JPS62104364A - Input and output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save electric power and to prevent a heat unit from overheating by turning on only specific light sources at any time and then turning on all light sources when recording paper conveyed during recording operation is detected. CONSTITUTION:A readout part is arranged on the upstream side of a conveyance path and its readout pat detects recording paper, thereby eliminating the need for a sensor dedicated to recording paper detection unlike before. For the purpose, only plural specific light sources among illumination light sources provided to the readout part are turned on at any time to detect the recording paper conveyed during the recording operation by the lighting of the specific light sources. Namely, three blocks (c), (e), and (k) among blocks 1-N are turned on at any time. When an original is read, all the blocks 1-N are turned on.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to an input/output device such as a facsimile.

(Prior art) In facsimile machines, there are those in which one feed roller is provided for both transmission and reception (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-22353), and those in which the transmission and reception heads are integrated (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-22353).
6-34273) is known.

However, in this case, the document and recording paper transport paths are separate, making the apparatus large and complicated. Although there are other examples in which the conveyance path is partially shared, there are no examples in which the head is integrated in combination to achieve miniaturization.

Furthermore, a sensor is provided between the roll paper holding section and the recording section to detect the presence or absence of recording paper (terminus detection) and the remaining amount, resulting in a problem of high cost.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in order to improve the problems of the prior art described above, and promotes common use, simplifies the configuration, realizes miniaturization and cost reduction of the device, and achieves recording operation. The present invention provides an input/output device that reduces power consumption inside the device.

(Structure of the Invention) A reading section is arranged before the recording section in the recording paper conveyance path, and the reading section and the recording section are integrated to form a head unit, and one of the plurality of illumination light sources included in the reading section Electric circuit means is provided to turn on only one or a plurality of specific light sources at all times and to turn on all the light sources when reading a document.

The reading unit detects the recording paper being conveyed during the recording operation by illumination from a specific light source, thereby saving power and preventing the head unit from overheating.

(Example) Embodiments will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a document table, 2 is a separation roller, and 3 is a separation piece.

4 is a recording paper roll, 5 is a feed roller, 6 is a tension roller, 7 is a feed roller, 10 is a reading section 8 and a recording section 9
Head units 11 and 12 configured by integrating
13 is a discharge roller, 14 is a tension roller, and 15 is a stacker.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. The originals are separated one by one from the original table 1 by the separation roller 2 and the separation piece 3 and pulled out, and after being read by the reading unit 8, the originals are transferred to the ejection roller 13.
and is discharged to the stacker 15.

At this time, either the head unit 10 moves to the left by a distance of 1i/2, or the feed roller 7 moves to the right by the same distance, so that the reading section 8 properly contacts the feed roller rough and the reading is performed. It becomes possible. Also, the cutter doesn't work. On the other hand, regarding recording, the leading edge of the recording paper pulled out from the recording paper roll 4 is between the feeding roller 5 and the feeding roller 7, so that when a recording signal is received, the leading edge of the recording paper is fed into the recording section 9 by the feeding roller ruff. After recording, the sheet advances further, is cut by a cutter, and is discharged to a stacker 15 by a discharge roller 13. At this time, either the head unit 10 moves to the right by a distance of &/2, or the feed roller 7 moves to the left by the same distance, so that the recording section 9 properly contacts the feed roller 7 and the recording is completed. becomes possible.

The cut unrecorded recording paper is pulled back to the initial position by the feed roller 7 and the feed roller 5. The illustration of the drive system is omitted.

In this embodiment configured as described above, the head unit 10, which integrally includes the reading section (contact sensor) and the recording section (thermal head), and the single feed roller 7 for both reading and writing are arranged relative to each other. By displacing the recording medium by a minute distance, reading and recording become possible, the conveyance path and the conveyance drive system can be shared, and it is possible to significantly reduce costs and downsize.

FIG. 2(a) shows a mechanism for displacing the feed roller 7. As shown in FIG. The position of the feed roller 7 shown by a solid line is the position at the time of recording, and the one-dot chain line is the position at the time of reading. The lever 18 is pulled by the suction of the solenoid 16 against the biasing force of the compression spring 17, and the lever 18 rotates around the fulcrum 19, displacing the feed roller 7 and switching from the recording section to the reading section. . In order to facilitate the movement of the feed roller rough during switching, the solenoid 20 may be sucked to lift the head unit 10 against the biasing force of the compression spring 21. This is provided to temporarily lift the head unit 10 by suctioning the head unit 10 to ensure gripping of the document and recording paper, but depending on conditions such as contact pressure and conveying force, this may not be necessary.

As shown in FIG. 2(b), the drive system for the roller 7 uses a belt 26 to rotate a motor (not shown).

A pulley 28 and a gear 2 rotatably supported on a fulcrum shaft 27
9, and is further transmitted to a gear 31 fixed to a feed roller shaft 30 to rotate the feed roller 7. Also, when the feed roller 7 is displaced toward the reading section or the recording section, the gear 31 is shifted to the gear 3.
2 or 33, and the rotation of these gears drives, for example, the separation roller 2 or the feeding roller 5.

FIG. 3 shows a mechanism for displacing the head unit 10, contrary to FIG. 2. The lever 24 is pulled by the suction of the solenoid 22 against the biasing force of the compression spring 23, and the lever 24 rotates 1111 around the fulcrum 25.
The head unit 10 is displaced to switch from the reading section to the recording section. Note that the lever may be moved using a motor and a cam instead of a solenoid.

FIG. 4 shows the basic configuration of the head unit 10, in which a reading side driver circuit 34 is provided in the head unit.
, a recording side driver circuit 35 are provided, respectively.

In conventional devices, in general, the presence or absence of recording paper in the conveyance path of the recording paper leading to the recording section, the jam of the recording paper, and the shape and size (paper width) of the recording paper in devices that can be used with different sizes of recording paper. A necessary number of paper sensors for detection are provided.

However, in recent years, as demands for miniaturization, weight reduction, and cost reduction have progressed, restrictions on the mounting location of these sensors have become stricter. It has become difficult to implement. Furthermore, problems arise in workability such as assembly and adjustment. In the present invention, by arranging the reading section on the upstream side of the transport path as described above, the reading section can detect the recording paper, and a dedicated sensor for detecting the recording paper as in the conventional method is not required. There is no need to provide one.

By the way, when the reading section detects or reads various conditions of the recording paper, much higher accuracy is not required than when reading detailed information on the document. 8 for manuscripts etc.
While it is required to read the resolution of a book/W, recording paper has comparatively large characters and marks such as presence/absence, skew (diagonal feeding), and near-end marks printed on the recording paper. It is enough if it can be detected.

When reading a document, it is necessary to perform image signal processing or image processing on the signal level (analog signal) from the reader sensor to faithfully reproduce the information, but in the case of recording paper, it is necessary to perform the detection. There is no change in the signal level (analog signal) from the reading section sensor when detecting or reading the recording paper. However, in the case of characters, marks, etc., although there are level changes, resolution is not required. Therefore, even if the performance of the reading section when reading the recording paper is somewhat degraded, the recording paper can be detected sufficiently.

In the present invention, an image signal processing or image processing circuit for binarizing the signal level (analog signal) from the sensor of the reading section is commonly used both when reading a document and when detecting a recording paper.

In consideration of the above conditions, in the present invention, only a few specific light sources among the plurality of illumination light sources provided in the reading section are turned on at all times, and the recording paper conveyed during recording operation is illuminated by the specific light sources. Detection is done by illumination. In addition, when reading a document, all light sources are turned on.In conventional contact sensors, the light source for illumination is L.
An ED (light emitting diode) is used, and the illumination is provided along the main scanning line of the document over a required length (one scanning line length). This one line is composed of N blocks of LED groups, as shown in FIG. 5(a), and each block is composed of n LEDs connected in series, as shown in FIG. 5(b). It is connected to the. Therefore, when an on signal is applied to the base of transistor Q1, transistor Q1
becomes conductive, power is supplied, and all LEDs light up.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 6, there is also a sensor in which groups of LEDs are arranged on both sides of the sensor.

The presence or absence of recording paper can be detected by detecting a specific location on the recording paper. Therefore.

When the recording paper passes under the reading unit, the LEDs 1 to N of the group
If only the LED of a specific block inside the width edge of the recording paper among the blocks lights up, the sensor can read the illumination and determine the presence or absence of the recording paper. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a light source and its driving circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, c and e out of blocks 1 to N.

The three blocks of k are always lit. When the device is turned on, the required voltage (Vc
c) is supplied, each block c, e, lights up, and as long as the voltage is supplied, that block is always lit. Next, when reading the original, it is necessary to light up all blocks 1 to N, but since blocks Q, e, and 2 are already lit, the other blocks are lit. To do this, when an on signal is applied to the base of the transistor Q1, voltage is supplied to all the LEDs in the other blocks, causing them to light up.

Here, unless the amount of light emitted by the light sources in each block c, e, and each block is approximately the same as the amount of light emitted by each light source in the other blocks, the illuminance on the document surface will not be uniform, and therefore the reading sensor signal For example, the level is as shown in Figure 8. In FIG. 8, the illuminance is small in the Q, 8th part, and large in the k part. In order to prevent such variations, it is necessary to use LEDs with the same number of LEDs and characteristic values in each block, and also to appropriately select the values of resistors R1 and R2 to increase the amount of light emitted by each block. Make sure it is approximately even. The uniformity of the luminescence amount is
Although it is possible to measure using a measuring instrument, it is also possible to check the flatness of the signal using a test chart (a special document used to check the flatness of the signal level) with an input device that reads the original. , the values of R1 and R2 should be appropriately selected so that the flatness of the signal falls within a level difference that does not affect image signal processing.

9 and 10 respectively show a light source and its driving circuit according to other embodiments of the present invention, and the one in FIG. 9 shows the drop between the collector and emitter of the transistor Q1 in FIG. A circuit for correcting the voltage component is provided, and the resistor R1 is used in common. The diode D may be a transistor, and the one shown in Fig. 10 connects the common line on the anode side of the block to c and e, which are connected to the resistor R2 provided inside the head unit shown in Fig. 7, from outside the head unit. It has a configuration that allows it to be controlled.

Input/output devices generally require a lot of power when recording, and if the reading section is operated at the same time as recording, more power is required, leading to an increase in the temperature of the head unit and the shape of the heat sink. , size, cooling fans, etc., making it difficult to take measures against heat. In addition, the load on the power supply is large, which affects the size and capacity. As in the above embodiment, by lighting a specific light source of the reading section and detecting the recording paper by the illumination, a great effect is achieved in reducing power consumption and taking measures against heat.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the reading section and the recording section are integrated into a head unit, the document and recording paper have a common conveyance path, and the presence/absence of the recording paper and jamming can be controlled. ,
Since the shape, size, etc. of the recording paper are detected by the reading section, the paper sensor that was previously equipped is no longer necessary, and the wiring materials and assembly process required for this are no longer necessary, reducing the number of parts per unit and man-hours. Significant cost reductions can be achieved by reducing In addition, in recording paper detection,
Since only a few specific light sources among the light sources of the reading section are turned on, there is an advantage that power consumption can be reduced while maintaining necessary performance, and heat countermeasures can be taken.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a feed roller displacement mechanism and a drive system for the feed roller in the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a head unit in another embodiment. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the displacement mechanism, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the head unit, FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the illumination light source of the contact sensor, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the illumination light source, and FIG. The figure is a configuration diagram of an illumination light source and its drive circuit in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing variations in signal level caused by differences in light emission amount between a specific light source that is always on and other light sources. ,
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams showing the configurations of the illumination light source and its driving circuit of other embodiments, respectively. 1... Original table, 2... Separation roller, 4.
... Recording paper roll, 5 ... Feeding roller, 7
...Feed roller, 8...Reading section, 9...
・Recording section, 10...Head unit, 13...Ejection roller, 15...Stacker, 16.20.22
···solenoid. Patent Applicant: Ricoh Co., Ltd. Figure 1 10...-I Douni Ito Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A reading unit that reads a document and a recording unit that records necessary information on recording paper are integrated in such a way that the reading unit is located in front of the recording unit on the conveyance path that conveys the recording paper, and the head The unit is configured with an electric circuit means for always lighting only one or more specific light sources among the plurality of illumination light sources included in the reading section and for lighting all the light sources when reading a document, and for recording. An input/output device characterized in that the reading section illuminates the recording paper with the specific light source when detecting the recording paper being conveyed during operation. (2) The specific light source has an amount of light emitted so as not to cause uneven illuminance on the surface of the document when all the light sources are turned on when reading the document. Input/output device.