JP2744263B2 - Optional device connected to recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optional device that is connected to a recording device such as a printer to add a new function involving conveyance of a recording medium.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, various printers such as a laser beam printer have been developed.
Two configurations are possible.

(1) Assuming functions that will be added in the future,
Various functions are incorporated into the hardware or software of the printer. If additional functions are required, only additional units need to be added.

(2) The functions of the printer itself are set to a minimum, and the configuration is made with emphasis on stable quality of hardware or software, cost reduction, and the like.

The configuration (1) described above includes all possible functions, so that the cost of the product increases, and when the user only needs a part of the functions, there is a disadvantage that the cost performance is reduced and the redundancy is increased.

The configuration (2) achieves stable quality and cost reduction, but has a drawback that it cannot respond to requests from a wide range of users.

〔Purpose〕

In particular, there is a strong demand to add a function that accompanies recording medium conveyance such as paper feeding and paper discharging. In order to meet such a demand, an optional paper feeding unit and paper discharging unit must be added to the recording apparatus. Must. It is conceivable that software or the like for controlling such an optional unit is built in the recording apparatus main body or the optional unit. However, even if the above software and the like are incorporated in the optional unit, signals necessary for control need to be supplied from the main unit of the recording apparatus, and software and hardware for that purpose must be incorporated in the recording apparatus in advance. In addition, there is a problem that a user who does not use the optional unit incurs unnecessary cost increase.

[Purpose] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a new function that accompanies recording medium conveyance without incorporating in a recording apparatus such as a printer in advance a configuration necessary for controlling conveyance of a recording medium in an optional apparatus. Is to provide an optional device that can be easily added.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a laser facsimile to which the present invention can be applied, and FIG. 8 shows a schematic circuit configuration of the laser facsimile shown in FIG. The laser facsimile shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 functionally receives an image signal from another facsimile, scans a document, and transmits an image signal, and the scanner controller unit 10 receives the image signal. It is divided into a printer unit 9 that performs a recording operation on recording paper based on a read image signal. Note that a known laser beam printer can be used as the printer unit 9.

The scanner controller unit 10 and the printer unit 9 are separate housings and are connected via a cable. In the figure, 1 is a top cover for canceling the jam, 2 is a slider for adjusting the document width, 3 is a document table, 4 is a document table cover, 5 is a document tray, 6 is a telephone, 7 is an operation panel,
8 is a pedestal, 9a is a cassette, and 9b is a paper discharge tray. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 21 denotes an operation unit which includes the operation panel 7. 22 is a transmission control unit, 23 is a central control unit, 24 is a reading unit, 25 is a printer interface control unit, and 21 to 25 constitute a scanner controller unit. 26 is an interface control unit on the printer unit side, 27 is a printer control unit, and 26 and 27 constitute the printer unit 9.

As an outline of the operation, a setting operation of the copy mode or the transmission mode is performed by the operation unit 21. The image data obtained by reading the original by the reading unit 24 is output to a line by the central control unit 24 through the transmission control unit 22 in the transmission mode, and is output through the printer interface control unit 25 in the copy mode by the printer interface control unit 25. Output to unit 9. Similarly, the received data obtained via the line is transmitted to the transmission control unit.
The data is sent to the printer interface control unit 25 by the central control unit 23 through 22. The printer unit 9 records the received data or the read data.

In the above configuration, the following functions can be added by connecting an optional device (hereinafter, referred to as a “relay device”) according to an embodiment of the present invention between the scanner controller unit 10 and the printer unit 9. Becomes

(1) Two types of recording paper can be fed.

(2) It is possible to feed a larger amount of paper than the cassette 9a.

(3) The discharge position is arranged outside the pedestal 8 to increase the discharge capacity.

The relay device of the present embodiment does not change the hardware and software specifications of the printer interface control unit of the scanner controller unit 10 and also changes the hardware and software specifications of the interface control unit of the printer unit 9. Without doing the above (1),
The functions of (2) and (3) can be added.

 Hereinafter, the relay device of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

Figure 1 shows a relay device (also called a printer relay unit)
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a laser facsimile to which is connected. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram corresponding to FIG. The seventh
Components having the same functions as those in FIGS. 8 and 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the figure, 8 is a pedestal, 31 is a paper discharge unit, 10 is a scanner controller unit, 32 is a cassette capable of storing about 200 sheets of recording paper, and 33 is a large capacity (for example,
Paper deck that can set (1000 sheets) recording paper, 9 is a printer unit, 30 is a transport guide, 34 is a loading tray,
40 is a printer relay unit.

The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is different from FIG. 7 in that a paper discharge unit 31 of the transport guide 30, an external cassette paper feed mechanism 32, and a paper deck paper feed mechanism 33 are added. In FIG. 2, reference numerals 21 to 27 are the same as those in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which a printer relay unit 40 is further added to the configuration of FIG.
Denotes a paper discharge unit, 36 denotes a printer relay control unit, and 37 denotes a paper feed unit. The outline of the operation is the same as that in FIG. 8 up to the point where the image data is sent to the printer interface control unit 25.

By the printer interface control unit 25, the control signal such as the transmitted command and the image data are temporarily received by the printer relay control unit. The printer relay control section 36 controls the driving of the paper feed section 37 and the paper discharge section 35 and reads various sensors in accordance with the contents of each control signal.
Control signals such as image data and commands to the interface control unit 26.

Further, the printer relay control unit 36 receives a status signal (status) from the printer unit 9 via the interface control unit 26, and inputs the status signals of the paper discharge unit 35 and the paper feed unit 37, and the printer interface. It returns various status signals (status) to the control unit 25. Therefore, although the scanner controller unit 10 and the print unit 9 are connected to the printer relay unit 40 in the middle, various signals are kept in the same state as if the scanner controller unit 10 and the print unit 9 were directly connected. Can be exchanged.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are schematic views of the printer unit 9, 9c is a printer opening / closing lever, 9a is a recording paper cassette, 9d
Denotes a printer display unit, 9e denotes a printer power switch, and 9b denotes a recording paper tray.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the recording paper transport path of the printer unit 9. In the figure, 91 is a cassette sheet feeding section, 92 is a separation conveyance section, 93
Denotes a fixing and discharging section.

In this embodiment, the paper feeding adapter 60 is attached to the cassette feeding section 91 shown in FIG.
The recording paper output unit of the printer relay unit 40 shown in FIG. 1 can be connected. Also, the recording paper tray 9b in FIG. 3 is not used, and the recording paper that has passed through the fixing paper discharge section 93 in FIG. 4 is inverted to guide the transport guide 30 of the paper discharge unit 31 in FIG. .

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the main body of the printer relay unit 40. As described later, the printer relay control unit 36 relays the scanner controller interface and the printer interface, inputs various sensors of the paper discharge unit 35 and the paper feed unit 37, and controls various drive units.

In the figure, reference numeral 42 denotes a paper discharge motor, which is a motor for transporting and driving the recording paper discharged on the upper surface of the printer unit 9 using the transport guide 30. Reference numeral 43 denotes a paper discharge jam sensor which is disposed near the paper discharge unit 31 and is turned on while the recording paper is passing. The printer relay controller 36 determines that the paper jam has occurred when the paper discharge jam sensor 43 does not turn on after a predetermined time has passed from the printer unit 9 after the paper discharge, or when the paper jam sensor 43 does not turn off after passing within a predetermined time after turning on. .

44 is a conveyance guide opening / closing sensor, which is turned on when the conveyance guide 30 is mounted in contact with the printer unit 9;
It is turned off when the printer unit 9 is not mounted since it has jumped upward from the printer unit 9. When the conveyance guide opening / closing sensor is OFF, the printer relay controller 36 does not detect the jam by the paper discharge jam sensor 43 and does not drive the paper discharge motor 42.

In this case, the discharged recording paper is stacked on the upper surface of the printer unit 9.

Reference numeral 45 denotes a cassette size sensor, which is disposed on the leading end portion of the cassette 32 shown in FIG. 1 on the side of the printer relay unit. This is a sensor similar to the cassette size sensor (not shown) arranged in the cassette sheet feeding section 91 in FIG.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a paper deck size sensor configured to detect a recording paper size by a position of a slider (not shown) that moves according to the width of the recording paper loaded on the loading tray 34.

Reference numeral 47 denotes a cassette recording paper presence / absence sensor which checks the presence / absence of recording paper in the cassette 32.

Reference numeral 48 denotes a paper deck recording paper presence / absence sensor, which checks the presence / absence of recording paper in the paper deck 33.

Reference numeral 49 denotes a stacking uppermost sheet position detection sensor, which checks whether or not the stacking tray has listed and the uppermost sheet has reached a predetermined position.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a cassette sheet feeding solenoid, which is turned on during cassette sheet feeding and drives the sheet feeding roller 54.

The paper feed roller 55 on the side of the paper deck 33 is driven by turning on / off a clutch (not shown).

Reference numeral 51 denotes a printer paper size change solenoid, which is arranged near the cassette paper supply unit 91. This solenoid 51
Is turned on / off according to the size of recording paper to be fed by the printer relay control unit 36, and drives a cassette size sensor (not shown) of the printer unit 9.

As a result, the printer unit 9 determines that the cassette of the corresponding size is mounted in a pseudo manner.

52 is a solenoid for raising the loading tray. Loading tray
A lifting spring (not shown) is provided below the storage tray 34, and the loading tray 34 is raised by the spring. The stacking tray raising solenoid 52 is provided with an actuator for stopping the lifting at the tip, and stops the lifting of the stacking tray 34 when the solenoid is turned off. When solenoid 52 is on,
This actuator releases the stop lock and the loading tray
Raise 34.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a paper feeding motor, which is a motor for transporting the recording paper fed from the cassette 32 or the loading tray 34 to the inside of the printer unit 9.

Next, a flow chart when the paper is fed and recorded from the paper deck 33 is shown in FIG. 6 and will be described in detail. The flowchart is programmed and stored in the ROM in the printer relay control unit 36.

The printer relay controller 36 waits for a print signal from the scanner controller unit 10 in step S1, and when the print signal is input, shifts to step S2. Step S2
Then, in order to feed the recording paper on the paper deck 33 side of the paper feed unit 37 of the printer relay unit 40, the paper feed motor 53 and the like are started. In step S3, the control waits until the recording paper fed by the paper feed roller 55 is transported to the position of the leading edge of the recording paper in the original cassette 9a of the printer unit 9. When you reach, step
In S4, a print signal is sent to the printer unit 9, and the recording paper is sent out by the paper supply unit 37 in the printer relay unit in synchronization with the paper feeding operation in the printer unit.
After waiting for the trailing edge of the recording paper to be separated from the inside of the printer relay unit in step S5, the drive of the motor of the paper supply unit 37 is stopped in step S6.

In step S7, the control waits for the recording paper discharged from the fixing discharge section 93 of the printer unit 9 to reach the transport guide 30 of the discharge unit 31, and if it is determined that the recording paper has reached the transport guide 30, the discharge is performed in step S8. The motor 42 and the like of the paper unit are started.

In step S9, after the recording paper has been discharged, the driving of the paper discharge motor 42 and the like is stopped in step S10.

The above operation sequence is an example of the operation of feeding and discharging one sheet of the paper deck 33, but the scanner controller unit 10 also sends a cassette selection signal from the scanner controller unit 10 to the printer relay control unit 36 for the single sheet feeding and discharging of the cassette 32. Thus, the same paper supply and discharge can be performed.

Further, the continuous paper supply / discharge operation performed by the conventional printer can be performed by repeatedly performing the above-described operation sequence.

Further, by appropriately advancing the timing of transmitting the print signal transmitted in step S4 to the printer unit 9, a throughput similar to the maximum throughput obtained in the single cassette 9a can be obtained.

The cassette 32 shown in FIG. 1 is equivalent to a cassette which is originally directly attached to the printer unit 9, but it is also possible to use a cassette having a larger capacity or a cassette having a different size.

The paper deck 33 shown in FIG. 1 has a large capacity such that the cassette 32 has a capacity of, for example, 1000 sheets for 200 sheets. Further, as the paper size, various sizes such as A4, B5, and B4 can be used.

The discharge tray unit of the discharge unit 31 shown in FIG. 1 has a single discharge tray in this embodiment, but may have a configuration in which the discharge capacity is increased or a multi-stage sorter may be extended. .

In this embodiment, a laser facsimile has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to other recording apparatuses such as a copying machine.

Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a personal computer or the like is connected to the relay device instead of the scanner controller unit.

As described above, the function of the printer unit can be improved by adding the relay device to the interface between the scanner control unit and the printer unit, which are separate housings. At this time, it is not necessary to remodel the printer unit itself or change the interface conditions from the scanner controller unit, so that it is possible to easily upgrade the functions of the system without increasing the cost.

In this embodiment, a relay device is added to a printer unit having only a limited paper supply capacity to realize large-capacity paper supply. However, if other functions are added in addition to the paper supply capacity as needed, the system can be used. Function can be further improved.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a new function involving the conveyance of a recording medium can be easily added to a recording apparatus such as a printer without previously incorporating a configuration necessary for controlling the conveyance of the recording medium in an optional apparatus. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a laser facsimile of this embodiment to which a relay device is connected, FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram corresponding to FIG. 1,
3 (a) and 3 (b) are schematic views of the printer unit, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a recording paper transport path of the printer unit, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the construction of the main body of the printer relay unit, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow chart for feeding and discharging paper, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a laser facsimile, and FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram corresponding to FIG. . In the figure, 1 is a top cover, 2 is a slider, 3 is a document table,
Reference numeral 4 denotes a document table cover, 5 denotes a document tray, 6 denotes a receiver, 7 denotes an operation panel, 8 denotes a pedestal, 9 denotes a printer unit, and 10 denotes a scanner controller unit.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optional device which is connected to a recording device which performs a recording operation based on image data sent from an image data source, thereby adding a new function involving conveyance of a recording medium. A relay unit connected between the image data source and the recording device, for relaying a signal communicated between the image data source and the recording device, based on a signal received by the relay unit. Control means for controlling the conveyance of the recording medium, and detection means for detecting the conveyance state of the recording medium, wherein the relay means outputs a reception signal in accordance with the conveyance state of the recording medium detected by the detection means An optional device connected to a recording device, characterized in that the optional device has means for sending the data with a delay. 2. The optional device according to claim 1, wherein said optional device has a paper feeding means.