JPH08274954A - Ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily mount the scanner to a carriage by forming a connection terminal connecting a light emitting means drive terminal and an image sensor output terminal to a bottom side of a case and providing a connection terminal to the carriage in opposition to the former connection terminal. CONSTITUTION: A terminal 8a connecting the drive terminal of a light emitting means 42 and the output terminal of an image sensor 43 is formed to the bottom side of an image scanner printed circuit board 44. On the other hand, a terminal 8b is formed to be exposed from the upper side of a carriage printed circuit board 97 of a printer to the upper side of a carriage 91. When the ink ribbon cartridge image scanner B is mounted on the carriage 91, the terminal 8a, 8b are mutually in contact with each other. Thus, the scanner B is mounted on the carriage so as to mount a thermal transfer printer ink ribbon cartridge, the mounting/dismounting is facilitated and the job performance is enhanced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device mounted on a carriage of a printer device to read an image and a printer device used in combination with the image scanner device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a word processor makes a hard copy after a series of data processing is completed. Therefore, a printer apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus to print data from the information processing apparatus. It is transferred to a printer device and the processing content is printed and recorded on an appropriate recording paper.

On the other hand, as data to be processed by the information processing apparatus, not only text data but also image data is often targeted. In order to read such image data, an image scanner device is connected to the information processing device, and the image data recorded on the surface of the read document is transferred to the information processing device and read by the image scanner device.

As a form of such an image reading apparatus, a single scanning type image scanner apparatus, which is generally provided separately from a printer apparatus, is widely adopted. In recent years, however, the printing mechanism of the printer apparatus is used for reading originals. An ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device, which is a kind of an image scanner device that is used as a scanning means and is formed in the same external shape as the ink ribbon cartridge for a thermal transfer printer that can be mounted on the carriage of the printing mechanism, is also adopted.

A conventional ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device and printer device will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device and printer device, FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged plan view of the same, and FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged front view of the same.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the same.

In the figure, α is a printer device, A is an ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device, 1 is a host system, 3 is RAM, 6 is recording paper, 7 is a read document, and 1 is a reading document.
0 is an ink ribbon cartridge for a thermal transfer printer, 11
Is a canopy.

Reference numeral 12 is a bus line, 21 is a CPU, 22 is a ROM, 23 is an A / D converter, 24 is a motor driver, 25 is a carriage motor, 26 is a line feed motor, 27 is an operation panel section, 41 is an image scanner casing. A body, 42 is a light emitting means, 43 is an image sensor, and 44 is an image scanner printed circuit board.

Reference numeral 51 is a head driver, 52 is a print head, 91 is a carriage, 92a and 92b are guide rails, 93 is a timing belt, 94 is a first pulley,
Reference numeral 95 is a second pulley, 96 is a roller, 101 is a connecting cable, 102 is a female connector, and 103 is a male connector.

In the conventional ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device A shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the image scanner housing 41 is formed in the same external shape as the ink ribbon cartridge 10 for a general thermal transfer printer.

A light emitting means 42 for irradiating the surface of the read original 7 is disposed outward on a side surface of the image scanner housing 41 facing the read original 7, and the light emitting means 42 emits light from the light emitting means 42 to the surface of the read original 7. An image sensor 43, which is an optical-electrical conversion element for receiving the reflected light reflected by the light, is disposed outwardly adjacent to the light emitting means 42.

The light emitting means 42 and the image sensor 43 are fixed to the image scanner printed circuit board 44 by soldering or the like, and the light emitting means 42 and the image sensor 43 are connected to the side surface of the image scanner housing 41. A connection cable 101, which is an electrically connected multi-core cable, is drawn out, and a female connector 102 is electrically connected to the tip thereof.

On the other hand, in the conventional printer apparatus α shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the carriage 91 is slidably attached to two guide rails 92a and 92b arranged in parallel. A carriage motor 25 that linearly moves the carriage 91 in an arbitrary left-right direction is disposed on the left end side of the guide rails 92a and 92b, and a first pulley 94 is rotatably pivotally attached to a drive shaft of the carriage motor 25. There is.

A second pulley 95 is rotatably attached to the right ends of the guide rails 92a and 92b, and an endless ring-shaped timing belt 93 is stretched between the first pulley 94 and the second pulley 95. It is set up.

The carriage 9 is attached to the timing belt 93.
1 is fixed, and the carriage 91 moves in the direction of arrow X1 or X2 in FIG. 2 in response to the forward and reverse rotations of the carriage motor 25.

In front of the carriage 91, the carriage 91
A cylindrical roller 96 is pivotally mounted in parallel with the moving direction of the sheet, and the roller 96 is rotationally driven by the line feed motor 26 to move the printing paper 6 or the read original 7 line by line.

On the rear surface of the housing of the printer A, a male connector 103 is arranged outward so as to electrically connect the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner A and the printer A.

A block diagram of the conventional ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device and printer device shown in FIG. 8 will be outlined. The printer device α includes a CPU 21 connected to the host system 1, a RAM 3 connected to and input from the CPU 21 via the bus line 12.
ROM 22, A / D converter 23, and male connector 10 serving as a connection terminal connected to the A / D converter 23.
3, a CPU 21 that integrally processes the printer device α, and a drive signal from the CPU 21 is a motor driver 24.
A carriage motor 25 and a line feed motor 26 driven via the CPU 21, an operation panel unit 27 connected to the CPU 21, and a print head 52 for printing print data from the CPU 21 on the recording paper 6 via a head driver 51. It consists of and.

Next, the procedure of image reading using the conventional ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the canopy 11 of the printer device α is opened, and the ink ribbon cartridge 10 for the thermal transfer printer is gripped and removed.

Next, the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device A is gripped and mounted on the carriage 91 in the same manner as the thermal transfer printer ink ribbon cartridge 10 is mounted on the carriage 91.

Next, the connection cable 101 is routed to the rear surface of the housing of the printer apparatus α, and the female connector 102 at the tip of the connection cable 101 is gripped and connected to the male connector 103 on the rear surface of the housing of the printer apparatus α.

When the host system 1 or the operation panel unit 27 instructs the CPU 21 to start image reading, the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device A scans the read original 7 face-to-face, and the read image data is transferred via the CPU 21 to the host system. 1 is transferred.

As described above, the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device A and the printer device α are electrically connected to each other through the dedicated connection cable 101, the female connector 102 and the male connector 103.

[0023]

However, in the conventional ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device A, since it is connected to the printer device α through the connection cable 101 composed of a multi-core cable, the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device A is connected. When attaching and detaching the image scanner device A, the operator also had to attach and detach the female connector 102 to and from the male connector 103 of the printer device α, which was a troublesome work and was a trouble.

In addition, the connection cable 101 does not traverse the carriage 91 moving path so as not to interfere with the operation of the carriage 91, so that the carriage 9 of the printer device α.
1 from the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device A mounted on the printer device α to the male connector 103 on the rear surface of the printer device α housing. At the time of use, the thermal transfer ink ribbon cartridge 10 had to be used with the canopy 11, which was a lid to be opened at the time of replacement, left open.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device and a printer device which can be easily attached and detached.

[0026]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention employs the following novel characteristic construction means. That is, the first feature of the present invention is that the casing formed in the same external shape as the ink ribbon cartridge for the thermal transfer printer and the side face of the casing facing the read document are arranged adjacent to each other. A light emitting means and an image sensor,
This is an ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device which is electrically connected to a drive terminal of the light emitting means and an output terminal of the image sensor, and includes a connection terminal formed on the bottom surface of the casing.

A second feature of the present invention is that the casing formed in the same external shape as the ink ribbon cartridge for the thermal transfer printer and the side surface of the casing facing the read document are arranged adjacent to each other. Ink, comprising: a light emitting means and an image sensor, and a connection terminal electrically connected to a drive terminal of the light emitting means and an output terminal of the image sensor and formed on the bottom surface of the casing. The printer device has a connection terminal formed on the upper surface of the carriage, facing the connection terminal formed on the bottom surface of the housing of the ribbon cartridge type image scanner apparatus.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printer device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device and a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is the same partially enlarged plan view, FIG. 3 is the partially enlarged front view, and FIG. It is a block diagram.

In the figure, β is a printer device, B is an ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device, 8a and 8b are connection terminals, 41 is an image scanner housing, 42 is a light emitting means, 43 is an image sensor, and 44 is an image scanner print. A board, and 97 is a carriage printed board.
The same members and elements as those of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device B of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the image scanner housing 41 is formed in the same external shape as an ink ribbon cartridge for a general thermal transfer printer (not shown). There is.

A light emitting means 42 for irradiating the surface of the read original 7 is provided outward on the side surface of the image scanner housing 41 facing the read original 7, and the light emitting means 42 emits light from the light emitting means 42 to the surface of the read original 7. An image sensor 43, which is an optical-electrical conversion element for receiving the reflected light reflected by the light, is disposed outwardly adjacent to the light emitting means 42.

The light emitting means 42 and the image sensor 43 are fixed to an image scanner printed circuit board 44 by soldering or the like, and the drive terminals of the light emitting means 42 and the above are provided at predetermined positions on the bottom surface of the image scanner printed circuit board 44. The output terminal of the image sensor 43 is electrically connected to form a connection terminal 44 having a substantially rectangular wiring pattern whose surface is treated by gold plating or the like, and is exposed from the bottom surface of the image scanner housing 41.

On the other hand, the printer device β of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has the same structure as the printer device α of the conventional example, and the structural difference from the printer device α of the conventional example. In other words, the carriage printed circuit board 97 is arranged on the lower surface of the carriage 91, and the connection terminals 8b exposed from the upper surface of the carriage printed circuit board 97 to the upper surface of the carriage 91 are formed.

The connection terminal 8b is soldered to the upper surface of the carriage printed circuit board 97 provided inside the carriage 91, surface-treated with gold plating or the like, bent into an arcuate shape, and elastically urged outward. It consists of a metal plate
CPU 21 and A / D converter 23 of printer β
Is electrically connected to.

The connection terminal 8a of the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device B and the connection terminal 8b of the printer device β are arranged at positions facing each other when mounted, and the ink ribbon cartridge type device is provided. When the image scanner device B is mounted on the carriage 91, the connection terminals 8a and 8b contact each other and are electrically connected.

The connection terminals 8a and 8b listed here are metal terminals, but instead of this, various connectors for connecting to the board and mating with each other may be used.

Next, the procedure of image reading using the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the canopy 11 of the printer device β is opened, and the ink ribbon cartridge 10 for the thermal transfer printer is grasped and removed.

Next, the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device B is gripped and mounted on the carriage 91 like the ink ribbon cartridge 10 for the thermal transfer printer.

Further, when the canopy 11 is closed and the host system 1 or the operation panel unit 27 instructs the CPU 21 to start image reading, the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner apparatus B scans the read original 7 face-to-face,
The read image data is transmitted via the CPU 21 to the host system 1
Transferred to

In the block diagram of the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device and printer device of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, the difference from the conventional example shown in FIG. 8 is that the connection terminals 101, 102, 103 are replaced. ,
Since the connection terminals 8a and 8b are adopted, the electric operation is the same.

[0041]

As described above, according to the printer device of the present invention, the ink ribbon cartridge for the thermal transfer printer can be easily attached and detached as if it was attached to the carriage of the printer device, and is excellent in workability.

Further, since the connection cable and connector of the example of the ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device and the connector on the printer device side are unnecessary, there is an effect of reducing the initial cost.

Further, since reading is possible with the canopy open, there is an effect of preventing dust from entering the printing mechanism of the printer device and the image scanner.

In addition, in the printer device having a structure in which the ink ribbon cartridge for the thermal transfer printer and the image ribbon device of the ink ribbon cartridge type can be automatically selected and replaced, the printing operation and the reading operation are performed by the instruction from the host system. There is also an effect that it can be selectively switched.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device and a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged plan view of the same as above.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged front view of the same as above.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the same as above.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device and printer device.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged plan view of the above.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged front view of the above.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the same as above.

[Explanation of symbols]

α, β Printer device A, B Ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device 1 Host system 3 RAM 6 Recording paper 7 Reading original document 8a, 8b Connection terminal 10 Thermal transfer printer ink ribbon cartridge 11 Canopy 12 Bus line 21 CPU 22 ROM 23 A / D converter 24 Motor driver 25 Carriage motor 26 Line feed motor 27 Operation panel section 41 Image scanner housing 42 Light emitting means 43 Image sensor 44 Image scanner printed circuit board 51 Head driver 52 Print head 91 Carriage 92a, 92b Guide rail 93 Timing belt 94th 1 pulley 95 2nd pulley 96 roller 97 carriage printed circuit board 101 connection cable 102 female connector 103 male connector

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A casing formed in an appearance similar to that of an ink ribbon cartridge for a thermal transfer printer, and a light emitting means and an image sensor arranged adjacent to each other on a side surface of the casing facing a read document. An ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device comprising: a drive terminal of the light emitting means and an output terminal of the image sensor, and a connection terminal formed on the bottom surface of the housing. 2. A casing formed in the same external shape as that of an ink ribbon cartridge for a thermal transfer printer, and a light emitting means and an image sensor arranged adjacent to each other on a side surface of the casing facing a read document. An ink ribbon cartridge type image scanner device comprising: a drive terminal of the light emitting means and an output terminal of the image sensor, and a connection terminal formed on the bottom surface of the housing. A printer device characterized in that a connection terminal is formed on an upper surface of a carriage so as to face a connection terminal formed on a bottom surface of a housing.