.

  Based on the obtained image information of the entire document MS, ink jet recording is performed on a recording sheet having a size larger than the size of the document reading area 30a. As an example, if the original MS is A3 size, the original MS is divided and read, and the read image information is joined to generate image information of the entire original MS, and the A3 size recording paper is ink-jetted at the same magnification. Make a record.

  Next, as is clear from FIG. 4, the rotation axis of the cover 4 is formed in the apparatus width direction (x direction) that is a direction orthogonal to the direction (y direction) connecting the document reading area 30 a and the cover 4. The hinges 29 and 29 are provided on both sides of the document reading area 30a and outside. A cutout 4 a is formed between the hinges 29 and 29 on the base end side of the cover 4.

  The notch 4 a has a function of avoiding the manual cover 6 as an “opening and closing body” in a closed state when rotating, and further functions to form a gap 35 between the closed manual feed cover 6. Although details of the gap 35 will be described later, the notch 4a that avoids the manual feed cover 6 also forms the gap 35 as described above, whereby the gap 35 can be configured at low cost.

  Next, the gap 35 is formed in both the opened state and the closed state of the cover 4, and as a result, the gap 35 is larger than the size of the original reading area 30a protruding from the original reading area 30a as shown in FIGS. The sized original MS can be passed outside the scanner unit 3 through the gap 35. In FIG. 10, a symbol MT indicates a portion of the document MS that is passed outside the scanner unit 3. Therefore, when reading a document MS having a size larger than the document reading area 30a, complicated operations such as folding the document MS and rotating the document MS during divided reading can be avoided, and the operability is improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the gap 35 is formed in both the opened state and the closed state of the cover 4, so that the entrance of light from the outside is suppressed by closing the cover 4 at the time of reading, and a good reading result is obtained. Can be obtained. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the gap 35 may be formed only when the cover 4 is opened.

In the present embodiment, the gap 35 is formed so as to include the entire area of the document reading area 30a in the x direction, as is apparent from FIGS. Therefore, for a larger size of document, the portion protruding from the document reading area 30 a can be passed outside the scanner unit 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the gap 35 is formed so as to include at least a part of the document reading area 30a. good.
In FIG. 9, the gap 35 is indicated by a broken line for convenience of illustration.

  In the present embodiment, the gap 35 is formed between the hinges 29, 29, but is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the hinge 29 may be formed in the range of the document reading area 30a in the x direction. That is, it is only necessary to form a gap 35 through which the document passes between the cover 4 or the main body of the scanner unit 2 and the cover 4.

  In the present embodiment, the manual feed cover 6 supports the document MS protruding from the document reading area 30a. In particular, in the present embodiment, the support position where the manual cover 6 supports the document MS (the upper surface of the closed manual feed cover 6) is higher than the document table 30 (FIG. 10). Accordingly, the document MS can be supported at a higher position, and the slipping or sagging of the document from the document table 30 can be suppressed. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the manual feed cover 6 may be configured not to support the document MS.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the tilt panel 5 constituting the operation unit of the scanner unit 3 and the recording unit 2 supports the document MS that protrudes from the document reading area 30a (FIGS. 10, 12B, and 12). C)). Accordingly, an effect of more effectively suppressing the dripping or slipping of the document MS from the document table 30 can be obtained. The tilt panel 5 may be configured not to be tiltable but fixed at a predetermined angle, or such a panel may support the document MS. Alternatively, the tilt panel 5 may be configured not to support the document MS.

  In the present embodiment, the support position at which the tilt panel 5 supports the document MS is higher than that of the document table 30 (FIG. 10). Thereby, it is possible to more surely prevent the document MS from slipping or dripping from the document table 30.

Note that the tilt panel 5 is configured to be tiltable, and in the most open state, the upper surface (reference numeral 5c in FIG. 10) is configured to form a substantially horizontal plane. That is, the support surface that supports the document MS can form a substantially horizontal plane. As a result, it is possible to more effectively suppress the slipping or sagging of the document MS from the document table 30.
However, even if the panel surface of the tilt panel 5 does not form a horizontal plane, that is, even if the panel surface has a certain downward slope at the maximum opening angle, the document MS can be supported. If it is good.

In the present embodiment, the tilt panel 5 has a width including the entire area of the document reading area 30a in the apparatus width direction (x direction), which is a direction orthogonal to the direction connecting the document reading area 30a and the cover 4 (y direction). Is formed. Accordingly, the document MS that protrudes from the document reading area 30 a is supported by the tilt panel 5 in its entirety in the width direction, and the slipping and sagging of the document MS from the document table 30 are more effectively suppressed.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the tilt panel 5 may be formed to have a width including at least a part of the document reading area 30a.

  As another embodiment, a drive source 37 indicated by reference numeral 37 in FIG. 11 can be used. The drive source 37 is a drive source (for example, a motor) that tilts the tilt panel 5, and sets the tilt panel 5 to a predetermined tilt angle (attitude) under the control of the control unit 27. Then, when the document is read by the scanner unit 3, the control unit 27 controls the tilt panel 5 so that the support surface 5 c that supports the document forms a substantially horizontal plane. Thereby, it is possible to more effectively suppress slipping down and sagging of the document from the document table 30 without user operation. However, the tilt panel 5 may be configured not to be driven by a drive source but to be tilted by a user operation. Alternatively, only the opening direction may be driven by the driving source, and the closing direction may be configured by a user operation.

■■■ 3. Split scan mode ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Next, the split reading mode will be described in detail. As already outlined, the control unit 27 reads the entire document MS having a size larger than the document reading area 30a in the divided reading mode (multiple document reading operation), and combines the read image information to image the entire document MS. Generate information. Based on the obtained image information of the entire document MS, ink jet recording is performed on a recording sheet having a size larger than the size of the document reading area 30a.

  12 to 16, as an example, the A3 size original MS is divided and read, the read image information is joined to generate image information of the entire original MS, and the A3 size recording paper is printed at an equal magnification. The example which performs is shown.

  First, the reading reference position S in the document reading area 30a is provided at a corner on the side farther from the hinge 29 that constitutes the rotation shaft of the cover 4 in this embodiment (FIGS. 3 and 9). Accordingly, when executing the divided reading mode, the document MS is slid in a direction away from the hinge 29 (in order of FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C). This improves the workability when the original MS is slid.

  More specifically, division reading of the A3 size original MS by the A4 size original reading area 30a is performed by a total of three reading operations, and the original MS is shown in FIG. 12A in the first reading operation. As shown in the figure, the corner of the document MS (when the reading surface is the front, the corner on the upper right of the document (which will be the symbol T in FIG. 13)) is aligned with the reading reference position S. At this time, as described above, the document MS is in a state where the portion protruding from the document reading area 30 a is exposed to the outside of the scanner unit 3 through the gap 35.

  Prior to the first reading operation, when the user selects the divided reading mode, the control unit 27 displays information (guidance) for guiding the method of placing the document MS on the display unit 5b, for example. FIG. 14 shows an example of the guidance information, which corresponds to FIG. As a result, the operation method becomes clear from the user side, and the document MS can be prevented from being set inappropriately.

When the document MS is set and the scan button is pressed by the user, the control unit 27 performs a first reading operation. One document reading operation in this divided reading mode is started from the reading reference position S side. Here, the scan button is one operation button assigned to the operation unit 5a or the touch panel button (GUI) displayed on the display unit 5b when the printer 1 is used stand-alone. Alternatively, when an external PC 100 (FIG. 11) is connected to the printer 1, a button (GUI) displayed on the display by the printer driver 101.
In FIG. 13, an area SC1 indicates an area read by the first reading operation.

When the first reading operation is completed, the control unit 27 displays information (guidance) for guiding the second loading method of the document MS on the display unit 5b. FIG. 15 shows an example of the guidance information, which corresponds to FIG. Specifically, the user slides the document MS toward the front side of the apparatus (downward in FIG. 12) by a predetermined amount. When the scan button is pressed by the user, the control unit 27 performs a second reading operation.
In FIG. 13, a region SC2 indicates a region that is read by the second reading operation.

When the second reading operation is completed, the control unit 27 displays information (guidance) for guiding the third loading method of the document MS on the display unit 5b. FIG. 16 shows an example of the guidance information, which corresponds to FIG. Specifically, the user slides the document MS toward the front side of the apparatus (downward in FIG. 12) by a predetermined amount. When the scan button is pressed by the user, the control unit 27 performs a third reading operation.
In FIG. 13, an area SC3 indicates an area read by the third reading operation.

  When the control unit 27 joins the images obtained in the above (three images in the above embodiment) to obtain image information of the entire document MS, the joining direction of the images (y direction: vertical direction in FIG. 13). ), The predetermined image position on the reading end position side of the image obtained by one original reading operation and the predetermined image position on the reading start position side of the image obtained by the next original reading operation are joined together. It is obtained by performing sequentially.

  For example, the position ST1 in FIG. 13 includes a predetermined image position on the reading end position side of the image obtained by the first document reading operation (SC1) in the image joining direction and a second document reading operation (SC2). Is a joining position with a predetermined image position on the reading start position side of the image obtained by the above. Similarly, a position ST2 in FIG. 13 indicates a predetermined image position on the reading end position side of the image obtained by the second original reading operation (SC2) and the image obtained by the third original reading operation (SC3). This is a joining position with a predetermined image position on the reading start position side. Note that an arrow E in FIG. 13 indicates the sliding direction of the document MS during divided reading.

  That is, since the document MS can be sequentially read by sliding in a predetermined direction, it is not necessary to rotate the document MS, and the operability when performing a document reading operation having a size larger than the document reading area 30a is improved.

  For example, the control unit 27 obtains the obtained image when the size of the image of the entire document MS obtained in the divided reading mode is substantially the same as the maximum size sheet that can be recorded in the recording unit 2. It is possible to execute a recording mode in which image information of the entire document MS is recorded on the maximum size sheet without being enlarged or reduced. For example, in the above example, the image size of the entire document MS is A3 size, and recording can be performed on A3 size paper without being enlarged or reduced by the recording unit 2. That is, it is possible to perform copying at the same size as the original document, and convenience is improved.

  In the embodiment described above, the document MS is A3 size, and the information of the entire read document is recorded on the A3 size paper at the same size in the recording unit 2, but the document size and the division reading mode are executed. There are various combinations of the number of divisions (total number of scans), the size of the recording paper when recording, and the output magnification (enlargement / reduction ratio) at the time of recording, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. .

  The above-described image joining is described as being performed by the control unit 27 included in the printer 1. However, when the external PC 100 (FIG. 11) is connected to the printer 1, a printer that operates on the external PC 100. This is performed by the driver 101. Similarly, the guidance displays shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 are displayed on a display (not shown) in the external PC 100.

  In the embodiment described above, the reading reference position S is on the front side of the apparatus in the original reading area 30a, and the example in which the original MS is slid to the front side of the apparatus during divided reading has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the reading reference position S may be in the back of the apparatus in the document reading area 30a, and the document MS may be slid to the back of the apparatus during divided reading.

  As another embodiment of the scanner unit 2, it is also preferable to provide a guide 39 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 17, the guide 39 is formed integrally with the frame 31 so as to protrude in the height direction from the upper surface of the frame 31 that forms the periphery of the document reading area 30a, and in the y direction, that is, in the slide direction of the document MS. It is formed to extend along. In the example of FIG. 17, the guide 39 is provided outside the document reading area 30a and on both sides of the document reading area 30a in the y direction.

  The guide 39 exhibits a function of guiding the edge (right edge in FIG. 17) of the document MS when the document MS is slid, and thereby, when the document MS having a size larger than the document reading area 30a is divided and read ( When sliding), the deviation and skew of the document MS can be suppressed, and a good reading result can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer, 2 recording part (apparatus main body), 3 scanner unit, 4 cover, 4a notch part, 4b document holding mat, 5 tilt panel, 5a operation part, 5b display part, 5c support surface, 6 manual feed cover, 6a Manual feed port, 7 Manual feed guide, 8 Paper discharge tray, 9 Feed roller, 10 Roller support member, 11 Rotating shaft, 12 Separation slope, 13 Intermediate roller, 14a-14d Driven roller, 15 Paper support, 16 Transport drive roller, 17 Transport driven roller, 18 Support member, 19 Carriage, 20 Recording head, 21 Discharge drive roller, 22 Discharge driven roller, 24 Lower tray, 25 Cover, 26 Upper tray, 27 Control unit, 29 Hinge, 30 Document platen, 30a Document reading area, 31 Frame, 32 reading unit, 33 reference position mark, 35 gaps, 37 drive source, 39 guide, 100 external PC, 101 printer driver, P, P1, P2 recording sheet, S read reference position

Claims (13)

A scanner unit for reading a document placed on a document table;
A recording unit that records information read by the scanner unit on a recording medium;
The recording unit has a maximum recordable recording medium size larger than a size of a document reading area for reading a document on the document table,
The scanner unit includes a cover for opening and closing the document reading area;
A hinge portion that allows the cover to rotate,
The hinge portion is provided outside the original reading area and on both sides of the original reading area in a direction orthogonal to a direction connecting the original reading area and the cover.
The base end side of the cover has a gap that protrudes from the document reading area and passes a document having a size larger than the size of the document reading area to the outside of the scanner unit.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gap is formed both in an opened state and in a closed state.
A recording apparatus. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gap is formed so as to include the entire area of the document reading area in a direction orthogonal to a direction connecting the document reading area and the gap.
A recording apparatus. 4. The recording medium supply port according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium supply port is disposed between the document reading area and the gap and supplies a recording medium into the recording unit. 5. When,
An opening / closing body for opening and closing the recording medium supply port,
In a state in which the opening / closing body is closed, the opening / closing body supports a document protruding from the document reading area.
A recording apparatus. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a support position at which the opening / closing body supports the document is higher than the document table.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the cover has a notch that avoids the opening / closing body in a closed state when rotating.
In the state where the cover is opened and the opening / closing body is closed, the gap is formed between the notch and the opening / closing body,
A recording apparatus. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner unit and the operation unit of the recording unit are provided on a side opposite to a side where the gap is provided across the document reading area. With a panel to compose,
The panel supports a document protruding from the document reading area;
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a support position where the panel supports the document is higher than the document table.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8, in the panel, support surface for supporting a document, form a horizontal plane,
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a guide portion that guides an edge of the document when the document is slid along a direction connecting the document reading area and the gap, Having outside the original reading area,
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A control unit for controlling the scanner unit;
It is possible to execute a division reading mode in which image information obtained through a plurality of document reading operations is connected to a document having a size larger than the size of the document reading area to obtain image information of the entire document.
One document reading operation in the divided reading mode is started from the reading reference position side,
The image information of the entire original includes the predetermined image position on the end position side of the image obtained by one original reading operation and the start position of the image obtained by the next original reading operation in the image joining direction. Obtained by performing sequential joining with a predetermined image position on the side,
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the recording unit has a maximum recordable recording medium size larger than a size of a document reading area for reading a document on the document table,
The control unit is configured to obtain the entire original obtained when the size of the image of the entire original obtained in the divided reading mode is the same as the maximum size recording medium that can be recorded in the recording unit. A recording mode in which the image information is recorded on the recording medium of the maximum size without being enlarged or reduced.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, comprising a display unit for displaying information,
The control unit displays information for guiding a document placement method when the divided reading mode is executed on the display unit.
A recording apparatus.

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