JPH0967034A - Original holder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely convey an original by preventing the deviation of a holder base from a holder cover, and to prevent the position of the original from being deviated. SOLUTION: A holder cover 3 made of transparent material is integrated on one surface side of a flat holder base 2 in an openable/closable manner by adhering the holder cover to one end part of the holder base 2 with the adhesive 4, and a slight adhesive part 5 to give weak adhesive force between the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3 is formed between the holder base 3 and the holder cover 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document holder,
In particular, it relates to a document holder for holding a document whose image information is read by the image scanner in a thermal transfer printer having the image scanner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a predetermined recording medium is sandwiched between a conveying roller and a pressing roller pressed against the conveying roller and conveyed between a platen and a thermal head, and then the thermal head is moved to the recording medium. When a thermal head is operated based on a desired print signal while the carriage is moved and the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette is being wound in this state, the ink of the ink ribbon is pressed. A thermal transfer printer that performs desired printing on the recording medium by melting and transferring is often used.

In recent years, the applicants have mounted an image scanner on a carriage, and in a state where a predetermined original has been conveyed between the carriage and a platen, the image scanner scans while moving the carriage. A thermal transfer printer was developed which reads the image information and prints on a predetermined recording medium based on the image information.

In such a thermal transfer printer, when reading a document, a document holder for holding the document is used, and the document is read by the image scanner while transporting the document holder. .

11 and 12 show a document holder used in such a thermal transfer printer. The document holder 1 has a flat plate-shaped holder base 2, and one surface side of the holder base 2 is shown. Is integrally formed by bonding a holder cover 3 made of a transparent material to one end of the holder base 2 with an adhesive 4. The holder cover 3 can be opened and closed with respect to the holder base 2 by turning up the holder cover 3, and a predetermined document is held between the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3. It has been done.

A predetermined document is held between the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3 of the document holder 1 and set in a thermal transfer printer, and while the document holder 1 is being conveyed, the document is scanned by the image scanner. Is read. Thereafter, a predetermined recording medium is set in the thermal transfer printer, the carriage is operated while conveying the recording medium, and printing is performed on the recording medium based on image information of the original read by the thermal head. is there.

In this case, conventionally, the user installs the document holder 1 or the recording medium holding the document on the thermal transfer printer, and the medium to be used is selected by the selection switch or the like provided on the thermal transfer printer. 1 or the recording medium is sequentially set, and the document holder 1 is set by the selection switch, the original is read by scanning the image scanner, and the document is set as the recording medium. Had controlled to drive the thermal head to perform printing.

[0008]

However, in the thermal transfer printer, when the document holder 1 is nipped and conveyed between the conveying roller and the pressure contact roller, the pressure contact roller causes frictional force against the conveyance roller. In the original holder 1, since the holder cover 3 does not adhere to the holder base 2 in the original holder 1, when the original holder 1 is conveyed, due to a difference in frictional force between the conveying roller and the pressure contact roller, There is a problem that the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3 are misaligned, which causes
There is a problem in that the document holder 1 cannot be reliably conveyed, a document reading failure occurs, and the position of the document deviates from the holder base 2.

Further, since it is necessary for the user to successively set whether the medium to be used is the document holder 1 or the recording medium by means of a selection switch or the like, the image reading and printing operations are extremely complicated, It has the problem of poor usability. Moreover, if the user makes a mistake in the settings, he / she will scan a blank recording medium, or vice versa.
There is also a problem that printing may be performed on the document holder 1.

Further, since the thickness of the original varies depending on the type of the original, the thickness of the original holder 1 holding such an original may change. Due to such a change in the thickness of the original holder 1. , The distance between the image scanner and the document surface changes. That is, when the thickness of the document is large, the distance between the image scanner and the document surface becomes small, and conversely, when the thickness of the document is small, the distance between the image scanner and the document surface becomes large. Therefore, for example, in the case of originals with large thickness such as color photographs,
An image is read larger than an original having a thin thickness, and conversely, a small image is read when the thickness is thin.

As a result, when the document holder 1 is transported by a constant transport amount (one scan width of the image scanner) suitable for a document having a specific thickness dimension, the document is read at the line boundary depending on the thickness of the document. However, there is a problem that a defect occurs in the image. For example, when a straight oblique line is read by an image scanner and printed while a document is conveyed by a constant conveyance amount, as shown in FIG. There is a problem in that, as shown in FIG. 14, the images read for each scan are overlapped with each other to cause a lightning-like shift, so that it is impossible to properly read the diagonal lines and print them neatly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and it is possible to prevent the displacement between the holder base and the holder cover for reliable conveyance, and to prevent the displacement of the document, and moreover, the reading position. An object of the present invention is to provide a document holder capable of determining whether or not the medium conveyed to the document is the document holder, and further capable of appropriately reading the image of the document according to the type of the document. Is.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the document holder according to the invention described in claim 1 has a holder cover made of a transparent material on one surface side of a flat plate-shaped holder base, and one end of the holder base. A document holder integrally formed so as to be openable and closable by adhering to a portion with an adhesive, and having a weak adhesive force between the holder base and the holder cover and between the holder base and the holder cover. It is characterized in that a weak adhesive portion for imparting is formed.

According to the invention of claim 1, in the state where the holder cover is turned up against the adhesive force of the weak adhesive portion,
By placing a specified document on the holder cover and closing the holder cover, the document is sandwiched between the holder base and the holder cover. In this case, a weak adhesive force is applied between the holder base and the holder cover. Since the portion is formed, the document is reliably held between the holder base and the holder cover by the adhesive force of the weak adhesive portion, and the holder base and the holder cover are held in close contact with each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the displacement of the holder base and the holder cover and reliably convey the document holder.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, a holder cover made of a transparent material is attached to one surface side of the flat plate-shaped holder base by an adhesive to one end portion of the holder base so that the holder cover can be freely opened and closed. An original holder integrally formed, wherein a bar code is formed on the surface of the holder cover on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the original holder.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the bar code is formed on the holder cover of the original holder, the thermal transfer is performed depending on whether the bar code can be read by the image scanner of the thermal transfer printer. It is possible to determine whether the medium conveyed by the printer is a document holder or a recording medium, and as a result, it is possible to prevent printing on the document holder or reading of the recording medium. Thus, the original can be read reliably.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in claim 2, the bar code represents at least one of size information of a read document and feed pitch information of the document. Is.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the size of the read document or the document feed pitch information is represented by the bar code, the size information of the read document is read by reading the bar code with an image scanner. The original reading range can be set on the basis of the original, and the paper feeding step of the original can be set on the basis of the original feed pitch information, and an appropriate reading operation can be performed according to the type of the original. Even if the thickness is different, the image of the original can be read properly.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of a document holder according to the present invention. The document holder 1 has a plate-shaped holder base 2, and one surface side of the holder base 2 is provided. Is integrally formed by bonding a holder cover 3 made of a transparent material to the upper end of the holder base 2 with an adhesive 4. Further, in the present embodiment, between the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3, there is formed a weak adhesion portion 5 that imparts a weak adhesive force between the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3. The holder cover 3 can be opened and closed with respect to the holder base 2 by flipping up the holder cover 3 against the adhesive force of the weak adhesive portion 5, and the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3 can be opened and closed. A predetermined document is held between and.

4 to 7 show an embodiment of a thermal transfer printer using the document holder 1 according to the present invention, in which the frame 6 of the printer has a flat plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction. The platen 7 is provided, and a carriage shaft 8 that is located in front of the platen 7 and extends parallel to the platen 7 is supported between both side surfaces of the frame 6. A carriage 9 is reciprocally attached to the carriage shaft 8 along the carriage shaft 8, and a thermal head 10 is moved toward and away from the tip of the carriage 9 so as to face the platen 7. It is installed freely. An ink ribbon (not shown) is housed on the upper surface of the carriage 9, and a ribbon cassette 11 for guiding the ink ribbon between the thermal head 10 and the platen 7 is detachably mounted. A winding bobbin 12 for winding the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette 11 and a feeding bobbin 13 for feeding the ink ribbon are arranged on the upper surface of the carriage 9.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, an image scanner 14 is arranged on one side of the carriage 9, and as shown in FIG. On the surface facing the platen 7,
The opening 15 is formed. Further, inside the image scanner 14 and on both sides of the opening portion 15, two light emitting members 16, 16 such as lamps are arranged so as to be directed to the opening portion 15. An image sensor unit 17 that receives reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting member 16 to the document and reads a predetermined image is provided inside the unit 14.

On the lower side of one end of the frame 6,
A carriage drive motor 18 is arranged so that its output shaft penetrates the upper surface of the frame 6, and a drive pulley 19 rotatably driven by the carriage drive motor 18 is provided on the output shaft of the carriage drive motor 18. Is provided. A driven pulley 20 is rotatably disposed on the upper surface of the other end of the frame 6, and a part of the driven pulley 20 is connected to the lower surface of the carriage 9 between the drive pulley 19 and the driven pulley 20. The carriage drive belt 21 is stretched around. Then, the carriage drive motor 18 is rotationally driven to drive the carriage drive belt 21 via the drive pulley 19,
The carriage 9 is reciprocated along the carriage shaft 8 in parallel with the platen 7.

A transport roller 22 for transporting a predetermined recording medium at a predetermined speed is disposed below the rear portion of the platen 7, and below the transport roller 22, the transport roller 22 is pressed against the transport roller 22. A plurality of pressure contact rollers 23 are rotatably arranged. Further, a sheet feeding device (not shown) is arranged behind the frame 6, and in this sheet feeding device, for example, a document holder 1 holding a predetermined document and a recording medium are alternately arranged. It is designed to be stored in a stacked state. Then, the transport roller 22 is rotationally driven by a transport motor (not shown), so that the document holder 1 and the recording medium supplied between the transport roller 22 and the pressure contact roller 23 from the paper feeding device are transferred to the thermal head 10. It is adapted to be conveyed to and from the platen 7. Further, above the platen 7, a paper discharge roller 24 for guiding the recording medium after printing is arranged.

Further, a positioning marker 25 is formed on one side of the platen 7 of the frame 6, and by reading the positioning marker 25 by the image scanner 14, the stop position of the carriage 9 can be recognized. Has been done.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the controller of the thermal transfer printer of this embodiment. The CPU 26 has a ROM 27 in which printing conditions and the like according to the type of recording medium used are stored. RAM that stores various data
28 are connected. Image information read by the image scanner 14 is sent to the CPU 26. From the CPU 26, a thermal head drive circuit 29 for controlling energization of the thermal head 10 and a platen for the thermal head 10 are provided. 7, a thermal head contact / separation drive circuit 30 for operating contact and separation with
Control signals are sent to an image scanner drive circuit 31, a carriage drive motor drive circuit 32, and a conveyance roller drive circuit 33, which control the drive of the image scanner 14.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, in a state where the holder cover 3 is turned up against the adhesive force of the weak adhesive portion 5, a predetermined document is set on the holder cover 3 and the holder cover 3 is closed, whereby the holder cover 3 is closed. A document is held between the base 2 and the holder cover 3. In this case, in this embodiment, since the weak adhesive portion 5 is formed between the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3, the weak adhesive portion 5 is formed.
Due to the adhesive force of 3, the document is securely held between the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3, and the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3 are held in close contact with each other.

Next, when reading the original document held in the original document holder 1 and printing on the recording medium by the thermal transfer printer, first, the original document holder 1 holding the original document and the recording medium are alternated. Store them in the paper feeding device in a stacked state.

Then, by rotating the conveying roller 22 in response to a control signal from the CPU 26, the conveying roller 22 and the pressure contact roller 23 are fed from the paper feeding device.
The document holder 1 supplied between the
And the platen 7. At this time, in the present embodiment, the weak adhesive portion 5 does not cause the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3 to be displaced from each other, and the document can be reliably fed.

Subsequently, the carriage drive motor 18 is driven by a control signal from the CPU 26 to move the carriage 9 to cause the image scanner 14 to scan the document in the lateral direction, while the light emitting members 16 emit light to the document. While irradiating, the image sensor unit 17 receives the reflected light from the document to read the image information in the lateral direction of the document, and this image information is RA
It is stored in M28.

After that, the conveying roller 22 is driven to convey the document holder 1 by a predetermined amount, and while moving the carriage 9 again, the image information of the document is read by the image scanner 14 and stored in the RAM 28. By repeating this operation, all the image information of the entire document is read and stored in the RAM 28, and the document holder 1 is ejected, whereby the operation of reading the image information of the document is completed.

Then, by rotating the conveying roller 22 in response to a control signal from the CPU 26, the conveying roller 22 and the pressure contact roller 23 are fed from the paper feeding device.
The recording medium supplied between the thermal head 10 and the platen 7 is conveyed between the thermal head 10 and the platen 7. After that, the carriage driving motor 18 is driven to move the carriage 9 while the thermal head 10 is pressed against the platen 7 according to a control signal from the CPU 26, and the winding bobbin 1 is also moved.
While rotating 2 to wind the ink ribbon,
By selectively heating the heating elements of the thermal head 10 based on the image information of the document stored in the AM 28, desired printing is performed on a predetermined recording medium.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the weak adhesive portion 5 is formed between the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3, the adhesive force of the weak adhesive portion 5 causes the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3. The original can be reliably held between the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3, and the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3 are held in close contact with each other. 1 can be reliably transported.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the document holder according to the present invention. A holder cover 3 made of a transparent material is provided on one side of the holder base 2 of the document holder 1. Is integrally formed by adhering to the upper end of the document holder 1 with an adhesive 4. Further, in the present embodiment, it is the surface of the holder cover 3 of the document holder 1 on the upstream side in the transport direction of the document holder 1. A bar code 34 is formed on the. This barcode 34
Represents information such as size information such as the width and length of the read document, and feed pitch information of the document suitable for the thickness of the document.

Since other parts are the same as those in the above-mentioned embodiment, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the controller applied to the thermal transfer printer shown in FIGS. 4 to 7. In this embodiment, the controller is the same as the controller shown in FIG. The CPU 26 has a ROM 27 and an R
AM28 is connected. Then, in the CPU 26,
Image information read by the image scanner 14 is sent. From the CPU 26, a thermal head drive circuit 29, a thermal head contact / separation drive circuit 30, an image scanner drive circuit 31, a carriage drive motor drive circuit 32. A control signal is sent to each of the transport roller drive circuit 33 and the transport roller drive circuit 33. Further, in the present embodiment, the CPU 2
A selection switch 35 for selecting a reading mode for reading an image of a document and a recording mode for printing the read image is connected to the switch 6.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

First, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, a predetermined document is set on the holder cover 3, and the holder cover 3
By closing, the document is held between the holder base 2 and the holder cover 3.

When the original is read, the reading mode is selected by the selection switch 35 in advance, and in this state, the conveying roller 22 is rotationally driven by the control signal from the CPU 26.
The original holder 1 supplied between the conveying roller 22 and the pressure contact roller 23 is attached to the thermal head 10 and the platen 7.
Transport between and.

Subsequently, the carriage drive motor 18 is driven by a control signal from the CPU 26 to move the carriage 9 to cause the image scanner 14 to scan the document in the lateral direction, and light is emitted from each light emitting member 16 to the document. At the same time as the irradiation, the reflected light from the original is received by the image sensor unit 17, and the bar code 34 of the original holder 1 is read.

In this case, in this embodiment, when the bar code 34 is read by the image scanner, it is judged that the medium conveyed by the CPU 26 is the document holder 1, and the reading mode is selected by the selection switch 35. If it is selected, the document reading operation is continued, but if the reading mode is not selected, error processing is performed. As a result, even if the user erroneously selects the selection switch 35 in the recording mode, it is possible to prevent erroneous printing on the document holder 1.

When the recording mode is selected by the selection switch 35, printing may be performed only when the bar code 34 is not read.
When the original document holder 1 is erroneously conveyed and the barcode 34 is read, the original document can be read or the recording medium can be reliably printed by controlling not to print.

The information of the bar code 34 read by the image scanner is sent to the CPU 26,
The reading range of the original is set based on the size information such as the width dimension and the length dimension of the read original represented by the barcode 34 by 26, and the thickness of the original represented by the barcode 34 is adapted. The paper feed step of the document is set based on the document feed pitch information.

Then, a control signal is output from the CPU 26 to the carry roller drive circuit 33, and the carry roller 22 is driven to rotate in accordance with the paper feed step set based on the information of the bar code 34, and the original is fed. The holder 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount. In this state, while moving the carriage 9 in accordance with the reading range of the original, the image information of the original is read by the image scanner 14 and stored in the RAM 28. By repeating this operation, all the image information of the entire document is read and stored in the RAM 28, and the document holder 1 is ejected, whereby the operation of reading the image information of the document is completed.

After that, the transport roller 22 is rotationally driven to move the transport roller 22 from the paper feeding device.
After the recording medium supplied between the thermal head 10 and the platen 7 is conveyed between the thermal head 10 and the platen 7, the carriage 9 is moved while the thermal head 10 is pressed against the platen 7. While the winding bobbin 12 is rotationally driven to wind the ink ribbon, the thermal head 10 is operated based on the image information of the original document stored in the RAM 28 to perform desired printing on the recording medium. is there.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the bar code 34 is formed on the holder cover 3 of the original holder 1, the bar code 34 is conveyed depending on whether the bar code 34 can be read by the image scanner 14. It is possible to determine whether the medium is the document holder 1 or the recording medium, and it is possible to determine whether or not the read mode or recording mode selected by the selection switch 35 and the conveyed medium match. As a result, even if the user makes a mistake in selecting the selection switch 35, it is possible to prevent printing on the document holder 1 or reading of the recording medium. Printing on the recording medium can be reliably performed.

Further, by reading the bar code 34 with the image scanner 14, the reading range of the original is set based on size information such as the width and length of the read original, and the thickness of the original is adapted. Set the paper feed step of the original based on the original feed pitch information,
Since the original is read based on the reading range and the paper feed step, the proper reading operation can be performed according to the type of the original, and even if the thickness of the original is different, the image of the original is not changed. Can be read properly.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but various modifications can be made if necessary.

[0050]

As described above, in the document holder according to the first aspect of the invention, the weak adhesive portion is formed between the holder base and the holder cover. , The document can be reliably held between the holder base and the holder cover, and the holder base and the holder cover are held in close contact with each other, so that the holder base and the holder cover can be prevented from being displaced from each other. Can be reliably transported.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the bar code is formed on the holder cover of the original holder, and the bar code can be read by the image scanner of the thermal transfer printer. Since it is possible to determine whether the conveyed medium is the document holder or the recording medium, it is possible to prevent printing on the document holder or reading of the recording medium. Therefore, the original can be read reliably.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, since the size of the read document or the feed pitch information of the document is represented by the bar code, an appropriate reading operation can be performed according to the type of the document. Even if the thickness of the document is different, the image of the document can be properly read.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a holder cover showing an embodiment of a document holder of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a holder base of a document holder of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a document holder of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a thermal transfer printer to which a document holder of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a carriage part of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the image scanner portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control device of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a holder cover showing another embodiment of the document holder of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the control device of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a conventional document holder.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a conventional document holder.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a state in which an image is read and printed by a thermal transfer printer using a conventional document holder.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a state in which an image is read and printed by a thermal transfer printer using a conventional document holder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Original Holder 2 Holder Base 3 Holder Cover 5 Weak Adhesive Part 6 Frame 7 Platen 9 Carriage 10 Thermal Head 14 Image Scanner 16 Light Emitting Member 17 Image Sensor Unit 18 Carriage Drive Motor 22 Conveying Roller 23 Pressure Contact Roller 26 CPU 34 Bar Code 35 Selection Switch

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Kazutaka Suzuki 1-7 Yukiya Otsuka-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A manuscript holder integrally formed so as to be openable and closable by adhering a holder cover made of a transparent material to one end portion of the holder base with an adhesive on one surface side of a plate-shaped holder base. An original document holder, characterized in that a weak adhesive section is formed between the holder base and the holder cover to provide a weak adhesive force between the holder base and the holder cover. 2. A manuscript holder integrally formed so as to be openable and closable by adhering a holder cover made of a transparent material to one end of the holder base with an adhesive on one surface side of a flat plate-shaped holder base. An original document holder characterized in that a bar code is formed on the surface of the holder cover on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the original document holder. 3. The document holder according to claim 2, wherein the bar code represents at least one of size information of a read document and feed pitch information of the document.