JPS62126764A - Input/output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a system constitution by constituting a device so that a common carrier path for an original and a sheet of recording paper is provided, and a read signal at a reading part in a recording operation is set as a binarization signal. CONSTITUTION:An original is drawn out one by one from an original table 1 with a separation roller 2 and a separation piece 3, and after it is read at a reading part 8, it is ejected to a stacker 15 with an ejection roller 13. As for a recording, since the tip of the sheet of recording paper drawn out from a recording paper roll 4 exists between a delivery roller 5 and a feed roller 7, the sheet of recording paper is sent to a recording part 9 when a recording signal arrives. After the recording, the sheet of recording paper advances furthermore, and is cut with a cutter, and is ejected to the stacker 15 with ejection roller 13. A sheet of cut recording paper with no records is returned to its initial position with the feed roller 7 and the delivery roller 5.

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.

In addition, a paper sensor is installed on the conveyance path where the recording paper is conveyed to the recording section, and it determines the presence or absence of recording paper, jams, etc., and stops the recording operation, warns the operator, and reports to the other device. There is. 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, there is a problem in that problems occur during assembly, adjustment, and other operations.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made to improve the problems of the prior art described above, and aims to promote common use, simplify the configuration, and realize miniaturization and cost reduction of the device. It provides input/output devices.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, a reading section is arranged before the recording section in the recording paper conveyance path, and the reading sensor of the reading section reads the signal obtained by reading the document, and the reading sensor detects the recording paper. Both signals obtained by detecting are processed in the same circuit to make a binary signal, and the binary signal is determined or distinguished as a document reading signal or a recording paper detection signal. The data is supplied to the respective corresponding units of the main unit without having to do so.

(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. Although an example is shown here in which the reading section and the recording section are integrated to form a head unit, they do not necessarily have to be integrated as long as the reading section can detect the recording paper. .

In the above configuration, 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, read by the reading section 8, and then ejected to the stacker 15 by the ejection roller 13. At this time, the head unit 10
moves to the left by a distance of ffi/2, or the feed roller 7 moves to the right by the same distance, so that the reading unit 8 appropriately contacts the feed roller 7 and reading 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 feeding roller 5 feeds the recording paper to the recording section 9. After recording, it advances further, is cut by a cutter, and is delivered to the discharge roller 13.
and is discharged to the stacker 15.

At this time, the head unit 10 is 1! The recording unit 9 is moved to the right by a distance of /2, or the feed roller 7 is moved to the left by the same distance, and the recording unit 9 is brought into proper contact with the feed roller 7, allowing recording. 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 way, in this embodiment, the conveyance path and conveyance drive system can be shared, making it possible to significantly reduce costs and downsizing.In addition, since the recording paper passes through the reading section and is sent to the recording section, , without providing a separate paper sensor, it is possible to operate the reading unit during the recording operation and detect the recording paper using a signal obtained by scanning the recording paper in exactly the same way as when reading a document.

Even in the case of conventional paper sensors (photosensors), the sensor output is analog, and the device makes judgments using a logic circuit or μCPU after converting it to a binary signal, that is, a logic signal level. The judgment is made based on the circuit (software configuration) used.

Analog signals need to be converted into binary level signals. The reading unit in this embodiment also has reading sensor elements arranged at predetermined positions, and the signal from the sensor that reads the original is an analog signal, which is converted into a binary signal.
Various processes are performed on the image signal. The means to obtain the signal from the reading sensor, the operation, and the driving method may be a contact type sensor or C
Since it is already well known in CD sensors and the like, it will be omitted here.

When reading a manuscript, a required resolution is required so that the information on the manuscript can be reproduced correctly. In the circuit configuration of analog signal→binarization circuit→binarization signal, appropriate processing circuits are employed or devised as necessary.

An example is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, 21 is a scanning sensor of the reading section.

22 is an amplifier, 23 is a sample/hold circuit, 24 is a peak detector, 25 is a reference potential determining circuit for binarization, and 26 is a comparator.

Here, in the case of recording paper, there is no information like a document, and it is generally "white", that is, it is equivalent to reading a white document. However, near the end of the recording paper (in the case of roll paper), a near-end mark is attached near the end of the recording paper to indicate that the end of the recording paper is near. However, this mark is also a large mark with a dark color such as black J, and can be read without requiring any particular resolution.When reading with the reading section, an analog signal can be obtained by reading without distinguishing between original and recording paper. The output signal from the reading sensor is obtained as the same image signal (analog signal).In order to input this analog signal to a logic circuit, etc., it is necessary to convert it into a binary signal, and the binary conversion circuit Processed by

The image signal when detecting recording paper is equivalent to that when reading a white original, and the background density of the recording paper is also approximately equal, so a signal of the same level is always obtained, and the signal to be binarized is It is also easy to process. As shown in FIG. 3, providing a separate signal processing circuit for this purpose would increase the number of components and require extra space, so in this embodiment,
The signal processing circuit, binarization circuit, etc. that are used when reading a document are used as they are as the signal processing circuit, binarization circuit, etc. necessary for detecting the recording paper.

FIG. 2 shows a signal processing circuit (block diagram) when reading a document, but this circuit is also used as it is when detecting recording paper, and both signals are output from the comparator 26 as binary signals. It is necessary to distinguish whether this binary signal is a signal obtained by reading the original (hereinafter referred to as an image signal) or a signal obtained by detecting the recording paper (hereinafter referred to as a detection signal). . The main unit has an appropriate system configured based on the required specifications, such as a unit or block that handles (processes) image signals, a unit that handles detection signals, a unit that handles communication control, and even operation control. (switches, displays, etc., man-machine I/F), etc. In some cases, the unit is divided by function, and in other cases, the image signal and detection signal are handled in the same component, and these selections are made on the main unit. According to the specifications.

For devices that are unitized for each function, a hardware configuration centered around a μCPU is common, such as using a plurality of μCPUs within the device (multi-CPU system). In such a configuration, if the hardware centered on the μCPU that mainly handles image signals is different from the μCPU-related hardware that handles detection signals, the signal output from the comparator 26 in FIG. The software configuration can be simplified and facilitated by distinguishing between signals and detection signals and inputting them to the respective hardware, and executing predetermined functions and judgments centered on the μCPU. For example, in a μCPU that mainly handles image signals, image signal accumulation, data compression,
This is a software configuration for processing such as communication and transfer to the recording unit, and in the μCPU that handles detection signals, it is a software configuration for controlling mainly mechanical systems such as recording control and paper conveyance control.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment configured to supply binary signals to corresponding units. The comparator 26 outputs the image signal obtained by reading the original and the detection signal obtained by detecting the recording paper as a binary signal on the same line. This binary signal is distributed by a distribution circuit 27 according to a signal indicating the operating state of the reading unit, whether it is currently reading a document or detecting a recording paper, and performs a predetermined function or judgment, respectively. Send it to the corresponding unit of the main unit to be executed.

In the case of an image signal, it is input to an S/P circuit (serial/parallel conversion circuit) 28. The image signal is a serial signal, and the S/P circuit 28 converts it into a parallel signal of every n bits. This parallel signal is set to a convenient number of bits for processing by the μCPU 30 of the image signal processing unit 29. For example, if the μCPU 30 is an 8-bit CPU, n=
It is convenient to set it to 8.

If the image signal is 1728 bits, each 8 bits will be fetched into the CPU and processed 216 times. In the S/P circuit 28,
The signal is serial/parallel converted and loaded into the CPU using a clock synchronized with the image signal.
Accommodated in 1st class. Alternatively, the data may be transferred to another unit, for example, the communication control unit 34, via the bus 33, if necessary. The image signal processing unit 29 does not receive an input of a detection signal, and can be configured only with a processing flow in which all input signals are treated as image signals.

Next, in the case of a detection signal, it is input to the input port circuit 35 (latched if necessary), and the input port circuit 35 is connected to the CPU 37 of the recording and transport control unit 36 and the data bus 33, or is an interrupt input to the CPU 37. It is connected to a terminal to perform predetermined functions and judgments. In this embodiment, the detection signal is recorded by the main device.

Unit 3 that handles paper (common to i-document and recording paper) conveyance control
e. Here, the detection signal is treated only as a signal related to recording paper, and a predetermined function 1 judgment is executed.

Therefore, the recording and conveyance control unit 36 can be configured with only a processing flow in which all input signals are treated as detection signals.
If the signal is “No” recording paper, it is a “jam” as a conveyance error.
It is possible to perform various controls such as issuing a warning to the operator or stopping the device.

In particular, if the system configuration of the main unit is a multi-CPU configuration divided for each function, a flow (program, software) corresponding to each function is prepared, so the necessary signals are sent to the necessary units. The system configuration to be supplied is the simplest. The software configuration can also be simplified and made easier. The communication control unit 34 includes
Since neither the image signal nor the detection signal is necessary, they are not input directly.

Due to various demands such as miniaturization and cost reduction of equipment.

There is also a system configuration in which image signal processing and detection signal processing are performed using the same CPU. That is.

The image signal processing unit shown in FIG. 4 and the recording/conveyance control unit are combined to serve as one CPU. Of course, a communication control unit may also be included and configured by an I CPU. In such a case, a configuration in which the two signals and the detection signal are separately inputted to the CPU in advance leads to an increase in the number of parts and, therefore, an increase in cost. Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the image signal and the detection signal are inputted as they are to the system control unit 38 via the S/P circuit 28 without being distinguished, and the distinction between the one-image signal and the detection signal is made through the flow (program). , software) to execute predetermined functions and judgments. An example of the judgment flow is shown in FIG. 6. It is determined at that point whether the device is in a reading operation or a recording operation, and it is not clear which operation the signal from the comparator 26 is for. This can be easily determined using the equipment.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the document and the recording paper share a conveyance path, and during the recording operation, the reading section detects the recording paper, and the reading sensor of the reading section detects the document. Both the signal obtained by reading and the signal obtained by detecting the recording paper by the reading sensor are processed in the same circuit and converted into a binary signal, so the paper sensor and its signal processing that were conventionally equipped can be used. The circuit becomes unnecessary, and therefore the wiring members and assembly process necessary therefor become unnecessary, and a significant cost reduction can be achieved due to a reduction in the number of parts and the number of man-hours. There is also the advantage that the system configuration is simplified.

[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 processing circuit for a read signal from a reading unit in the same embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a signal processing circuit for detecting recording paper. Figure 4 is a configuration diagram of a system in which a circuit is separately provided. Figure 4 is a system configuration diagram that distinguishes between the two signals and the detection signal in advance and inputs them to the corresponding units of the main unit. Figure 5 shows the configuration of the image signal and detection signal. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for determining whether a signal is an image signal or a detection signal. 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. 21...Scanning sensor, 22...Amplifier, 23...
・Sample/hold circuit, 24...Peak detector, 25...Reference potential determination circuit for binarization,
26...Comparator, 27...Distribution circuit, 28...
S/P circuit, 29... image signal processing unit, 34
...Communication system fR unit. 36... Recording and transport control unit, 38... System control unit. Patent Applicant: Ricoh Co., Ltd. Figure 1 2 Minute Loaf 4- It Saddle Roku 5 Yakuryo Fusei Loaf 7 Sumire Prora 8- Itto Oshi 9/ St Kanzhong K) To-tV Unift @ S Beak p No. Figure 5 Day 3-i

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has a reading section that reads an original, and a recording section that records necessary information on recording paper, and the reading section is arranged before the recording section on a conveyance path that conveys the recording paper, so that the reading section is configured to detect the recording paper, and processes both the signal obtained by the reading sensor of the reading unit reading the document and the signal obtained by the reading sensor detecting the recording paper, and generates a binary signal. a shared signal processing circuit for converting signals;
It is characterized by comprising means for discriminating whether the digitized signal is a document reading signal or a recording paper detection signal, or for supplying it to each corresponding unit of the main device without distinguishing between the two. input/output device.