JP3567930B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly, to an image recording apparatus that automatically selects and executes recording of an original of an image recording apparatus and recording of an original of an image reading apparatus connected to the image recording apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many image recording apparatuses have a multi-function type in which a reading function, a copying function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and the like are provided in one apparatus. Among such image recording apparatuses, there is an image recording apparatus which can use a cordless and portable image reading apparatus called a hand scanner separate from the image recording apparatus. Such an image reading device is sold separately as an optional device and can be used by adding it to the image recording device as needed by the user, or as an image recording device that also serves as a reading unit of the image recording device main body. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a type that is detachable, is integrally configured when mounted, and is sold as one. In any of these, the image reading apparatus can be used in a free state away from the image recording apparatus main body, and therefore, it is extremely useful and is often used for reading a bound original having a thickness such as a book, a magazine, and a notebook. ing.
[0003]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional image recording apparatus and an image reading apparatus connectable to the image recording apparatus. In the figure, reference numeral 1 'denotes an image recording apparatus, 2' denotes an image reading apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a hand scanner), Reference numeral 3 denotes a communication code for connecting the image recording device 1 'and the hand scanner 2'.
[0004]
The image recording apparatus 1 'is a multi-type image recording apparatus having a copy function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and the like. For this purpose, an operation panel 1a on which various operation buttons are arranged on the upper surface of the main body, is set by the operation buttons. A liquid crystal display unit 1b for displaying the contents of the document, a document placement unit 1c for placing a document to be read, and a recording paper cassette placement unit 1d for placing a recording paper cassette (not shown) are provided. Further, a copy execution button 1e which is pressed when copying a document placed on the document placing portion 1c of the image recording apparatus 1 'is arranged.
[0005]
On the front side of the main body of the image recording apparatus 1 ', a document discharge section 1f for discharging the read document and a recording paper discharge section 1g for discharging the copied recording paper are formed.
Further, an input terminal 1h of a communication code for connecting the hand scanner 2 'is provided at a lower portion of the front side of the main body of the image recording apparatus 1'.
[0006]
The hand scanner 2 'reads data by scanning the original, stores the data, and after the reading is completed, connects the image recording apparatus 1' and the hand scanner 2 'with the communication code 3, and records the stored read data in the image. Recording (copying) is performed by the apparatus 1 '.
[0007]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional hand scanner 2 '. In the figure, reference numeral 2a denotes a start / stop switch, and 2b denotes a mode setting switch. The setting modes include a reading mode Ma, an erasing mode Mb, and an output mode Mc. It has three modes. 2c is an output terminal unit.
When reading an image, slide the mode setting switch 2b to set the reading mode Ma, and press the start / stop switch 2a to move the hand scanner 2 'on the document in the direction of the arrow. Read image information. When the reading is completed, the start / stop switch 2a is pressed again. The document thus read is temporarily stored in a memory in the hand scanner 2 '.
[0008]
When copying the read original, the hand scanner 2 'is connected from its output terminal 2c to the input terminal 1h of the image recording apparatus 1' via the communication code 3, and a mode setting switch of the hand scanner 2 'is set. After setting 2b to the output mode Mc, the start / stop switch 2a is pressed.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
This type of image recording apparatus has a recording (copy) function for copying an original printed on a cut sheet, for example, and includes a copy execution button on the image recording apparatus main body. I have. For this reason, when the user uses the hand scanner together with the image recording apparatus, the user can operate the copy execution button of the image recording apparatus main body or use the mode setting switch and start / stop of the hand scanner when copying a predetermined document. -It is necessary to always keep in mind which of the switch operations should be performed, and to use the switches properly, which causes a problem that the operation is troublesome and troublesome.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and simplifies a copy operation by automatically selecting a copy of a document of an image recording device and a copy of a document of a hand scanner according to the presence or absence of a document in the image recording device. To provide an image recording apparatus.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided first recording means for reading a document placed on a document placing portion and recording the document, and recording the document read by an image reading device separated from the image recording device. 2 recording means, instructing means for instructing recording of the original, determining means for determining whether or not an original is placed on the original placing portion, and determining whether or not there is read data in the image reading apparatus. Detecting means for detecting when the document is instructed by the instructing means, based on the judgment by the judging means, when the manuscript is placed on the manuscript placing portion, the recording of the manuscript by the first recording means. performed, there when the document on the document placing portion is not disposed, characterized in that the recording of the document by the second recording means when said read data is detected by the detection means, have been, the copy operation It is obtained so as to improve the work of.
[0012]
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image recording apparatus, which is the same as FIG. The same components as those in 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hand scanner to which the present invention is applied. In the drawing, reference numeral 2 denotes a hand scanner, and the same components as those in FIG.
[0015]
FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of an image recording apparatus for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes a facsimile unit, 30 denotes a printer unit, and 40 denotes an interface unit. The interface unit 40 and the printer unit 30 can mutually transmit signals and data, and the interface unit 40 is connected to the input terminal unit 1h.
The facsimile unit 20 includes an image reading unit 22, a modem 23, an NCU (network control device) 24, a decoder encoder 25, a CPU 26, a ROM 27, a RAM 28, and the like, which are controlled by a facsimile control circuit 21.
The modem 23 transmits and receives image data to and from a facsimile (not shown) via a network such as an NCU 24 or a telephone line. The NCU 24 performs operations such as transmitting a dial signal to the telephone network or responding to a call signal from the telephone network. The decoder encoder 25 encodes the image data read by the image reading unit 22 or the hand scanner 2 for transmission to the other party facsimile, and decodes the encoded image data sent from the other party facsimile. . The ROM 27 is a memory in which a program for selecting a copy function or a print function of image data read by the hand scanner 2 and other programs necessary for control are stored. The RAM 28 is a memory for temporarily storing data received from the other party's facsimile, image data read by the image reading unit 22, and various data calculated by the CPU 26.
The CPU 26 selectively controls a copy function or printout of image data read by the hand scanner 2 according to a program stored in the ROM 27, and controls the entire facsimile unit 20. Further, the facsimile control circuit 21 is connected to the operation panel 1a and the document sensor 29.
[0016]
The printer unit 30 includes a printer control circuit 31, a character generation circuit (CG) 32, an input / output circuit (I / O) 33, a CPU 34, a ROM 35, a RAM 36, and a printer 37 for controlling a printer 37 and the like to realize a printer function. Have. A character generation circuit (CG) 32 converts character code data input from a personal computer (not shown) into image data. The input / output circuit (I / O) 33 transmits and receives data to and from a personal computer (not shown) via this circuit. The CPU 34 controls the printer unit 30 according to the printer control program stored in the ROM 35, and various data calculated at this time is temporarily stored in the RAM 36. The RAM 36 stores data sent from the personal computer and image data input from the hand scanner 2. As the printer 37, a so-called laser printer of an electrophotographic system, an inkjet printer, or the like is used.
[0017]
The interface 40 is connected to an input terminal 1h for inputting image data from the hand scanner 2. When the hand scanner 2 is connected to the input terminal 1h by the communication code 3, the CPU 26 detects a signal from the input terminal 1h and recognizes that the hand scanner 2 is connected.
[0018]
FIG. 3B is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the hand scanner for explaining the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 2 denotes a hand scanner, 2 d denotes an operation switch, and 2 a denotes the same start / stop / stop switch as that of FIG. A switch, 41 is an input / output circuit (I / O), 42 is a CPU, 43 is a ROM, 44 is an encoder, 45 is a reading unit, and 46 is a RAM.
When the user travels on the document while holding the hand scanner 2, the reading unit 45 reads image information from the document. The read image information is stored in the RAM 46 and sent to the image recording apparatus 1 via the input / output circuit (I / O) 41 to be copied and output when the CPU 42 operates according to the program stored in the ROM 43. become. For this purpose, the hand scanner 2 is connected to the image recording device 1 by the communication code 3 from the output terminal 2c.
[0019]
The image recording apparatus 1 has a copy execution button 1e on the apparatus itself to perform the copy function of the apparatus main body. As described above, the hand scanner 2 also has the operation switch 2d and the start / stop switch 2a corresponding to the copy execution button. For realizing the same function, the hand scanner 2 has a plurality of button or switch operations. The complexity of the operation could not be wiped out. According to the present invention, the copy function of the image recording apparatus 1 and the copy function of the hand scanner 2 are separated by the operation of one button according to the presence or absence of a document in the image recording apparatus 1, and the mode setting switch 2b in the conventional hand scanner 2 '. Eliminates the output (copy) mode from simplifies the copy operation.
[0020]
That is, in the hand scanner 2 of the present embodiment, it is necessary to eliminate the output mode Mc (FIG. 6) of the mode setting switch 2b in the conventional hand scanner 2 'and to erase the image information in the RAM 46 read by the hand scanner. Only in the case where the operation switch 2d is operated to the erase position Mb for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds), the operation of the hand scanner 2 can be further simplified.
Then, only the copy execution button 1e of the image recording apparatus 1 is used to determine whether or not there is a document in the image recording apparatus 1 and whether the hand scanner 2 is connected or not. When pressed, the copy of the document of the image recording apparatus 1 and the copy of the document of the hand scanner 2 are automatically selected.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a program showing the procedure of this operation.
When the copy execution button 1e of the image recording apparatus 1 is depressed, it is detected in FIG. 4 whether or not a document exists in the document placing portion 1c of the image recording apparatus (S1). Depending on whether or not there is a document (S2), if there is a document (YES in S2), the document is copied (S3). If there is no document (NO in S2), is the hand scanner connected to the image recording device? It is detected whether or not it is (S4). If the connection has not been made (NO in S5), a reject sound is sounded (S7). If the connection has been made (YES in S5), it is further detected whether or not the hand scanner has read data, and there is no read data. If the answer is NO (S6: NO), a reject sound is emitted (S7). If there is read data (YES in S6), the read data is printed (S8).
[0022]
As described above, according to the image recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the recording of the original placed on the image recording apparatus main body and the recording of the original read by the image reading apparatus are automatically selected and executed. Only a simple operation of pressing the copy execution button 1e of the recording device 1 eliminates any troublesome operation. For example, when there is a large number of documents read by the image reading apparatus and there is a document that needs to be copied immediately, if the document is set on the document placing portion 1c and the copy execution button 1e is pressed, Interrupt copying can be performed by an extremely simple operation without changing any device settings and without erroneously erasing the original image read by the hand scanner.
[0023]
In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the original placed on the original placing portion 1c of the image recording apparatus is processed so as to be preferentially copied. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the presence / absence of a document is checked before the connection of the hand scanner is connected. By reversing the check, the document image read by the hand scanner is preferentially printed. It is also possible.
[0024]
In this operation, the document sensor 29 detects whether or not a document is present on the document placing portion 1c. This document sensor is composed of a photo-interrupter and a photo-coupler which rotate the end of the paper on which the document is described by an optical method, for example, by rotating the front end of the document. This is achieved by a configuration that: Whether the hand scanner 2 is connected to the image recording device 1 is detected by detecting a voltage change of the input terminal 1h of the image recording device 1.
[0025]
In the above, the type in which the image recording device and the image reading device are connected by a communication code has been described. However, the same applies to the type in which the image reading device is incorporated in the image recording device and is integrally handled. be able to.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, based on the determination as to whether or not a document is placed on the document placing portion and the detection as to whether or not there is read data in the image reading device, the document is placed on the document placing portion. Since the recording of the placed document or the recording of the document read by the image reading device is performed, the operability of the copy operation can be improved.
[0027]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an internal configuration of an image recording apparatus and an image reading apparatus for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hand scanner to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a program showing a procedure of a copy operation of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional image recording apparatus and an image reading apparatus connectable to the image recording apparatus. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional hand scanner.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1 '... image recording apparatus, 1a ... operation panel, 1b ... liquid crystal display section, 1c ... document placement section, 1d ... recording paper cassette placement section, 1e ... copy execution button, 1f ... document ejection section, 1g ... recording Paper discharge unit, 1h input terminal unit, 2 ', image reading device (hand scanner), 2a start / stop switch, 2b mode setting switch, 2c output terminal unit, 2d operation switch, 3 ... Communication code, 20 ... Facsimile unit, 21 ... Facsimile control circuit, 22 ... Image reading unit, 23 ... Modem, 24 ... NCU (network control unit), 25 ... Decoder encoder, 26 ... CPU, 27 ... ROM, 28 RAM, 29 document sensor, 30 printer unit, 31 printer control circuit, 32 character generation circuit (CG), 33 input / output circuit (I / O), 34 CPU, 35 RO , 36 ... RAM, 37 ... printer, 40 ... in tough Ace, 41 ... input-output circuit (I / O), 42 ... CPU, 43 ... ROM, 44 ... encoder, 45 ... scanning unit, 46 ... RAM

Claims (1)

First recording means for reading an original placed on the original placing portion and recording the original;
A second recording unit that records a document read by the image reading device separated from the image recording device;
Instruction means for instructing recording of the original,
Determining means for determining whether or not a document is placed on the document placing portion ;
Detecting means for detecting whether there is read data in the image reading device ,
When the recording of the document is instructed by the instruction means, the document is recorded by the first recording means when the document is placed on the document placing part based on the judgment by the judging means, and the document is recorded on the document placing part. An image recording apparatus for recording an original by the second recording means when the reading data is detected by the detection means when the document is not arranged.

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