JPH11187194A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor where an original carrier path is shared with a recording paper sheet carrier path, is made into small and lightweight, the three operations of transmission, reception and copying are executed, a photographing means is integrally provided and a photographed image is also recorded and transmitted. SOLUTION: The processor is provided with housings 2A and 2B, paper sheet carrier routes 5a and 7a shared in the carrying of an original P0 and recording paper sheets P, an image reading means 4 and an image recording means 9 which are arranged in the housings 2A and 2B so as to face the paper sheet carrier routes 5a and 7a and the photographing means D arranged on the housing 2A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of performing transmission, reception, copying, and photographing operations of a facsimile apparatus or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus is provided with a driving mechanism for performing three operations of transmission, reception and copying. That is, two independent paths are provided: a document conveyance path and a recording paper conveyance path, a feed roller is provided in the document conveyance path, and a platen roller is provided in the recording paper conveyance path. On the other hand, at the time of reception, the platen roller is driven to rotate to perform a recording paper discharging operation. Furthermore,
At the time of copying, a document feeding operation by rotation of a feed roller and a recording paper discharge operation by rotation of a platen roller are simultaneously performed.

[0003]

However, in the conventional image processing apparatus as described above, it is necessary to drive the feed roller and the platen roller separately and independently, so that a dedicated motor is mounted on each of the two rollers. Must. Further, since two independent paths, ie, a document conveyance path and a recording paper conveyance path, are provided, a drawback that the number of parts is large and the cost is high is pointed out, and this is a factor that hinders reduction in size and weight of the entire apparatus. On the other hand, in recent years, a so-called digital camera that stores an image captured by a charge-coupled device (CCD) in a semiconductor memory has become widespread. There are also requests to print an image taken by the digital camera on the spot or to send it using a telephone line or the like. In such a case, devices such as a personal computer and a printer are required, but if they are carried, they become heavy and bulky.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional drawbacks described above, to reduce the size of the facsimile apparatus and to provide a photographing means, so that the photographed image can be easily carried without having to carry other peripheral devices. To provide an image processing apparatus capable of recording and / or communicating with the image processing apparatus.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a housing, a paper transport path provided in the housing and commonly used for transporting originals and recording paper, and a paper transport path. Image reading means and image recording means provided on the housing so as to face the camera, and photographing means provided on the housing. Further, a platen roller is provided in the paper transport path, the image reading means and the image recording means are arranged so as to sandwich the platen roller, and a paper transport path is provided between the image reading means and the platen roller. Switching means for selectively guiding the sheet between the image recording means and the platen roller. Further, the image recording means is an ink jet printer.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a section of the image processing apparatus of FIG. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a reading operation of the image processing apparatus of FIG. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a recording operation of the image processing apparatus of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes upper and lower housings 2A and 2B, and the upper surface of the housing 2A is an operation surface S. The operation surface S is provided with a Fax / Scan button a, a Print button b, a Photo button c, a numeric keypad t, and a display d, which are operation buttons. On the end side of the operation surface S, a digital camera D as a photographing means is provided. 1 is a lens, and v is a shutter button.

When the Photo button c is depressed, the digital camera D is operated in the photographing mode, and the image which enters the photoelectric conversion means such as a single-plate type color CCD (not shown) via the lens 1 is displayed on the display d. I have. When the shutter button v is pressed, the image information is stored in the control unit 30.
(See FIG. 2).
Pressing the Photo button c again cancels the shooting mode.

As shown in FIG. 2, a platen roller 1 serving both as a document feeding roller and a recording paper discharging roller is provided inside the apparatus. The platen roller 1 is housed between the upper and lower housings 2A and 2B also serving as a paper guide member, and is configured to be rotatable forward and reverse by a drive motor (not shown). Further, a control unit 30 is provided inside the housing 2B, and drives the platen roller 1 and the like and controls print information.

On one side of the platen roller 1, an image scanner 4 as reading means is provided in close contact with the platen roller 1 by a pressing member 3. The image scanner 4 can read a color image. Further, a sheet insertion port 5 is opened on the right side in FIG. 2 of the apparatus, and the sheet insertion port 5 is provided with a pair of feeding rollers 6 for feeding a sheet into a sheet conveying path 5a in the apparatus.

A switching guide 8 is provided between the platen roller 1 and the feeding roller 6 as switching means for selectively switching the sheet conveying direction. Switching guide 8
Is provided with an appropriate operating mechanism (not shown) such as a solenoid, and is operated by an ON / OFF switching operation of this operating mechanism. The document P0 is inserted from the above-described sheet insertion port 5 and is fed into a sheet transport path 5a in the apparatus by a pair of feeding rollers 6. Paper transport path 5a
The document P0 is guided between the image scanner 4 and the platen roller 1 by the switching guide 8.

The document P0 is sandwiched between the image scanner 4 and the platen roller 1 and is conveyed with the clockwise rotation of the platen roller 1 via the sheet conveying path 7a downstream of the platen roller 1 on the downstream side of the sheet conveying path 7a. The paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 7 opened to the outside. When the document is fed by the platen roller 1, the document P is conveyed while being pressed against the image scanner 4 by the platen roller 1, and the image of the fed document is read.

On the other hand, on the opposite side of the platen roller 1, an ink jet printer 9 as recording means is arranged. The inkjet printer 9 includes an inkjet head unit 13 and an inkjet head unit 13.
The main unit comprises a head unit supporting base 14 for detachably supporting the head unit and rails 18 and 19 for slidably moving and supporting the head unit supporting base 14.

The ink jet head unit 13 includes an ink jet head 15 and an ink cartridge 16. The ink jet unit 13 is detachably supported on the head unit support base 14 by a not-shown locking means utilizing the magnetic force of a magnet or the elastic force of a resin.

Similarly to the document P0, the recording paper P is inserted from the above-described paper insertion port 5, and is fed by a pair of feeding rollers 6 into a paper transport path 5a in the apparatus. Paper transport path 5
The recording paper P fed into a is guided by the switching guide 8 between the printing unit 17 of the inkjet head 15 in the inkjet printer 9 and the platen roller 1.

Then, the platen roller 1 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 4 by a driving source (not shown), the leading end of the recording paper P reaches between the platen roller 1 and the printing unit 17 of the ink jet head 15, and the printing operation is started. Be started. Thereafter, the recording paper P is sandwiched between the platen roller 1 and the press roller 20 pressed by the platen roller 1. The head unit support base 14 reciprocates along the platen roller 1 in the longitudinal direction of the platen roller 1 (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2) by driving means (not shown).

At the time of the reciprocating movement, the ink of the ink cartridge 16 is filled on the surface of the recording paper P with the ink jet head 1.
By the operation of No. 5, an image is formed by being adhered from the printing unit 17 to the surface of the recording paper P. Until the platen roller 1 and the press roller 20 are nipped, the rewind roller 6 is driven to convey the recording paper P.

The recording paper P on which the image is formed is conveyed with the rotation of the platen roller 1 in the counterclockwise direction, and is conveyed to the paper conveyance path 7a downstream of the platen roller 1 like the document P0. The paper is discharged to the outside from the paper discharge port 7 on the downstream side.

In the apparatus configured as described above, the transport path of the document P0 and the transport path of the recording paper P are shared, and one platen roller 1 is driven forward and reverse to rotate one platen. Even though the platen roller 1 is shared for reading and recording, all the paper feeding operations required for the image processing apparatus can be covered.

Therefore, the operation at the time of facsimile transmission will be described first. At the time of transmission, the original P0 is
Is inserted so that the original reading surface is downward in FIG.
The inserted document P0 is detected by a detection unit (not shown), the rewind roller 6 is driven, and the document P0 is transported to the paper transport path 5a and stopped.

Then, after inputting the other party number with the ten keys t shown in FIG. 1 and pressing the Fax / Scan button a, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the switching guide 8 swings upward in FIG. 3, the retraction roller 6 is driven again, and the document P0 is transported between the scanner 4 and the platen roller 1. When the platen roller 1 is driven to rotate clockwise, the document P0 is fed between the platen roller 1 and the image scanner 4.
Then, the image is continuously read by the image scanner 4, and a signal of the image information is transmitted by the control unit 30 via a telephone line or a radio wave (not shown). The read original P0 is discharged from the paper discharge port 7 via the paper conveyance path 7a.

Next, the operation at the time of reception will be described. When an image signal or the like is received via a telephone line (not shown) or radio waves,
The image information is stored in the memory of the control unit 30, and the fact that the image signal and the like have been received is displayed on the display d shown in FIG. The recording paper P is inserted into the paper insertion slot 5 such that the printing surface faces upward in FIG. The inserted recording paper P is detected by a detection unit (not shown), the rewind roller 6 is driven, and the recording paper P is transported to the paper transport path 5a and stopped.

When the Print button b shown in FIG. 1 is pressed, the switching guide 8 swings downward in FIG. 4 as shown in FIG.
Is guided between the printing unit 17 of the ink jet printer 9 and the platen roller 1 to start printing. Control unit 30
The above-described printing operation is performed based on the image signals stored in the memory of (1), and an image corresponding to the image signals is formed on the recording paper P. The recording paper P on which the image is formed is discharged from the paper discharge port 7 via the paper conveyance path 7a.

Next, the copying operation will be described. At the time of copying, the original P0 to be copied is first inserted into the paper insertion slot 7 such that the original reading surface faces downward in FIG. The inserted document P0 is detected by a detection unit (not shown), and the revolving roller 6 is driven, and the document P0 is transported to the paper transport path 5a and stopped.
Then, when the Fax / Scan button a shown in FIG. 1 is pressed, the switching guide 8 swings upward in FIG. 3 as shown in FIG.
Is transported between the image scanner 4 and the platen roller 1.

When the platen roller 1 is driven to rotate clockwise, the original P0 is fed between the platen roller 1 and the image scanner 4, and the image is continuously read by the image scanner 4. The read image is stored as copy information in the memory of the control unit 30, and the fact that the copy information has been stored is displayed on the display d shown in FIG. The read original P0 is discharged from the paper discharge port 7 via the paper conveyance path 7a.

Next, similarly to the reception, the recording paper P on which the copy information is to be printed is inserted into the paper insertion slot 7 such that the printing surface is upward in FIG. The inserted recording paper P is detected by a detection unit (not shown), the rewind roller 6 is driven, and the recording paper P is transported to the paper transport path 5a and stopped.
When the print button b shown in FIG. 1 is pressed, the switching guide 8 swings downward in FIG. 4 as shown in FIG. It is guided between the roller 17 and the platen roller 1 and printing of copy information is started.

The printing of the copy information is performed based on the copy information stored in the memory of the control unit 30.
An image corresponding to the image signal of the copy information is formed on the recording paper P. The recording paper P on which the copy information is recorded is discharged from the paper discharge port 7 via the paper conveyance path 7a.

Next, the operation at the time of photographing will be described. As described above, the Photo button c is pressed, the digital camera D is operated, and the subject is displayed on the display d. Then, the user presses the shutter button v and transmits the image information to the control unit 3.
0 (see FIG. 2). The control unit 30 (FIG. 2)
To send the image information stored in the memory of
After inputting the other party number using the numeric keypad t shown in FIG.
Press the Scan button a. The control unit 30 transmits a signal of the image information stored in the memory via a telephone line or a radio wave (not shown).

When the image information stored in the memory of the control unit 30 (see FIG. 2) is to be recorded on the recording paper P, the recording paper P is first inserted into the paper insertion slot 7 as in the case of the above-described reception. Insert so that the printing surface faces upward in FIG. afterwards,
The apparatus operates in the same manner as in the case of the above-described reception, in which an image is taken by the digital camera D by the ink jet printer 9, and the image information stored in the memory of the control unit 30 (see FIG.

As described above, since the paper transport path is shared between reading and recording, the apparatus can be reduced in size and weight. In addition, since one platen roller 1 is shared for reading and recording, only one drive source (motor) is required,
The size and weight of the device can be reduced. Even if the number of platen rollers 1 is one, since the paper conveyance path is switched in the transmission (reading direction) and the reception (printing) direction by the switching guide 8, the conveyance of the document P0 or the recording paper P is ensured. It can be carried out.

Further, an ink jet printer is used as a recording means, which also leads to a reduction in the size and weight of the apparatus, and also enables color image recording to be realized at relatively low cost. As described above, by reducing the size and weight of the apparatus, an image can be photographed as in a normal camera even if a photographing unit is provided on the apparatus.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the retraction roller is provided on the upstream side of the switching means has been described. However, the retraction roller can be eliminated, and in this case, the present invention can be similarly applied. .

[0033]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
A single device has the functions of an image processing device such as a facsimile device such as a facsimile device for transmission, reception, and copying, and can transmit and record an image photographed by a photographing unit on a recording sheet. The facsimile machine, the copier, and the camera are integrated into a single device, but are excellent in operability and portability.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, all the paper feeding operations required for an image processing apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus can be covered by driving one roller, and only one driving roller is required, and only one driving motor is required. Therefore, the drive mechanism can be simplified with a small number of parts and a simple structure. Further, the cost of the image processing apparatus can be reduced, the size and weight of the apparatus can be reduced, and the operability and portability as a camera can be increased.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further reduce the size and weight of the apparatus and to easily record an image in color.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an entire image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a section of the image processing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a reading operation of the image processing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a recording operation of the image processing apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Platen roller 2A Upper housing 2B Upper housing 4 Image scanner (reading means) 5a Paper transport path 7a Paper transport path 8 Switching guide (switching means) 9 Inkjet printer (recording means) D Digital camera (photographing means) P0 Document P Recording paper

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A housing, a paper conveyance path provided in the housing and commonly used for conveying a document and a recording paper, an image reading means and an image recording means provided in the housing so as to face the paper conveyance path. And an imaging means provided on the housing. A platen roller provided in the paper transport path, the image reading means and the image recording means being arranged so as to sandwich the platen roller, and an image reading means and a platen roller provided in the paper transport path. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising switching means for selectively guiding the sheet between the image recording means and the platen roller. 3. The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein said image recording means is an ink jet printer.
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1.