JPS62236251A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize a transfer time and to minimize a memory necessary for a host conputer by having a function to execute a half tone reproducing binarization processing of a read image data at an image reading means in a recorder providing a freely detachable image reading means at a carriage. CONSTITUTION:At the time of reading the image, an ink ribbon cassette 23 is removed from the top of a carriage 21, and an adapter 28 and an image scanner 27 are fitted. the image reading software 4 of a printer control part 1 rotates a platen 24, sends an original document carriage 21 is driven by a driving circuit, and thus, the image scanner 27 is travelled along the original document surface. Gradation image analog data read by the image sensor are sent through a flat cable 26 to a printer control part l, the image reading soft ware 4 of the printer control part l executes the half tone binarization processing of received gradation image analog data in a half tone reproducing binarization proceseing means 8 and the processed half tone binarization image data are sent to a host computer 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a recording device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recording apparatus provided with an image reading means that is detachably attached to a carriage that moves along a recording sheet.

[Prior Art] A conventional recording device equipped with a removable image reading means, when reading an image, binarizes the image data read by the image reading means and sends it to, for example, a host computer. Ta. In this case, when reading gradation image data, the amount of image data sent to the host computer is enormous, the time required to transfer it is also enormous, and the host computer requires an enormous amount of memory. was. Also, when recording this image data with a recording device, it cannot be recorded as is,
Since the host computer must perform halftone reproduction binarization processing, it has the drawback of placing a heavy burden on the host computer.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] An object of the present invention is to solve these problems, reduce the amount of image data transferred to the host computer when reading an image, shorten the transfer time, and To provide a recording device equipped with an image reading means that can be used even with a host computer having a small amount of data and reduces the burden on the host computer.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The recording apparatus of the present invention records on the recording paper by a recording head disposed on a carriage that moves along the surface of the recording paper, and includes an image reading means that is detachably attached to the carriage. In a recording device equipped with an image reading means, the image data read by the image reading means is read in by the image reading means, and the image data is read in by the image reading means. It is characterized by having a function of binarization processing.

[Function] According to the above configuration of the present invention, when reading an image, the recording device is completely changed into an image reading device by attaching the image reading means to the carriage via the adapter. At this time, the amount of image data output from this image reading device is much smaller than when it does not have a function of halftone reproduction binarization processing, so the transfer time is shortened, and the memory required for the host computer is also reduced. Less is needed. Furthermore, the host computer can record halftone reproduction images by sending this image data to another recording device without any special processing.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. A printer control section indicated by reference numeral 1 controls the operation of the entire recording apparatus, is connected to a host computer indicated by reference numeral 2, and exchanges print data and image data with the host computer 2.

The printer control unit 1 is equipped with printer control software indicated by reference numeral 3, and during recording, recording is controlled by the printer control software. Further, during image reading, image reading is controlled by image reading software indicated by reference numeral 4.

Further, a carriage 5 indicated by reference numeral 5 is connected to the printer control section 1 . The carriage 5 is equipped with a recording means, which will be described later, and when reading an image, carries the image reading means, which will be described later, and conveys them along the surface of a recording sheet or a document for image reading. The carriage 5 is moved by a carriage drive mechanism (not shown) by the printer control software 3 or the image reading software 4 of the printer control section 1.

The reference numeral 6 is a recording head that transfers ink to the recording paper and records by striking the recording paper with a wire via an ink ribbon, which will be described later, and is attached to the carriage 3 and connected to the printer control unit 1. Ru.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an image scanner that reads an image on the surface of a document, and when reading an image, it is connected to the printer control unit 1 via the carriage 5 and sends data of the read image to the printer control unit.

8 is a halftone reproduction binarization processing means for performing halftone reproduction binarization processing on the gradation image analog data read by the image reading means;
controlled by

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main structure of this embodiment during recording. The cylindrical shape indicated by the reference numeral 24 is a platen, which is rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown) controlled by the printer control software 3 of the printer control unit 1 to which a recording paper (not shown) (original document when reading an image) is attached. In addition to feeding the recording paper, it also supports the recording paper and serves as a recording stand. Platen 2
The above-mentioned carriage 5 (21) on a rectangular table is disposed close to the circumferential surface of platen 4 so as to be movable along the axial direction of platen 24. The aforementioned recording head 6 (22) is attached near the front end of the carriage 21 on the platen 24 side. The recording head 22 is connected to the aforementioned printer control section 1 (not shown) via a flat cable 25 connected to the back surface of the carriage 21, so that control signals from the printer control section 1 are received and transferred onto the platen surface. Record as you move.

Further, a trapezoidal ink ribbon cassette 23 is attached above the carriage 21 and accommodates an ink ribbon 29 for recording.

FIG. 3 shows the main structure of this embodiment during image reading.

The structure of the platen 24, carriage 2, and flat cable 25 is the same as that for recording shown in FIG. When reading an image, the ink ribbon cassette 23 is removed from the carriage 21 and an adapter 28 is attached.
Furthermore, an image scanner 27 is attached to the adapter.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the image scanner 27 of this embodiment. The image scanner 27 has an image sensor 31 attached to its rear end facing the platen 24. As shown in FIG. Further, a lens 32 that forms an image of the document surface onto the image sensor 31 is fixed on the platen side of the image sensor 31, and an illumination light bulb 33 that illuminates the document surface is attached near the lens 32. . The image sensor 31 and the illumination light bulb 33 are each connected to the printer control unit 1 via a flat cable 26.

As a result, the image sensor 31 sends image data to the printer control unit 1, and the lighting bulb 33 receives current supply.

Next, we will discuss the operation of this embodiment with the above structure.
I will explain.

During recording, a recording head 22 and an ink ribbon cassette 23 are mounted on a carriage 21 as shown in FIG. When the recording data is sent from the host computer 2 to the printer control unit 1, the printer control software 3 of the printer control unit 1 rotates the platen 24 to feed recording paper (not shown), and moves the recording paper to the carriage via a carriage drive circuit (not shown). 21 is run, the wire protrudes through the ink ribbon 29 in the recording head 22, and the platen 2
By striking a recording paper (not shown) wrapped around the recording paper 4, the ink is transferred to the recording paper and recording is performed.

When reading an image, the ink ribbon cassette 23 is removed from the carriage 21 as shown in FIG. 3, and the adapter 28 and image scanner 27 are attached. The image reading software 4 of the printer control unit 1 rotates the platen 24 to feed a document (not shown), and also scans the document.
The image scanner 27 is driven along the document surface by driving the image scanner 21 by a drive circuit (not shown). At the same time, current is supplied to the illumination bulb 33 via the flat cable 26 to illuminate the surface of the document.

An image of the document surface caused by the illumination is read by the image sensor 31 through the lens 32 . Image sensor 31
sends the read gradation image analog data to the printer control unit 1 via the flat cable 26, and the image reading software 4 of the printer control unit 1 receives the gradation image analog data and converts it to halftone reproduction binarization processing means. At step 8, halftone binarization processing is performed, and the processed halftone binarized image data is sent to the host computer 2.

In the embodiments described above, the image reading software 4 and the halftone representation binarization processing means are pre-installed in the printer control unit, but both or one of them may be stored in an external storage means such as RO'M or as a backup power source. with RA
M, or it may be mounted on a memory board or the like and attached to the main body of the recording device when reading images. In this case, for those who do not perform image reading, there is an advantage that an inexpensive recording device can be provided without purchasing image reading means and external storage means.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the recording head is a wire head type recording head, but in other cases, an inkjet type recording head that generates ink droplets at a high speed from a minute nozzle and sprays them onto the recording paper to record. Alternatively, a thermal recording head may be used, which overlaps an ink ribbon and a recording paper and utilizes the heat generated by the head to transfer the ink on the ink ribbon onto the recording paper for recording.

Further, in this embodiment, the device of the present invention is applied to a host computer, but the device of the present invention is of course not limited to this, and can be widely applied to any device that requires a recording function and image input.

[Effects of the Invention] As shown in the above embodiments (according to the above configuration of the present invention, when reading an image, the image reading means is attached to the carriage via an adapter,
The recording device is completely transformed into an image reading device. At this time, the amount of image data output from this image reading device is
This is significantly less than a case without the halftone reproduction binarization processing function, so the transfer time is reduced, and the memory required for the host computer is also reduced. Furthermore, by sending this image data to another recording device without any special processing, the host computer has the effect of being able to record an image with halftone reproduction.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main structure of this embodiment during recording. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main structure of this embodiment during image reading. FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of the image scanner of this embodiment. 21... Carriage 22... Recording head 27... Image scanner 31... Image sensor 1 32... Lens and above Fig. 1 22: ie to gold-r Fig. 2 22-1; j [ :11;! 11; Hept Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a recording apparatus in which a recording head disposed on a carriage that moves along the surface of the recording paper records on a recording paper, and a removable image reading means is provided on the carriage, image data read by the image reading means is read. A recording device characterized by having a function of performing halftone reproduction binarization processing.