JPH05318834A - Printer with image scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the adhesion of paper powder on a sensor surface, and to improve reading accuracy by disposing an image reader on the medium supply side under the state, in which the image reader is separated from the carriage of a printer body, in the title printer for a slip, etc. CONSTITUTION:An image reader 3 is arranged on the medium supply side A under the state, in which the image reader 3 is separated from a carriage 5, to a printer body 2 with a carriage shaft 14, the carriage 5, a printing head 6, a platen 7, sheet guides 8 forming a first medium travelling path R1 and feed rollers 9a, 9b, thus constituting a printer 1. The image reader 3 is organized of a stage 10 forming a medium travelling path R2, a side plate 11, an image reading sensor 12 and carrying rollers 13a, 13b. According to the constitution, since the sensor 12 is separated from the carriage 5, the adhesion of paper powder can be prevented, thus maintaining reading accuracy.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer with an image scanner capable of reading the print contents (characters, patterns, ruled lines, etc.) of a print medium such as various slips which has been printed in advance. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer of this type is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-117155.
FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing the conventional printer, and FIG. 11 is a plan view of the same. In the illustrated printer 50, 51 is a pair of carriage shafts, and a carriage 52 is slidably engaged with the carriage shafts 51. A print head 53 and an image reading sensor 54 are mounted on the carriage 52, and a platen 55 is arranged below the front end of the print head 53 with a predetermined gap therebetween.

On the other hand, reference numeral 56 in the drawing denotes a sheet guide, and the medium running path R is formed by this sheet guide 56. A pair of feed rollers 57a and 57b are provided on the medium supply side A and the medium discharge side B of the medium traveling path R, respectively.
And one feed roller 57a is driven by the spring 58 and the other feed roller 57b is driven.
Is pressed against.

Further, in FIG. 11, reference numeral 59 denotes a pair of left and right side frames, and these side frames 59 include the carriage shaft 51 and the platen 55 described above.
Platen shaft 60 and the feed rollers 57a, 5
A roller shaft 61 of 7b is supported.

The conventional printer 50 configured as described above
First, the print medium (not shown) supplied from the medium supply side R travels on the medium traveling path R while being sandwiched between the two feed rollers 57a and 57b by the rotational drive of the feed roller 57a. The print medium is the platen 5.
When the carriage 52 is conveyed onto the carriage 5, the carriage 52 starts a space operation by driving a spacing motor (not shown). At this time, the image reading sensor 54 mounted on the carriage 52
Reads sequentially the contents printed on the print medium in accordance with the space operation of the carriage 52. While such a reading operation is being performed, the print medium is further conveyed along the medium traveling path R, and then is nipped by both feed rollers 57a and 57b by the rotational driving of the feed roller 57a arranged on the medium discharge side B. Is discharged to the stacker, etc.

Here, the content read by the image reading sensor 54 is converted into an electrical signal, and the host device,
For example, it is transferred and stored in a word processor or the like. Then, the stored contents are output on the screen of the word processor or the like. The operator performs an operation of inputting characters or the like at a predetermined position of the image (image read from the print medium) output on the screen, and when the operation is completed, the print medium is inserted again from the medium supply side A of the printer 50. The print medium is conveyed onto the platen 55 in the same manner as described above, and this time, the print head 5 is moved there.
By the printing operation of 3, the characters and the like input by the operator are printed at the designated position on the print medium.

[0007]

However, the conventional printer 50 has the following problems. (1) Since the image reading sensor 54 is configured to be mounted on the carriage 52, vibrations and shakes that occur during space operation of the carriage 52 are directly transmitted to the image reading sensor 54, and the reading accuracy of the image reading sensor 54 is improved. Will fall. (2) During the space operation of the carriage 52, a ribbon protector (not shown) disposed at the tip of the print head 53 moves while rubbing the surface of the print medium, so that a large amount of paper dust is generated, This adheres to the sensor surface 54a of the image reading sensor 54 and reduces the reading accuracy of the image reading sensor 54. In order to prevent this, special means such as a mechanism for cleaning the paper dust adhering to the sensor surface 54a of the image reading sensor 54 is required. (3) Since the print head 53 and the image reading sensor 54 are mounted on the carriage 52, the entire carriage 52 becomes large. Therefore, if a space for the space operation of the carriage 52 is secured inside the printer, the size of the printer as a whole becomes large.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it is possible to prevent the influence of vibration accompanying the space operation of the carriage and the adhesion of paper dust or the like to the sensor surface, thereby providing an image with excellent reading accuracy. It is an object to provide a printer with a scanner.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and includes a carriage shaft supported by a pair of left and right side frames and a carriage slidably engaged with the carriage shaft. A print head mounted on the carriage, a platen opposed to the tip of the print head with a predetermined gap, and a sheet guide forming a first medium running path for guiding a print medium. And a printer main body having feed rollers respectively arranged on the medium supply side and the medium discharge side on the medium traveling path, and arranged in a state of being connected to one end side of a sheet guide of the printer main body. A stage that forms a second medium running path that guides the print medium to the running path, and a printer book that is fixed to both sides of the stage. And the side plate to be locked to the side frame, and an image reading sensor which is arranged in a fixed state over the width direction of the stage in a substantially intermediate position of the second media transport path,
And an image reading device having a carrying roller for carrying the print medium supplied on the stage and arranged on the second medium carrying path. The image reading device is separated from the carriage of the printer body. It is arranged on the medium supply side. Further, a reflecting plate is embedded in the stage of the image reading device so as to face the image reading sensor, and the upper surface of the reflecting plate and the upper surface of the stage are formed flush with each other.

Further, an automatic paper feeding device for accommodating a plurality of print media stacked in layers and feeding the print media to the first media running path of the printer body while separating the print media one by one, The image reading device is detachably configured on the medium supply side of the printer body.
Further, the printer body is provided with a detection means for detecting that the image processing apparatus is mounted. In addition, the printer main body maintains the mounting state of the image processing apparatus, has a space into which the print medium can be inserted into the first medium running path of the printer main body, and enables printing in the printer main body. ..

[0011]

In the printer with the image scanner of the present invention, the print medium supplied on the stage of the image reading apparatus travels in the second medium traveling path by the rotation of the conveying roller. Then, the contents printed on the print medium are sequentially read when passing through the image reading sensor during the traveling. The print medium that has passed through the image reading device is
The sheet is guided to the second medium traveling path formed by the stage and sent out to the first medium traveling path of the printer body. That is, in the present invention, the image reading device is arranged in a state of being separated from the carriage of the printer main body, and the image reading device is provided with a mechanism for conveying a print medium, that is, a second medium running path. The image reading sensor reads the content printed on the print medium while the carriage is stopped because the stage and the transport roller are provided. Further, by embedding the reflecting plate in the state of facing the image reading sensor on the stage of the image reading device, the reflecting plate and the print medium are separated from each other in terms of the reflectance of the light projected from the sensor surface of the image reading sensor. There will be a big difference between them.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of a printer with an image scanner according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated printer 1 mainly includes a printer body 2 and an image reading device 3. Further, the printer body 2 includes a carriage shaft 4, a carriage 5, a print head 6, a platen 7, a sheet guide 8, and feed rollers 9a and 9b, and the image reading device 3 includes a stage 10,
Side plate 11, image reading sensor 12, transport roller 13
It is composed of a and 13b.

First, the structure of the printer body 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 2 is a plan view of the printer body. The carriage shaft 4 is composed of two shafts arranged in parallel with each other, and both ends thereof are supported by the side frames 14, 14. A carriage 5 is slidably engaged with the carriage shaft 4 via a slide bearing (not shown). A print head 6 is mounted on the carriage 5, and a platen 7 is arranged below the tip of the print head 6 with a predetermined gap therebetween. The platen shaft 7a of the platen 7 is supported by the side frame 14 so as to be parallel to the carriage shaft 4 described above.

The sheet guide 8 is arranged substantially horizontally so as to pass through the gap between the print head 6 and the platen 7. The sheet guide 8 guides the print medium by the first medium running path. R1 is formed. The feed rollers 9a and 9b each have an outer peripheral surface made of a high-friction material such as rubber, and are arranged on the medium supply side A and the medium discharge side B on the first medium traveling path R1.
These feed rollers 9a, 9b have roller shafts 15, 15 ...
Each of the feed rollers 9a is axially attached to an appropriate position, and one feed roller 9a is pressed against the other feed roller 9b by the urging force of the spring 16. Further, a pair of engagement posts 17a and 17b are provided on the side surface of each side frame 14 on the medium supply side A of the printer body 2 so as to be opposed to each other while protruding inward.

Next, the configuration of the image reading device 3 side will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 to 6. 3 is a plan view of the image reading apparatus, FIG. 4 is a left side view of the same, FIG. 5 is a right side view thereof, and FIG.
The stage 10 is a plate-shaped member having a predetermined thickness, and is arranged in a state of being connected to one end side of the sheet guide 8 of the printer body 2. Further, a cover 18 (FIG. 6) is provided above the stage 10 so as to cover the image reading sensor 12 and the transport roller 13a. This stage 10
Forms a second medium traveling path R2 on the image reading device 3 side. Therefore, the print medium supplied on the stage 10 travels along the second medium travel path R2,
After that, the sheet is guided to the first medium traveling path R1 formed on the printer body 2 side.

The side plates 11 are fixed to both side surfaces of the stage 10, respectively, and the grip portion 1 is provided on the tip side thereof.
1a is formed, and an engaging portion 11b is formed on the lower end side. Here, the shapes and forming positions of the gripping portion 11 a and the engaging portion 11 b are the same as those of the side frame 14 of the printer body 2.
The engaging posts 17a and 17b provided on the base are set so as to be freely engaged and disengaged.

The image reading sensor 12 is a so-called image scanner for reading the content of the print medium conveyed along the second medium traveling path R2, and its sensor surface 12a is slightly above the upper surface of the stage 10. They are arranged facing each other with a large gap. The image reading sensor 12 is arranged in a fixed state across the width direction of the stage 10 at a substantially intermediate position of the second medium traveling path R2 formed by the stage 10. The contents read by the image reading sensor 12 are once transferred to the main control unit of the printer via a connection cord (not shown), and from there, further transferred to a host device such as a word processor.

The transport rollers 13a and 13b are the stage 1
It is for transporting the print medium supplied above 0, and is disposed on the second medium traveling path R2 in a state of being positioned in front of the image reading sensor 12. These transport rollers 1
Both ends of 3a and 13b are axially attached to predetermined positions of a roller shaft 19 supported by the side plate 11, and one conveying roller 13a is pressed against the other conveying roller 13b by the urging force of the spring 20. There is.

A roller gear 21 is attached to one end of the roller shaft 19. This roller gear 21
It meshes with an intermediate gear 22 arranged outside the side plate 11, and the intermediate gear 22 also meshes with a connecting gear 23 also arranged outside the side plate 11. here,
The intermediate gear 22 and the connecting gear 23 are rotatably supported by studs 24 and 25 attached to the outside of the side plate 11.

Further, in this embodiment, the second medium traveling path R
A reflecting plate 26 (FIG. 6) is embedded in the stage 10 forming the second unit 2 so as to face the image reading sensor 12. The upper surface of the reflection plate 26 and the upper surface of the stage 10 are flush with each other.

In the printer 1 with an image scanner of this embodiment having the above-described structure, the image reading device 3 is attached to the printer body 2 as follows. First, the grip 11a formed on the side plate 11 of the image reading device 3 is fitted into the engagement post 17a provided on the side frame 14 of the printer body 2. Subsequently, the engagement post 1 on the printer body side is attached to the engagement portion 1 on the image reading device 3 side.
Engage 1b. In this state, the side plate 11 of the image reading device 3 is locked to the side frame 14 of the printer body 2 by the weight of the entire device, whereby the image reading device 3 is mounted on the printer body 2.

The image reading device 3 is attached to the printer body 2.
In the state in which is attached, the connecting gear (not shown) on the printer body 2 side and the connecting gear 23 on the image reading device 3 side mesh with each other. As a result, the printer body 2
The feed rollers 9a and 9b and the feed rollers 13a and 13b of the image reading device 3 rotate using a feed motor (not shown) provided on the printer body 2 side as a common drive source.

Further, at the connecting portion between the printer body 2 and the image reading device 3, the first medium running path R1 of the printer body 2 is maintained by keeping the mounting state of the image reading device 3 on the printer body 2.
A space P into which a print medium can be inserted is formed. The printer body 2 can print on the print medium inserted through the space P.

On the other hand, from the printer body 2 to the image reading device 3
When removing, the engaging portion 11b of the side plate 11 is disengaged from the engaging post 17b of the side frame 14 by first lifting one end of the image reading device 3. Then, pull out the image reading device 3 in the lateral direction,
The holding portion 11a of the side plate 11 is attached to the side frame 14
Is disengaged from the engagement post 17a. As a result, the image reading device 3 is removed from the printer body 2.

Next, the operation of the printer 1 with an image scanner of this embodiment will be described. The printer body 2
Since the printing operation of (1) is the same as the conventional one, the description thereof is omitted, and only the reading operation by the image reading device 3 will be described here. First, when a print medium (not shown) is supplied onto the stage 10 of the image reading device 3, the feed rollers (not shown) are driven to rotate the conveying rollers 13a and 13b, whereby the print medium is conveyed to the conveying rollers 13a and 13b. 13b
It travels on the second medium travel path R2 while being sandwiched between the two. Then, when it reaches the position where the image reading sensor 12 is arranged, the content printed on the print medium is sequentially read from the sensor surface 12 a of the image reading sensor 12.
The content read here is transferred to a word processor or the like, which is a higher-level device, through the main control unit of the printer.

The print medium that has passed through the image reading device 3 is then guided to the first medium running path R1 of the printer main body 2, and the first medium running is performed in accordance with the rotation of the feed rollers 9a and 9b on the medium feeding side A. Drive on road R1. Then, after passing through the gap between the print head 6 and the platen 7, the feed rollers 9a and 9b arranged on the medium discharge side B are discharged to a stacker or the like. At that time, the gap formed by the print head 6 and the platen 7 is ensured to the extent that the retracting operation of the carriage 5 does not hinder the running of the print medium.

As described above, in the printer 1 of this embodiment, the image reading device 3 is arranged in a state of being separated from the carriage 5 of the printer main body 2, and the print medium is conveyed to the image reading device 3. Since the mechanism for doing so, that is, the stage 10 that forms the second medium traveling path R2 and the transport rollers 13a and 13b are provided, the content printed on the print medium can be imaged even when the carriage 5 is stopped. It can be read by the reading sensor 12. As a result, the influence of vibrations and the like associated with the space operation of the carriage 5 is eliminated, and the generation of paper dust and the like when the ribbon protector moves by rubbing the surface of the print medium is reliably prevented. The reading accuracy of the image reading sensor 12 with respect to the printed image is significantly improved.

Further, in this embodiment, since the reflecting plate 26 is embedded in the stage 10 of the image reading device 3 so as to face the image reading sensor 12, the light projected from the sensor surface 12a of the image reading sensor 12 is emitted. In terms of reflectance, a large difference occurs between the print medium and the reflection plate 26,
As a result, the traveling position of the print medium is determined by the image reading sensor 12
Will be detected more accurately.

Further, since the medium insertion port P is formed below the front end side of the stage 10 with the image reading device 3 attached to the printer body 2, the printing medium for performing only the printing process is individually selected. It is possible to manually feed the printer body 2 directly without passing through the image reading device 3.

Further, in the configuration of the printer 1 with the image scanner of the present embodiment, a plurality of print media stacked in layers are accommodated and the print media of the printer main body 2 are separated while separating the print media one by one. An automatic sheet feeding device (not shown) for feeding the first sheet to the medium traveling path R1 is provided. This automatic paper feeding device, for example, stores a cassette for storing a plurality of print media, a call roller arranged at the bottom of the cassette so as to abut the print media, and a print medium fed by the call roller. It is composed of a feed roller that feeds to the first medium running path R1 of the printer body 2 while separating the sheets one by one.

Further, the automatic paper feeder is configured to be detachable from the printer body 2 by the following means. That is, side plates having a predetermined shape are fixed to both side surfaces of the cassette of the automatic paper feeder, and each side plate is engaged with a holding portion 11a similar to the side plate 11 of the image reading apparatus 3 described above. The joining portion 11b is formed. Therefore, these side plates are attached to the side frame 1 of the printer body 2.
The automatic paper feeding device can be attached to and detached from the printer body 2 by being detached from the printer body 4.

As described above, the image reading device 2 and the automatic paper feeding device (not shown) are detachably attached to the printer main body 2 to read an image on a print medium or to determine the read image. When printing characters etc. at the position,
Alternatively, the image reading device 3 and the automatic paper feeding device can be appropriately exchanged according to the purpose of use of various printers, such as a case where a printing process is simply performed on a printing medium. As an example,
When handling a large number of print media having the same image such as various slips, first, the image reading device 3 is attached to the printer body 2, and one of the print media in a large amount is read by the image reading sensor 3. Then, the read image is output on the screen of a word processor or the like, and characters or the like are input to a predetermined position of the image by an operator operation. Then, the printer body 2
The device to be mounted on is replaced with the automatic paper feeder from the image reading device 3. A large amount of the above-mentioned print media is stored in the cassette of the automatic paper feeder, and the automatic paper feeder separates the print media one by one and the first paper of the printer main body 2 is separated.
To the medium running path R1. Then, the character or the like previously input by the operator is printed at a predetermined position on the print medium on the printer body 2 side.

In addition, the printer 1 with an image scanner of this embodiment is provided with a detecting means for detecting that the image reading device 3 is attached to the printer body 2. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, a micro switch 27 is attached to the outside of one side frame 14 of the printer body 2. The micro switch 27 is fixed to the side frame 14 with a screw 28, and in this state, the operation lever 27 a is arranged so as to protrude from the upper edge of the side frame 14.

The image reading device 3 is attached to the printer body 2.
8 is attached, the operation lever 27a of the micro switch 27 is pushed down by the stud 25 supporting the coupling gear 23 as shown in FIG. 8, and the micro switch 27 is held in the ON state. On the other hand, when the automatic paper feeder is attached to the printer body 2, the stud 30 supporting the connecting gear 29 of the automatic paper feeder is arranged away from the operation lever 27a of the microswitch 27 as shown in FIG.
The micro switch 27 is held in the off state. By arranging in this way, the printer main body 2 is based on the ON / OFF signal sent from the micro switch 27.
It is possible to detect that the image reading device 3 is attached to the.

The detection means for detecting that the image reading device 3 is attached to the printer body 2 is not limited to the one using the micro switch 27 described above, and for example,
The image reading sensor 12 of the image reading device 3 and the printer main body 2
Various methods are conceivable, such as notifying the printer body 2 that the image reading device 3 is attached via a cord electrically connecting to the main control unit.

[0036]

As described above, according to the printer with the image scanner of the present invention, the image reading device having the image reading sensor is arranged in a state of being separated from the carriage of the printer body, and the image reading is performed. The device includes
Since the mechanism for transporting the print medium, that is, the stage for forming the second medium traveling path and the transport roller are provided, the image reading sensor detects the content printed on the print medium with the carriage stopped. Can be read by. As a result, the influence of vibrations due to the space movement of the carriage is eliminated, and the generation of paper dust and the like when the ribbon protector moves by rubbing the surface of the print medium is reliably prevented, so that the print is performed on the print medium. The reading accuracy of the image reading sensor for the recorded image is significantly improved.

Further, since the reflecting plate is embedded on the stage of the image reading device so as to face the image reading sensor,
In terms of the reflectance of the light projected from the sensor surface of the image reading sensor, there is a large difference between the print medium and the reflection plate, which makes the running position of the print medium more accurate in the image reading sensor. Will be detected by.

Further, by making the automatic paper feeding device and the image reading device detachable on the medium supply side of the printer body, it is possible to appropriately replace the above devices according to various purposes of use of the printer. Become.

In addition, in the present invention, even when the image reading device is attached to the printer body,
Since the insertion port (space) of the print medium for performing only the printing process directly on the medium running path is formed,
It is possible to supply the print medium to the printer main body while the image reading device is mounted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the printer body.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the image reading device.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the image reading device.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a detection unit.

FIG. 8 is a layout diagram when the image reading device is mounted.

FIG. 9 is a layout diagram when an automatic paper feeder is mounted.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a conventional printer.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a conventional printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Printer with Image Scanner 2 Printer Main Body 3 Image Reading Device 4 Carriage Shaft 5 Carriage 6 Print Head 7 Platen 8 Sheet Guide 9a, 9b Feed Roller 10 Stage 11 Side Plate 12 Image Reading Sensor 12a Sensor Surface 13a, 13b
Conveying roller 26 Reflector 27 Micro switch (detecting means) R1 First medium traveling path R2 Second medium traveling path P Space

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinichi Nunodome 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A carriage shaft supported by a pair of left and right side frames, a carriage slidably engaged with the carriage shaft, a print head mounted on the carriage, and a tip portion of the print head. A platen disposed opposite to each other with a gap therebetween, a sheet guide forming a first medium traveling path for guiding a print medium, and a medium supply side and a medium discharging side disposed on the medium traveling path, respectively. A printer main body having a feed roller, and a second medium running path that is arranged in a state of being connected to one end side of a sheet guide of the printer main body and that guides a print medium to the first medium running path. And a side plate that is locked to the side frame of the printer body while being fixed to both side surfaces of the stage, An image reading sensor arranged in a fixed state across the width direction of the stage at a substantially intermediate position of the body conveying path, and a print medium arranged on the second medium conveying path and supplied on the stage. A printer with an image scanner, comprising an image reading device having a carrying roller for carrying the image reading device, the image reading device being arranged on the medium supply side in a state of being separated from a carriage of the printer body. 2. A reflecting plate is embedded in a stage of the image reading device so as to face the image reading sensor, and an upper surface of the reflecting plate and an upper surface of the stage are formed flush with each other. Item 1. A printer with an image scanner according to item 1. 3. An automatic paper feeding device for accommodating a plurality of printing media stacked in layers and sending the printing media to the first media running path of the printer body while separating the printing media one by one, 2. The printer with an image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is configured to be detachable on the medium supply side of the printer body. 4. The printer with an image scanner according to claim 3, further comprising detection means for detecting that the image processing apparatus is mounted on the printer body. 5. The printer main body has a space into which a print medium can be inserted into the first medium running path of the printer main body while maintaining the mounting state of the image processing apparatus, and printing by the printer main body is possible. It is possible, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
Printer with image scanner described.