JPH0413911B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printing device, and particularly to a printing device with an enlarged printing function.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic whiteboard device has been known as a printing device with a function of printing a reduced version of a document. This electronic whiteboard device is a device that prints originals such as characters and graphs written on a board portion on reduced-size paper and outputs the printout.

Conventionally, this type of electronic blackboard device has been used mainly to reduce the required number of copies of manuscripts such as characters and graphs written on the board while discussing topics at meetings and the like, and to distribute them to participants.

However, electronic whiteboard devices can be used not only in this way, but also for example, by recording a wide range of report contents in advance and using them as a substitute for an overhead projector (OHP), or by pre-recording various necessary information. It was also used as a bulletin board.

On the other hand, as opposed to electronic blackboard devices, there are devices such as overhead projectors and physical projectors that enlarge characters, graphs, etc. and display them to a large number of people.

An overhead projector is a device in which a manuscript is written on a transparent sheet in advance and then enlarged and projected onto a screen. There was also a limit.

In addition, although physical projectors have the advantage of being able to enlarge and project the original original onto a screen and show it to a large number of people over overhead projectors, there is a limit to its use in a brightly lit room. .

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The above-mentioned electronic whiteboard device as a conventional printing device can print the characters and graphs written on the board in a reduced size, but it cannot enlarge the reduced size original like an overhead projector or a real projector. Since it was not possible to display the information on the board, it was necessary to write down the necessary information in advance for reports at meetings, which required time and effort to prepare, and the display contents had to be changed on the fly. The problem was that I couldn't do it.

Also, even though the manuscript is already available,
The problem is that the manuscript must be copied onto the board before a meeting, etc. can be held, so it is not possible to enlarge the manuscript in a short time and display it to a large number of people, unlike an overhead projector or physical projector. It was hot.

In view of the above-mentioned points, it is an object of the present invention to print a reduced-size original in an enlarged manner and display it to a large number of people, and to print the original at the same size before the enlarged printing to check the reading state of the reduced-sized original in advance. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that allows users to check the following information.

[Means for solving problems]

The printing device of the present invention includes a reduced size original reading means for reading image information from a reduced size original whose paper size is Japanese Industrial Standards Column A No. 4, etc., and image information read by the reduced size original reading means. and a plurality of line thermal heads are arranged in a staggered manner at different angles with respect to the central axis of one platen, and based on the image information, the line thermal heads are arranged in a staggered manner. an enlarged-format printing means for creating an enlarged-format print of a size of , and a reduced-format printing means for creating a reduced-format print of a size such as No. 4 of the above-mentioned standard column A based on the image information;
An enlarged print mode in which the enlarged print means creates the enlarged print based on image information of the reduced size original stored in the storage means, and image information of the reduced size original stored in the storage means. control means for controlling operations including a full-size print mode, which causes the reduced-size print means to create the reduced-size print based on the above;
It is characterized by having the following.

[Effect]

In the printing device of the present invention, the reduced size original reading means reads image information from the reduced size original, the storage means stores the image information read by the reduced size original reading means, and the enlarged size printing means reads image information from the reduced size original. An enlarged size print is created, the reduced size print means creates a reduced size print based on the image information, and the control means causes the enlarged size print means to print the enlarged size print based on the image information of the reduced size document stored in the storage means. The control unit controls operations including an enlarged print mode in which the image is created and a same-size print mode in which the reduced size print means is caused to create a reduced size print based on the image information of the reduced size document stored in the storage means.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing device of this embodiment includes a reduced-size document reading section 10 that reads a reduced-size document of, for example, A4 size, and an enlarged-size print section 2 that creates an enlarged-size print of, for example, A0 size.
0, an enlarged-format original reading section 30 that reads an enlarged-sized original of, for example, A0 size, a reduced-format printing section 40 that creates a reduced-sized print of, for example, A4 size, and these reduced-format original reading section 10, enlarged A control unit 5 that controls the operations of the size print unit 20, enlarged size original reading unit 30, and reduced size print unit 40.
The main part is composed of 0.

The reduced-size original reading unit 10 includes a transparent original table 11 on which a reduced-sized original is placed, a light source 12 made of, for example, a fluorescent lamp that generates light to illuminate the reduced-sized original placed on the original platen 11, and a light source 12 made of, for example, a fluorescent lamp. A drive motor 13 that reciprocates the document table 11 in the horizontal direction to scan the document placed on the document table 11, a reflecting member 14 that reflects light from the document, and a light reflected by the reflecting member 14. a connection lens 15 that connects the image of the original;
The main part thereof is composed of a line image sensor 16 which forms an image of the original by the imaging lens 15 and scans the original in line as the original platen 11 moves.

The line image sensor 16 is formed of, for example, a charge-coupled device (CCD), and is capable of detecting 12
A resolution of books/mm is used.

The enlarged format print section 20 is arranged in pressure contact with a platen 21 arranged so that its center axis is vertical, and facing the circumferential surface of this platen 21 with a gap through which an A0 size roll paper 60 can be inserted. Multiple (four in the figure) line thermal heads 2
2a to 22d and a drive motor 23 that rotationally drives the platen 21.

The line thermal heads 22a to 22d are so-called end face type thermal heads, and as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. It is located in
In this way, a plurality of line thermal heads 22a~
The reason for arranging the line thermal heads 22d in a staggered manner is that there is currently no line thermal head that can print across the full width of an A0 size sheet, and that multiple line thermal heads 22a to 22d are arranged in a straight line. This is because it was taken into consideration that there would be portions that could not be printed at both ends of each line thermal head 22a to 22d. A plurality of line thermal heads 22a to 22d are connected to the platen 21.
As a result of arranging them in a staggered manner with different arrangement angles with respect to the central axis of Needless to say, it is necessary to shift the timing of providing information by the amount of the phase difference. In addition, the line thermal heads 22a to 22d are
When printing on A0 size roll paper 60 based on image information read from an A4 size original at a density of 12 lines/mm, the magnification will be 400%, so if there is a recording density of 3 dots/mm. It is enough. In addition, 6
Of course, a line thermal head having a recording density of dots/mm, 9 dots/mm, etc. may be used to simultaneously drive a plurality of adjacent dots for one dot of print control information.

The roll paper 60 is made of thermal paper that can be printed by the line thermal head 22.
It is desirable that the surface of the document be coated with a transparent film so that additions, corrections, deletions, etc. of the added manuscript portion can be made as appropriate. However, if it is not necessary to correct or delete the added manuscript portion, the surface does not necessarily need to be coated.

The enlarged-size original reading unit 30 irradiates a document written on a take-up roller 31 arranged so that its center axis is vertical, and an A0-sized roll paper 60 wound around the take-up roller 31. A light source 32 made of, for example, a fluorescent lamp, which generates light that The document image is formed on the take-up roller 3
1 roll paper 60 which is an A0 size original
The main part thereof is composed of a line image sensor 35 that performs line scanning.

The line image sensor 35 is formed of, for example, a charge-coupled device (CCD), like the line image sensor 16 in the reduced-size document reading section 10, and has a resolution of 3 lines/mm on the document surface.

The reduced format printing unit 40 includes a platen 41 arranged so that its center axis is horizontal, and a thermal roll paper 6 of A4 size, for example, on the circumference of the platen 41.
The main parts thereof are composed of a line thermal head 42 which is placed in pressure contact with the line thermal head 42 facing each other with a gap through which the platen 1 can be inserted, and a drive motor 43 which rotationally drives the platen 41.

The control section 50 includes an operation section 51 that instructs the operation of the reduced-format original reading section 10, the enlarged-format print section 20, the enlarged-format original reading section 30, and the reduced-format print section 40 via a control circuit 52, etc.; 51
a control circuit 52 that receives commands from the motor and sends control signals to each part; a motor drive section 53 that controls the operation of the drive motors 13, 23, 33, and 43;
An amplifier circuit 54 that amplifies image signals from the line image sensors 16 and 35, and this amplifier circuit 5.
AD conversion circuit 5 that AD converts the image signal from 4
5, a memory circuit 56 for storing digital image information from the AD conversion circuit 55, and a line thermal head 22a to 22a using the image information stored in the memory circuit 56 as a print control signal based on a control signal from the control circuit 52. Its main parts are composed of a print control section 57 that supplies power to 22d and 42, and a power supply section 58 that supplies power to each section.

It is desirable that the storage circuit 56 has a capacity capable of storing at least one document's worth of image information so that multiple copies can be made by one document scan. For example, in order to store one page of image information obtained by scanning an A4-size original at a resolution of 12 lines/mm in each of the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction, it is necessary to store at least one page of image information.
A capacity of about 9M bits is required. However, if the document is scanned every time it is printed, the capacity can of course be smaller than this.

The printing apparatus of this embodiment, which includes the various parts described above, has an external appearance as shown in FIG. That is, the printing apparatus of this embodiment has a printing apparatus main body 71 that is a horizontally long rectangular plate-like housing.
A pair of legs 72a and 72b extend downward from both ends of the lower surface of the main body 71.
And, on the front of the main body 71, slightly to the right, there is a large rectangular window 7 with approximately the same dimensions as A0 size.
3, an operation panel 74 provided at the lower left edge of the front surface of the main body 71, and a copying machine mounting table 7 extending forward from the left end of the lower edge of the front surface of the main body 71.
5, and a copying machine 76 that houses a reduced-size original reading section 10, a reduced-size printing section 40, and a control section 50 and is placed on a copying machine mounting table 75 so as to be removably attached to the main body 71. is configured.

Even when the copying machine 76 is removed from the printing apparatus main body 71, it can be used as an A4-size copying machine by the reduced-size document reading section 10, the reduced-size printing section 40, and the control section 50.

Note that at the lower ends of the legs 72a and 72b,
A plurality of rollers 77 are attached to allow the printing device to be easily moved.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

The operation of the printing device in this embodiment can be roughly divided into three operating modes depending on its usage: (1) enlarged print mode, (2) reduced print mode, and (3) normal size print mode. The operation will be explained for each operation mode.

(1) Enlarged print mode This mode is a mode in which the reduced size original reading section 10 reads a document and creates an enlarged print on the enlarged size print section 20.

First, an A4 size original is placed on the original table 11, and an instruction for enlarged printing is given to the operation panel 74 (operation section 51). Then, a control signal is given from the control circuit 52 to the motor drive unit 53, and the drive motor 1
3, 23 and 33 are rotated.

When the drive motor 13 rotates, the document table 11 moves horizontally and the document is irradiated with light emitted from the light source 12, causing the reflection member 14 and the imaging lens 1 to
The document is scanned line by line by the line image sensor 16 via the image sensor 5, and image information is read. The read image information is amplified by the amplifier circuit 54, converted to digital image information by the AD conversion circuit 55, and sequentially stored in the storage circuit 56.

The image information stored in the storage circuit 56 is read out from the storage circuit 56 based on a control signal from the control circuit 52 and drives the line thermal heads 22a to 22d via the print control section 57.

Driven line thermal heads 22a to 22
d, an enlarged image of the document is printed on A0 size thermal roll paper 60 that is fed from the platen 21 side to the take-up roller 31 side as the drive motors 23 and 33 rotate.

(2) Reduced print mode This mode is a mode in which the enlarged size original reading section 30 reads a document and creates a reduced print on the reduced size print section 40.

First, when a reduction print instruction is given to the operation panel 74 (operation section 51), a control signal is given from the control circuit 52 to the mode drive section 53, and the drive motors 23, 33, and 43 are rotated.

When the drive motors 23 and 33 are rotated,
The roll paper 60 with the original written on it is placed on the platen 21
A document written on the roll paper 60 that is wound around the take-up roller 31 on the back side of the roll paper 60 that is sequentially wound from the side to the take-up roller 31 side and stretched between the platen 21 and the take-up roller 31. is light source 3
The light from 2 is read by the line image sensor 35 via the imaging lens 34.

The read image information is amplified by the amplifier circuit 54, converted to digital image information by the AD conversion circuit 55, and sequentially stored in the storage circuit 56.

The image information stored in the storage circuit 56 is read out from the storage circuit 56 based on a control signal from the control circuit 52 and drives the line thermal head 42 via the print control section 57.

The driven line thermal head 42 prints a reduced image of the original on A4 size thermal roll paper 61 that is fed between the platen 41 and the line thermal head 42 as the drive motor 43 rotates. .

(3) True-size print mode This mode is a mode in which the reduced-size original reading section 10 reads a document and creates a same-size print on the reduced-size print section 40.

First, an A4-sized document is placed on the document table 11, and an instruction to print at the same size is given to the operation panel 74 (operation section 51). Then, a control signal is given from the control circuit 52 to the motor drive unit 53, and the drive motor 1
3 and 43 are rotated.

When the drive motor 13 is rotated, the document table 11
moves horizontally, and the original is illuminated by the light emitted from the light source 12, and the reflecting member 14 and the imaging lens 1
The document is scanned line by line by the line image sensor 16 via the image sensor 5, and image information is read. The read image information is amplified by the amplifier circuit 54, converted to digital image information by the AD conversion circuit 55, and sequentially stored in the storage circuit 56.

The image information stored in the storage circuit 56 is read out from the storage circuit 56 based on a control signal from the control circuit 52 and drives the line thermal head 42 via the print control section 57.

The driven line thermal head 42 prints a life-sized image of the original on A4 size thermal roll paper 61 that is fed between the platen 41 and the line thermal head 42 as the drive motor 43 rotates. go.

Note that the same-size print mode may include a mode in which the enlarged-size document reading section 30 reads the original and creates a same-size print on the enlarged-size print section 20, but since the operation is almost the same, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. do.

FIG. 4 shows that the printing apparatus shown in FIGS.
2. Instead of using the imaging lens 34 and the line image sensor 35, a contact type line image sensor 81 is used. That is, in the printing apparatus of this embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 5, a close-contact line image sensor 81 is disposed so as to be slidable along the front surface of the main body 71 by a drive motor 82. A transparent sheet 78 is stretched and attached to the front side of the paper 60.

In the printing apparatus of this embodiment, the line image sensor 81 moves from the left end to the right end of the window 73 of the main body 71 as the drive motor 82 rotates, and detects the roll paper 60 and the transparent sheet 78.
Read the manuscript written above.

Note that other members and parts not specifically mentioned are constructed in the same manner as the corresponding members and parts in the printing apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, so detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. .

The printing device of this embodiment configured as described above can obtain the same functions and effects as the printing device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. The document portion is divided into the transparent sheet 78 and the additionally written document portion, and even if the roll paper 60 is not coated paper, there is an advantage that the additionally written portion of the document can be added, corrected, etc. freely.

Note that in the above embodiment, the enlarged size printing section 20
In addition, the reduced size print section 40 uses a thermal recording method, but the latter reduced size print section 40 has the following features:
It goes without saying that one or both of them may be a printing section of another method such as a wire dot method, an inkjet method, or a laser print method.

Further, in the above embodiment, after the enlarged print is displayed on the window 73, it is wound up by the take-up roller 31 for the next enlarged print operation, but the enlarged print can be easily taken out to the outside. You can do it like this. If you do this,
The enlarged print taken out can be carried around and posted at a desired location, expanding the scope of use of the enlarged print function of the printing device of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to enlarge and display a reduced-size manuscript, so it is possible to display the manuscript in a short time without the trouble and time of writing the manuscript on multiple pages in advance on a printing device. This has the effect of being able to quickly enlarge and display images to a large number of people.

Furthermore, since an enlarged print is displayed, there is an effect that the enlarged contents can be clearly seen even in a brightly lit room.

Furthermore, the image information read from the reduced-size original by the reduced-sized original reading means is stored in the storage means, so before enlarging the print, it is possible to perform the same-size printing and check the read state of the image information (shade and lightness of the image). etc.), and compared to finding out that the image information was poorly read after actually spending a long time enlarging the print, it is possible to save print paper and shorten printing time (printing errors). This has the effect of making it possible to achieve the following:

Next, in the present invention, since the enlarged format printing means is constituted by a plurality of line thermal heads arranged in a staggered manner, it is possible to record a width wider than the effective recording width of the line thermal heads. It becomes possible to print continuously in the width direction of the recording paper using the line thermal head, and high-speed printing of long widths such as Japanese Industrial Standards A row No. 0 is also possible. Moreover, this staggered arrangement requires only the space for two line thermal heads, making the printing apparatus more compact.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the plurality of line thermal heads arranged in a staggered pattern are printed at different angles relative to one platen. First, it eliminates the need for adjustment to maintain the accuracy of the distance between the axes of each platen, and also eliminates the deterioration in the accuracy of joining prints when printing on individual platens, resulting in high-precision printing. becomes possible. Moreover, since only one platen is required, the configuration is simplified and the entire printing apparatus can be miniaturized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the printing device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
Enlarged plan view and side view of main parts showing the relationship between the platen and the line thermal head shown in the figure, No. 4
This figure is an external perspective view of a printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of essential parts of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 4. In the figure, 10...Reduced size original reading section, 1
1... Original table, 12, 32... Light source, 13, 2
3, 33, 43, 82...drive motor, 14...
... Reflection member, 15, 34 ... Imaging lens, 16,
35...Line image sensor, 20...Enlarged format print section, 21, 41...Platen, 22a~
22d, 42... line thermal head, 30...
...Enlarged size original reading unit, 31...Take-up roller,
40...Reduction print section, 50...Control section, 5
1... Operating unit, 52... Control circuit, 53... Motor drive unit, 54... Amplifying circuit, 55... AD conversion circuit, 56... Memory circuit, 57... Printing control unit,
58...Power supply section, 60...Enlarged size thermal roll paper,
61...Reduced size thermal roll paper, 71...Printing device main body, 73...Window section, 74...Operation panel,
76... Copy machine, 78... Transparent sheet, 81...
It is a contact type line image sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A reduced size original reading means for reading image information from a paper reduced size original, a storage means for storing image information read by the reduced size original reading means, and a plurality of line thermal heads. are arranged in a staggered manner at different angles with respect to the central axis of one platen, and an enlarged-format printing means for creating an enlarged-format print based on image information; and a paper reduction means based on image information. a reduced size print means for creating a size print; an enlarged print mode for causing the enlarged size print means to create the enlarged size print based on image information of the reduced size original stored in the storage means; and the storage means. and control means for controlling operations including a same-size print mode, which causes the reduced-size printing means to create the reduced-size print based on image information of the reduced-size original stored in the image information of the reduced-size original stored in the Printing device.