KR100608007B1 - Image scanning/printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosed image input / output device includes a transfer path through which paper and originals are transferred, an ink jet head installed in the transfer path to discharge an ink onto the paper to print an image, and a mounting unit that selectively mounts a scanning device to read images from the original. Includes, the inkjet head is a line-printing inkjet head having a nozzle portion having a length corresponding to the width of the paper, the scanning device is a line input scanning device for reading a line image.

Description

Image scanning / printing apparatus

1 is a perspective view schematically showing an embodiment of an image input and output device according to the present invention.

2 and 3 are side views showing a printing process and an image input process according to an embodiment of the image input-output device shown in FIG.

4 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an image input / output device according to the present invention;

5 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an image input / output device according to the present invention;

6A, 6B, 7A and 7B show embodiments of the node part.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10 ...... Inkjet head 11 ...... Nozzle part

12, 14 ... Nozzle Plate 13 ... Nozzle

19 ...... Ink cartridge 20 ...... Scanning device

30 ...... Transport means 40 ...... Export means

50 ...... Support member 51 ...... Transfer path

52 ...... White plate 60 ...... Paper feed means

70 ...... Original feeding means 80 ...... Control part

100 ...... mount 101, 102 ...... 1st, 2nd contact

103, 104 ... first and second connections 106 ... integrated connections

The present invention relates to an image input and output device. The image input / output device refers to a device having a printing function for printing an image on paper and a scanning function for reading image information recorded on an original. I / O devices are generally named multifunction devices. However, it is not clearly defined whether a multifunction device includes a fax transmission function and a copy function. Therefore, in the present specification, an image input / output device is defined as a device having a printing function and a scanning function regardless of whether a fax transmission / reception function or a copy function is provided.

The conventional image input / output device includes a paper feed path for transferring paper and a document feed path for transferring originals, and each of the document feeder and the paper feed means for transferring the original and the paper to the paper feed path and the document feed path, respectively. Equipped. The printing apparatus and the scanning apparatus are respectively installed in the paper feed path and the document feed path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost, small-size image input / output device that simplifies a transfer path between paper and an original.

The image input-output device of the present invention for achieving the above object, the transfer path for conveying the paper and the document; And a mounting unit installed in the conveying path to selectively mount an inkjet head for printing an image by ejecting ink onto the paper and a scanning device for reading an image from the document.

In one embodiment, the inkjet head is a line-printing inkjet head having a nozzle portion having a length corresponding to the width of the paper, the scanning device is a line input type scanning device for reading a line image, the inkjet head And the scanning device performs a printing operation and an image input operation at a fixed position.

In one embodiment, the image input and output device, the control unit for controlling the printing process and the image input process; A first contact portion provided in the inkjet head; A second contact portion provided in the scanning device; A first connection part electrically connected to the control unit and connected to the first contact part when the inkjet head is mounted on the mounting part; And a second connector electrically connected to the control unit and connected to the second contact unit when the scanning apparatus is mounted on the mounting unit.

In one embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes a control unit controlling a printing process and an image input process; A first contact portion provided in the inkjet head; A second contact portion provided in the scanning device; And an integrated connection part electrically connected to the control part and connected to the first contact part or the second contact part when the inkjet head or the scanning device is mounted on the mounting part.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an image input / output device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a printing process and an image input process according to an embodiment of the image input / output device shown in FIG. Side view showing.

1 to 3, a conveyance path 51, a mounting portion 100, an inkjet head 10, and a scanning device 20 are illustrated. Reference numeral 80 denotes a control unit which controls the image printing process and the image input process.

The conventional inkjet head discharges ink onto the paper P while being reciprocated in the width direction of the paper P, but the inkjet head 10 of the present embodiment ejects ink onto the paper P at a fixed position to produce an image. Line printing type inkjet head to print. The inkjet head 10 of the present embodiment has a nozzle portion 11 having a length in the main scanning direction M corresponding to the width of the paper P. FIG. 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B are diagrams showing an example of the nozzle unit 11. The nozzle part 11 shown in FIG. 6A is inclined and arranged in the main scanning direction M at a nozzle plate 12 having a plurality of nozzles 13 formed in a row. The nozzle part 11 shown in FIG. 6B arrange | positions the nozzle plate 14 which has many nozzle rows 15 formed in the diagonal form by staggering each other in two rows. The nozzle unit 11 shown in Figs. 7A and 7B has four rows of nozzle sections 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 arranged in the conveying direction of the paper P. Each nozzle section 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 may spray ink of the same color or ink of different colors (for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, black). The nozzle unit 11 shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7A, 7B is merely an example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7A, 7B. The interval of the main scanning direction M of the nozzle 13 becomes the resolution of the inkjet head 10. Reference numeral 19 denotes an ink cartridge in which ink is stored. Four inks containing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks to be supplied to a plurality of nozzle rows 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and 11-4 for printing color images. Cartridge 19 is required. Although not shown in the drawings, the inkjet head 10 is in communication with each nozzle 13 and provided with a chamber provided with ejection means (for example, a piezo element, a heater) for providing a pressure for ejecting ink, and an ink cartridge 19 And a flow path for supplying ink to the chamber. Since the chamber, the discharge means, the flow path and the like are well opened to those skilled in the art, detailed description thereof will be omitted. The inkjet head 10 includes a first contact portion 101 in which a plurality of contacts are formed for electrical connection with the controller 80.

In order to simplify the driving unit, the scanning device 20 may employ, for example, a contact type image sensor (CIS) or a charge coupled device (CCD) capable of inputting a line image. Then, as the document D is transferred, the scanning apparatus 20 may read the image by irradiating light onto the document D at a fixed position and detecting the reflected light. Since CIS and CCD are well known to those skilled in the art, their detailed structure and operation will be omitted. The scanning device 20 includes a second contact portion 102 in which a plurality of contacts are formed for electrical connection with the controller 80.

The inkjet head 10 and the scanning device 20 are selectively mounted on the mounting unit 100. That is, the user mounts the inkjet head 10 on the mounting unit 100 as shown in FIG. 2 when printing an image on paper, and as shown in FIG. 3 when inputting image information from an original. The scanning device 20 is mounted on the mounting unit 100. The image input / output device further includes first and second connection parts 103 and 104 for electrically connecting the inkjet head 10 and the scanning device 20 to the control unit 80. The control unit 80 is coupled to the mounting unit 80, for example. The first and second connectors 103 and 104 are electrically connected to the controller 80 by, for example, connecting means such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 105. When the inkjet head 10 is mounted on the mounting portion 100, the first contact portion 101 is connected to the first connection portion 103. Then, the inkjet head 10 is electrically connected to the control unit 80, the inkjet head 10 is in a state that can be controlled by the control unit 80 to perform a print job. When the scanning device 20 is mounted on the mounting unit 100, the second contact unit 102 is connected to the second connection unit 104. Then, the scanning device 20 is electrically connected to the control unit 80, the scanning device 20 is in a state that can be controlled by the control unit 80 to perform the image input operation. The first and second connectors 103 and 104 are mounted on the inkjet head 10 or the first and second connectors 103 and 104 directly on the PCB 81 forming the controller 80 so that the FPC ( It is also possible to be connected to the control unit 80 without passing through 105.

The paper which is the recording medium and the document on which the image information to be input are recorded are conveyed through the common conveyance path 51. The support member 50 is positioned at a position spaced apart from the inkjet head 10 and the scanning apparatus 20 by a predetermined distance to form a common conveyance path 51 of the paper P and the document D. The support member 50 supports the rear surface of the paper P to maintain a gap between the upper surface of the paper P and the nozzle unit 11. This gap is usually about 1-2 mm. In the image input / output device according to the present embodiment, since the document D and the paper P are conveyed through a common transport path 51, the focal length of the optical unit 21 of the scanning apparatus is changed to the nozzle unit 11 and the paper. It is preferable to design according to the space | interval with the upper surface of (P). In another alternative, the support member 50 is positioned at a distance from the nozzle portion 11, and the scanning device 20 is moved from the original surface to the upper surface of the original D in consideration of the focal length of the optical portion 21. There is a method of designing the scanning device 20 or the mounting unit 100 to be spaced apart by a predetermined interval. The white plate 52 may be installed at a position facing the image input window 22 of the scanning apparatus 20. The white plate 52 is for adjusting the white balance of the scanning apparatus. The image input window 22 of the scanning device 20 is preferably located at a predetermined distance away from the nozzle portion 11 of the inkjet head 10 in the conveying direction of the document / paper. More preferably, the image input window 22 is located on the exit side of the nozzle unit 11. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the white plate 52 from being contaminated by the ink discharged from the nozzle portion 11.

A conveying means 30 is installed at the inlet side of the conveying path 51 to convey the paper P and the document D. The conveying means 30 includes a feed roller 31 and an idle roller 32 which is in contact with the feed roller 31 and is driven. The discharge means 40 is installed on the exit side of the scanning device 20. The discharge means 40 includes a discharge roller 41 and a star wheel 42 which rotates in contact with the discharge roller 41 and is in point contact with the upper surface of the paper P / document D.

The paper supply means 60 is for supplying the paper P to the conveying means 30. As an example, the paper feed means 60 is in contact with the loading table 63 on which the paper P is loaded, the ASF roller 61 for conveying the paper P, and the front end of the paper P, and thus the paper P. It includes a separation member 62 for separating the sheet of paper (P) by one by the rigidity of. 2 and 3, the paper conveying means 60 is installed in the form of a bin to form an L-shaped paper conveying path. The paper conveying means 60 may be installed below the supporting member 50 in the form of a cassette as shown in FIG. 4 to form a U-shaped paper conveying path.

Since both the paper P and the document D are sheet-shaped media, it is also possible to supply the document D to the transfer means 30 using the paper transfer means 60. However, in general, in order to load the document (D) in the bin type or cassette type paper transfer means 60, it is inconvenient because the bin or cassette must be separated from the image input / output device main body. Therefore, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the image input-output device is preferably further provided with a document supply means 70 for supplying the document (D) to the transfer means (30). As an example, the document feeder 70 is elastically in contact with the stacking table 73 on which the document D is loaded, the ADF roller 71 for transporting the document D, and the ADF roller 71. It includes a friction member 72 for separating each one).

In order to print an image on a paper sheet, the user mounts the inkjet head 10 on the mounting portion 100, as shown in FIG. Then, the inkjet head 10 is electrically connected to the controller 80 via the first contact portion 101 and the first connection portion 103. When print information is input together with a print signal from a host computer (not shown), the paper transfer means 60 takes out the paper P from the mounting table 63 and supplies it to the transfer means 30. The conveying means 30 conveys the paper P to the conveying path 51. The inkjet head 10 discharges ink on the upper surface of the paper P to print an image. The printed paper P is discharged by the discharge means 40.

In order to input image information from an original, the user removes the inkjet head 10 from the mounting portion 100 and mounts the scanning apparatus 20. Then, the document is placed on the mounting table 73 and, for example, an image input button (not shown) of an operation panel (not shown) is pressed or an image input command is executed through a host computer. The document transfer means 70 draws the document D from the mounting table 73 and supplies it to the transfer means 30. The transfer means 30 transfers the document D to the transfer path 51. The scanning device 20 irradiates light onto the document D, for example, detects the reflected optical signal, and reads image information recorded on the document D from the document D. The image information is stored in, for example, a storage device (not shown) of the host computer or a storage device (not shown) of the image input / output device.

As described above, the transfer means 30 for transferring the document D and the paper P to the common transfer path 51, and the inkjet head 10 and the scanning device 20 can be selectively mounted. By providing the mounting unit 100, a simple structure, low cost, and miniaturized image input and output device can be realized. In addition, by adopting a line printing type inkjet head 10 for printing an image on a paper P at a fixed position and a scanning device 20 for inputting a line image at a fixed position, image input / output having a simpler structure is adopted. The device can be implemented.

5 is another embodiment of the image input and output device according to the present invention, characterized in that it comprises an integrated connection 106 for connecting the control unit 80, the inkjet head 10 and the scanning device 20. When the inkjet head 10 or the scanning device 20 is mounted on the mounting part 100, the first or second contact parts 101 and 102 are electrically connected to the integrated connection part 106. The first contact portion 101 has a data signal region and a control signal region for transferring print information and a control signal between the controller 80 and the inkjet head 10. The second contact unit 102 has a data signal area and a control signal area for transferring image input information and control signals between the control unit 80 and the scanning device 20. The integrated connection part 106 of this embodiment has a data signal area electrically connected to the data signal areas of the first and second contact parts 101 and 102 in common. In addition, a common first control signal region electrically connected to a control signal region commonly available among the control signal regions of the first and second contact portions 101 and 102, and a first and a second which cannot be used in common. It has a common second control signal region electrically connected to the control signal regions of the two contact portions 101 and 102. By such a configuration, the electrical connection structure for operating the scanning device 20 and the inkjet head 10 can be simplified.

As described above, according to the image input / output device according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

Since the document and the paper are transferred to a common conveyance path using a common conveying means, an image input / output device having a very simple structure can be realized. By providing an inkjet head and a scanning device for performing a printing operation and an image input operation at a fixed position, it is possible to implement a low cost image input / output device having a simpler structure. In addition, it is possible to implement a miniaturized image input and output device by selectively mounting the inkjet head and the scanning device.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that described above and illustrated in the drawings, and that more modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (6)

delete A transport path through which paper and originals are transported; The inkjet head has a nozzle portion having a length corresponding to the width of the paper, the inkjet head of the line printing method for printing an image by ejecting ink on the paper at a fixed position; A line input scanning device for reading a line image from an original at a fixed position; And a mounting unit installed in the transport path to selectively mount the inkjet head and the scanning device. The method of claim 2, A control unit controlling a printing process and an image input process; A first contact portion provided in the inkjet head; A second contact portion provided in the scanning device; A first connection part electrically connected to the control unit and connected to the first contact part when the inkjet head is mounted on the mounting part; And a second connector electrically connected to the control unit and connected to the second contact unit when the scanning apparatus is mounted on the mounting unit. The method of claim 2, A control unit controlling a printing process and an image input process; A first contact portion provided in the inkjet head; A second contact portion provided in the scanning device; And an integrated connection part electrically connected to the control part and connected to the first contact part or the second contact part when the inkjet head or the scanning device is mounted on the mounting part. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, And an image input window of the scanning apparatus is located at a predetermined distance apart from the nozzle of the inkjet head in a direction of conveying an original / paper. The method of claim 5, And a white plate provided at a position facing the image input window to adjust the white balance of the scanning apparatus.

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