JPH0575805A - Printer with built-in scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent such useless operation that an original is printed or a blank printing form is read by mistake from being performed even if the original and the printing form are put into a paper feeding part at a time. CONSTITUTION:In a printer with a built-in scanner in which a scanner part capable of reading the original and a printing part to print the printing form are incorporated into one device, a discriminating means which consists of a separator 8 installed at a hopper part 7 and a presence of medium detector 9 to detect the presence of the medium on this separator 8 and discriminates between the original and the printing form, and a switching mechanism 12 which switches the feeding path of the medium in accordance with the discriminated result of the discriminating means are provided so that the original and the printing form can be fed from one hopper part 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scanner built-in printing apparatus in which a scanner section capable of reading a document and a printing section for printing on a printing sheet are built in one apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printing apparatus with a built-in scanner, an original is stored in a paper feed tray when reading an image from the original, and a printing paper is stored in the paper feed tray when recording an image on the printing paper. (See, for example, JP-A-63-171062).

[0003]

In the conventional printing apparatus with a built-in scanner, although the original and the recording paper can be fed from one paper feed tray, whether the medium to be fed is the original or the printing paper. Therefore, there is a risk that the original may be erroneously printed on the original at the place where the original is stored in the paper feed tray and read. Further, if the originals are accommodated on the printing paper and read continuously, the printing paper is fed next when there are no more originals to be read, which is a wasteful operation of reading the blank printing paper. It was

According to the present invention, even if an original and a print sheet are accommodated in the paper feed section at the same time, it is possible to prevent the useless operation of accidentally printing the original or reading a blank print sheet. To aim.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a printer with a built-in scanner according to the present invention is provided with an identification means for identifying a document and a print sheet, and the document and the print sheet are fed from one hopper section. It can be delivered. Also, when the original or printing paper is identified by the identification means, the operation is simplified by automatically operating the switching mechanism to automatically switch the medium feeding path, and the original is mistakenly fed to the printing section. Then
No more printing. The above-mentioned identification means may be of any type as long as it can identify whether the medium fed out from the hopper is an original or a printing paper, but if a separator is provided in the hopper and there is a medium above this separator, for example, the original remains. However, if the medium to be fed out is identified as an original, the medium can be easily loaded.
Further, the above-mentioned identification means is an output number detector for detecting the number of media fed from the cassette, an input means for inputting the number of originals or printing sheets to be output, and an input number for the number detected by the output number detector. It may comprise a collating means for collating the number of sheets inputted from the means, and in this case, a conventional paper feed tray can be used for the hopper part. Further, it is possible to use the identification means by the separator and the identification means for inputting the number of ejected sheets together, and it is possible to issue a warning when the original or the printing paper runs out of the hopper portion earlier than planned due to the double feed.

[0006]

In the printing apparatus with a built-in scanner constructed as described above, when the medium is fed out from the hopper, the discrimination means discriminates whether the document is fed out or the printing paper is fed out, and the document is fed according to the discrimination result. Is sent to the reading unit, and the printing paper is sent to the printing unit.

[0007]

1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a photosensitive drum, 2 is a writing head for optically writing images such as characters and images on the photosensitive drum 1 by causing the light emitting element array to emit light, 3 is a developing device, 4 is a transfer charger, and 5 is a cleaning device. 6 is a primary charger, 7 is a hopper, 8 is a separator that covers a part of the paper in the middle of the hopper 7, and partitions the top and bottom, 9 is a detector that detects the separator 8, and 10 is a document or printing from the hopper 7. A feeding roller for feeding the sheets one by one, a reading head 11 for reading an original with a light source for illuminating the original and a reading element array incorporated therein, and 12 for guiding the original inserted from the hopper unit 7 to below the reading head 11 for hopper. A switching mechanism that distributes the medium so that the printing paper inserted from the section 7 is guided between the transfer charger 4 and the photosensitive drum 1, 13 is a fixing device, and 14 is a stack of read originals. That the document tray 15 is a print sheet tray for depositing the printing paper after printing.

Next, a case where the above embodiment operates as a printer will be described. First, a plurality of printing sheets are accommodated below the separator 8 and nothing is accommodated above the separator 8. When the printing operation is instructed in this state, since the separator 8 is exposed at the uppermost portion, the detector 9 detects the separator 8 and the detector 9 detects that the separator 8 has been detected. Send a signal. Based on this signal, the control unit (not shown) identifies that the medium to be fed is a printing sheet, and operates the switching mechanism 12 to feed the fed medium as a printing sheet to the transfer charger 4 side. Next, the control unit rotates the feeding roller 10, and the hopper unit 7
From the uppermost medium, that is, one sheet of printing paper is fed out. The fed printing paper is guided to the transfer charger 4 side by the switching mechanism. The writing operation is performed in synchronization with this feeding operation. That is, the light emitting element array of the writing head 2 is caused to emit light, and an electrostatic latent image such as characters and figures is written on the photosensitive drum 1 which is uniformly charged in advance. Next, toner is attached to a portion corresponding to the electrostatic latent image written on the photosensitive drum 1 by the developing device 3. The transfer charger 4 transfers the toner image onto the printing paper fed as described above. The fixing device 13 pressurizes and heats the toner image transferred to the printing paper to fix the toner image on the printing paper. The printing paper after fixing is discharged outside the apparatus and accumulated on the printing paper tray 15. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning device 5. After that, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the primary charger 6 in preparation for the next exposure.

In this way, the printing can be continued until there is no more printing paper in the hopper section 7. However, if it is desired to read the original in the middle of printing, the printing operation is temporarily stopped and the separator 8 of the hopper section 7 is stopped. Holds one or more originals on the top. When the reading operation is instructed in this state, since the original is at the top and covers the separator 8, the detector 9 cannot detect the separator 8 and the detector 9 causes the separator 8 to the control unit in the apparatus. Sends a signal that cannot be detected. Based on this signal, the control unit identifies that the medium to be fed is a document, and operates the switching mechanism to feed the fed medium as the document to the read head 11. Next, the control unit rotates the feed roller 10 to feed the uppermost medium, that is, the original from the hopper 7. The fed-out document is guided to the read head 11 side by the switching mechanism, read by the read head 11, and accumulated on the document tray 14 outside the apparatus. If this reading operation is continued, there is no medium above the separator 8, and the detector 9 detects the separator 8. Then, the signal from the detector 9 causes the control unit to identify that the medium to be fed next is not the original but the print sheet, and thus the switching mechanism is operated to allow the medium to be fed to the transfer charger 4. As a result, the reading operation can be ended and the printing operation can be restarted.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, even when the printing operation is being performed, it is possible to read the number of loaded originals only by additionally loading the originals without taking out the printing paper. Therefore, it is usually used as a printer, but it is sometimes convenient when it is also used as a scanner. Although the original is loaded in the middle of the printing operation in the above embodiment, the same operation is performed even if the original is loaded from the beginning.

In the above embodiment, the original is stored above the separator 8. However, when the scanner is frequently used, the original is stored below the separator 8 and the printing paper is placed above the separator 8. It may be accommodated. At this time, if the detector detects the separator 8, the medium may be fed to the transfer device side, and if not detected, the medium may be fed to the reading head side. Since such a change can be made only by switching the polarity of the output signal of the detector, it is more convenient to provide a changeover switch for designating whether the document is placed on top or the printing paper is placed on top. In order to detect the separator 8, for example, the separator 8 is made conductive, and a metal piece bent in a dogleg shape and provided with spring property is attached to the upper part of the hopper 7 as a detector, and the medium is placed on the separator 8. When there is a medium, the medium is not conducted, and when the medium is not on the separator 8, it is conducted. In addition, the reflectance of part or all of the separator 8 is set higher or lower than that of the medium, and the amount of reflected light is detected by an optical sensor attached to the upper part of the hopper 7, and the separator 8 does not exist at the top of the hopper 7. May be identified.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is different in that the medium after recording or reading can be discharged to the upper tray 16, the medium after recording or reading can be taken from the entire surface of the apparatus, and the original or the print can be printed. The advantage is that the sheets are deposited in the order in which they were read or printed (normal order). Reference numeral 17 denotes a switching mechanism for switching whether the printing paper after printing is sent to the printing paper tray or the upper tray.

FIG. 3 shows a cartridge 18 whose hopper can be pulled out of the apparatus so that both the original and the printing paper are deposited on the upper tray 16. The cartridge 18 is pulled out when accommodating the original or the printing paper. Sometimes the whole is housed in the device, which has the advantage of reducing the footprint of the device.

Further, the above-mentioned identification means is detected by an ejected sheet number detector for detecting the number of sheets of the medium fed out from the cassette, an input means for inputting the ejected sheet number of the document or printing paper, and an ejected sheet number detector. The number of sheets and the number of sheets inputted from the inputting means are collated by collating means, and the number of originals (or the number of printing sheets) accommodated in the hopper is preliminarily inputted from the inputting means, and the operation number detector The document (or printing paper) may be fed until the detected number of sheets matches the input number of sheets, and the printing sheet (original) may be fed after the number of detected sheets matches. In this way, the conventional paper feed tray can be used for the hopper.

Further, by adopting the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 4 and operating according to the flow chart of FIG. 5, the identifying means by the separator and the identifying means for inputting the number of ejected sheets can be used together. That is, the circuit shown in FIG. 4 has a medium presence / absence detector 19 for detecting the presence / absence of a medium on the separator.
A numeric keypad 20, a feed number detector 21 for detecting the number of media fed from the hopper unit 7 (or the number of media reaching the reading unit), a control circuit 22, and a built-in control circuit 22. A sheet number collating unit 23 for collating the sheet number detected by the sheet number detector 21 with the sheet number input from the input means, and signals from the first discriminating means and the second discriminating means built in the control circuit 22. An identification signal collating unit 24 for collating, a switching mechanism control circuit 25 for operating the switching mechanism 12, and an alarm lamp 26 that lights up when the detecting unit 24 detects an abnormality. While the number of input sheets is smaller than the input sheet number N, the sheets are fed out one by one and read. However, the medium number remains on the separator due to double feeding or incorrect input sheet number, but the output sheet number M is the input sheet number. Becomes the same as N, lights the alarm lamp 26, the apparatus is stopped. When the medium runs out, it is checked whether the output number M is the same as the input number N. If the number is the same, it is determined that all the originals have been read normally, the switching mechanism 12 is switched to the print sheet feeding side, and the printing process is started. At this time, if the fed-out number M and the input number N are not the same due to incomplete feeding or an incorrect input number, the alarm lamp 26 is turned on and the apparatus is stopped. The first identifying means including the separator provided in the hopper portion and the medium presence / absence detector for detecting the presence / absence of the medium on the separator, and the ejected sheet number detector for detecting the number of the medium fed from the cassette Second identifying means including input means for inputting the number of manuscripts or printing sheets to be operated, and number collating means for collating the number detected by the operated number detector with the number inputted from the input means. And the identification signal collating means for collating the signals from the first identifying means and the second identifying means, for example, when the original or the printing paper runs out of the hopper portion earlier than expected due to the double feeding. Since the identification signal is output only by the first identification means, it is possible to issue a warning when there is a double feed, jam, or input error, and to stop the reading or writing operation. .

Further, the medium fed from the hopper is read by a simple optical sensor, and when the entire surface is almost evenly white, it is identified as a printing sheet, and when the reading density exceeds a certain level, it is an original. You may make it identify. Further, although the electrophotographic printing device is used as the printing device in the above-described embodiment, it can be similarly implemented by other printing devices such as a wire dot printer and a thermal printer.

[0016]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects. Since the identification means discriminates between the original and the printing paper, it is possible to issue a warning to the user and control the operation of the main body of the apparatus according to the identification result. Even in this case, however, there is no useless operation such as erroneously printing on a document or reading a blank print sheet. Since the identification means identifies the original or the printing paper, and the feeding path of the medium is switched according to the identification result, even if the original and the printing paper are fed from one hopper unit,
Each can be correctly fed to the reading section or the writing section. A separator is provided in the hopper part, and if there is a medium above this separator, it is assumed that the document remains, for example, and the medium fed out is identified as the document. All you have to do is to load the media easily. Further, the above-mentioned identification means is an output number detector for detecting the number of media fed from the cassette, an input means for inputting the number of originals or printing sheets to be output, and an input number for the number detected by the output number detector. It may comprise a collating means for collating the number of sheets inputted from the means, and in this case, a conventional paper feed tray can be used for the hopper part. Further, the above-mentioned separator-based identification means and identification means for inputting the number of sheets to be operated can be used together, and when a double feed or a jam occurs, a warning can be issued or the apparatus can be stopped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a printer with a built-in scanner according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the printer with a built-in scanner according to the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the printer with a built-in scanner according to the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of a printer with a built-in scanner according to the present invention,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photosensitive Drum 2 Writing Head 3 Developing Device 4 Transfer Charger 5 Cleaning Device 6 Primary Charger 7 Hopper 8 Separator 9 Detector 10 Feeding Roller 11 Reading Head 12 Switching Mechanism 13 Fixing Device 14 Original Tray 15 Printing Paper Tray 16 Top Tray 17 Switching mechanism 18 Cartridge 19 Media presence / absence detector 20 Numeric keypad 21 Operated sheet number detector 22 Control circuit 23 Sheet number collating section 24 Identification signal collating section 25 Switching mechanism control circuit 26 Alarm lamp

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A scanner built-in printing apparatus having a scanner unit capable of reading an original document and a printing unit for printing on a printing paper in a single device, and a hopper unit for housing the original document and the printing paper, and the hopper unit. A printing apparatus with a built-in scanner, comprising: an identification unit for identifying whether the medium fed out from the document is a document or a printing sheet. 2. The printing apparatus with a built-in scanner according to claim 1, further comprising a switching mechanism for switching the medium feeding path according to the identification result of the identifying means. 3. The scanner built-in print according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the identifying means comprises a separator provided in a hopper and a medium presence / absence detector for detecting the presence / absence of a medium on the separator. apparatus. 4. The discriminating means detects the number of ejected sheets which detects the number of media fed from the cassette, the input means which inputs the number of ejected originals or printing sheets, and the ejected sheet number detector. 3. The scanner-embedded printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a collating unit that collates the number of sheets and the number of sheets input from the input unit. 5. A scanner built-in printing apparatus having a scanner section capable of reading an original and a printing section for printing on a printing paper in a single apparatus, and a separator provided in a hopper section and a medium on the separator. First identifying means including a medium presence / absence detector for detecting the presence / absence, an ejected sheet number detector for detecting the number of the medium fed out from the cassette, and an input means for inputting the ejected sheet number of the document or the printing sheet, A second discriminating means comprising a sheet number collating means for collating the sheet number detected by the ejected sheet number detector with the sheet number inputted from the input means, and signals from the first discriminating means and the second discriminating means. A scanner built-in printing device, comprising: an identification signal collating means for collating.