JP7119495B2 - scanner device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a scanner device for reading a medium.

Conventionally, a scanner device for reading a medium has been known. In a scanner device, when a medium is inserted through an insertion port of a housing, the medium is read by a reading unit within the housing, and then ejected from an ejection port of the housing (for example, Patent Document 1). In the scanner device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the insertion port and the discharge port are provided on the same side of the housing. Therefore, user convenience is improved.

JP 2013-216455 A

However, in the scanner device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the portion of the medium before being inserted into the insertion port and the portion of the medium to be ejected from the ejection port interfere with each other. Re-insertion of the medium into the insertion slot may affect transportation of the medium.

For this reason, conventional scanner devices are provided with a support portion for supporting the medium so that the portion of the medium that is ejected from the ejection port does not interfere with the portion that is not inserted into the insertion port, or the user can insert the medium. I needed to support it. If a support for the medium is provided, the size of the scanner device increases. Also, if the user supports the medium, the user's convenience is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a scanner device that can suppress an increase in the size of the device while improving convenience for the user.

Means for solving the above problems and their effects will be described below.
A scanner device for solving the above problems includes a housing having a reading insertion port into which a medium is inserted and a reading discharge port from which the medium is discharged, and the medium inserted from the reading insertion port. and a reading unit that reads the medium conveyed by the conveying roller, and the reading insertion port and the reading discharge port are arranged in the housing in the vertical direction and the The housing has a mounting surface provided on the first direction side that intersects with the axial direction of the transport roller and extending from the reading insertion port in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. The placement surface is a portion of the medium on the second end side opposite to the first end when the first end of the medium is inserted into the reading insertion port. and the direction in which the first end of the medium is ejected from the reading ejection port is the first direction side or the vertically downward direction.

According to this configuration, both the reading insertion port and the reading discharge port are provided on the first direction side of the housing. Also, the direction in which the medium is ejected is the vertically downward direction or the direction of the first direction. Therefore, the work of inserting the medium into the insertion port and the handling of the medium discharged from the discharge port can be performed from the same first direction side. Therefore, user convenience can be enhanced. Further, in the scanner device, the second end side of the medium can be placed on the placement surface of the housing while the first end portion of the medium is inserted into the insertion port. For this reason, the first end side and the second end side of the medium are prevented from interfering with each other without providing a supporting portion that supports the second end side of the medium. Therefore, an increase in size of the device can be suppressed.

In the above-described scanner device, the housing further includes a storage unit that stores a roll of print media, and a storage unit cover. It extends along the direction from the insertion opening to the reading discharge opening, the accommodating section is provided on the second direction side of the housing, and the outer surface of the accommodating section cover included in the placement surface.

According to this configuration, both the reading insertion port and the reading ejection port are provided on the first direction side of the housing, and the transport path of the medium by the transport roller extends from the reading insertion port. It extends along the direction toward the discharge port for reading. Therefore, the vertical dimension of the components for reading the medium above the mounting surface of the housing is smaller than when the medium transport path is folded back in a U shape. . Therefore, even with a configuration in which the component for reading the medium is arranged on the first direction side of the storage section, it is difficult for the user to access the storage section from the first direction side of the scanner device. Therefore, it is possible to easily access the accommodating portion from the first direction side of the housing. Further, since the outer surface of the housing section cover constitutes at least a part of the mounting surface, a large mounting surface is realized.

In the scanner device described above, the reading outlet is located vertically below the mounting surface of the housing and the reading insertion opening.
According to this configuration, the reading outlet is positioned vertically below the mounting surface of the housing and the reading insertion opening. Therefore, the transport path of the medium by the transport roller includes a vertically downward component. Therefore, the dimensions of the medium transport path can be reduced in the first direction and the second direction. That is, in the housing, it is possible to move the insertion opening for reading further toward the first direction side. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate the insertion of the medium into the reading insertion port.

The scanner device further includes a printing unit that prints on a printing medium, the housing has a printing outlet through which the printing medium printed by the printing unit is discharged, and the printing outlet has a printing outlet. The exit is provided on the first direction side of the housing, and the direction in which the print medium printed by the printing unit is discharged from the print discharge port is the direction on the first direction side, Or it is said vertically downward direction.

According to this configuration, the direction in which the medium read by the reading section is ejected and the direction in which the print medium printed by the printing section is ejected are the first direction side or the vertically downward direction. Therefore, the medium read by the reading unit and the print medium printed by the printing unit can be handled from the first direction side of the housing.

The scanner device further includes a holding mechanism that holds the medium inserted from the reading insertion port, and the housing assists in determining the insertion position of the medium with respect to the reading insertion port. The holding mechanism and the auxiliary symbol are provided on the first direction side of the housing.

The retention mechanism and ancillary symbols are used by the user when inserting media into the scanner device. These holding mechanisms and auxiliary symbols are provided on the first direction side of the housing in the same manner as the reading insertion port and the reading ejection port. Therefore, the operation of inserting the medium into the reading insertion port is simplified.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the scanner device with the reading unit cover positioned at the closed position; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the scanner device in which the reading unit cover is positioned at the open position; 3-3 line arrow sectional view in FIG. The perspective view which expands and shows a part of FIG. Sectional drawing which expands and shows a part of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the scanner device; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of how the scanner device is used; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of how the scanner device is used; FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a scanner device according to a first modified example; 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing scanner devices of second and third modifications; FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a scanner device of a fourth modification; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the direction in which a medium is inserted into a reading insertion port and the direction in which a medium is discharged from the reading discharge port;

An embodiment of the scanner device will be described below.
The scanner device of this embodiment is configured as a multi-function device having a printing function in addition to a reading function. In the scanner device of the present embodiment, the printing function is realized by an inkjet method that prints by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium such as paper.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the scanner device 11 includes a body portion 12 and leg portions 13 that support the body portion 12 . The body portion 12 has predetermined lengths as height, depth and width. In this embodiment, the width direction and the depth direction are substantially horizontal, and the scanner device 11 is placed on a horizontal plane. The vertical direction is indicated by the Z-axis, the depth direction by the Y-axis, and the width direction by the X-axis intersecting the Z-axis and the Y-axis. The X-axis, Z-axis and Y-axis are coordinate axes indicating width, height and depth, respectively.

In the following description, the width direction is indicated as the X-axis direction, one of the X-axis directions is indicated as the +X direction, and the other of the X-axis directions is indicated as the -X direction. The depth direction is indicated as the Y-axis direction, one of the Y-axis directions is indicated as the +Y direction which is an example of the first direction, and the other direction of the Y-axis directions is indicated as the −Y direction which is an example of the second direction. show. Also, the vertical direction is indicated as the Z-axis direction, the vertically downward direction is indicated as the -Z direction, and the vertically upward direction is indicated as the +Z direction.

In the following description, top, bottom, left, right, front, and rear may be indicated for convenience of description. Assuming that the user is on the +Y direction side of the scanner device 11, these directions indicate the respective directions based on the user.

The main body 12 has a left side 21 facing the +X direction, a right side 22 facing the -X direction, a front surface 23 that is an example of a second surface facing the +Y direction, and a rear surface 24 facing the -Y direction. , an upper surface 25 which is an example of a first surface facing the +Z direction, and a lower surface 26 facing the −Z direction. Front surface 23 extends in a direction intersecting upper surface 25 . The body portion 12 has a shape like a substantially rectangular box.

The body portion 12 has an exterior body 28 . The exterior body 28 has a left side 281 facing the +X direction, a right side 282 facing the -X direction, a front side 283 facing the +Y direction, a rear side 284 facing the -Y direction, and a +Z direction. It has an upper surface 285 and a lower surface 286 facing in the -Z direction. An upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28 forms a plane extending along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

The exterior body 28 has a viewing window 29 on the upper surface 285 that allows the inside of the main body 12 to be visually recognized. The viewing window 29 has a predetermined depth in the Y-axis direction and extends along the X-axis direction. The peephole 29 has a peephole 30 opening in the +Z direction and a peephole cover 31 capable of covering the peephole 30 in the exterior body 28 .

The peep hole cover 31 of this embodiment is made of a transparent material so that the inside of the exterior body 28 can be visually recognized. The peephole cover 31 may be translucent or opaque. The peephole cover 31 is configured to be rotatable around a peephole cover shaft 32 extending along the X-axis direction (see FIG. 3). When the peephole cover 31 is rotated to the open position in the +Z direction, the peephole 30 is opened. When the peephole cover 31 is rotated to the closed position in the -Z direction, the peephole 30 is closed. The peephole cover 31 has an upper surface 311 facing the +Z direction. When the peephole cover 31 is in the closed position, the upper surface 311 forms a plane extending along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

The body portion 12 includes a holding portion 33 that detachably holds a liquid container (not shown) that contains liquid such as ink, an operation portion 34 for operating the scanner device 11, and an elongated printer for printing. and a storage section 35 that can store the medium 90 of. The housing portion 35 is provided at the end portion of the main body portion 12 on the -Y direction side. In the following description, simply referring to the medium 90 means the medium 90 for printing. Medium 90 is an example of a print medium.

The accommodation unit 35 has an accommodation space 36 capable of accommodating a medium roll 91 formed by rolling the medium 90 (see FIG. 3). The accommodation space 36 opens in the +Z direction. The housing portion 35 has a support portion 37 that supports the medium roll 91 so as to be rotatable about the axis of the medium roll 91 in the housing space 36 . The medium 90 is paid out by rotating the medium roll 91 .

The body portion 12 has a housing portion cover 40 capable of covering the housing space 36 of the housing portion 35 . The housing cover 40 has a first housing cover 41 and a second housing cover 42 . The first housing cover 41 can cover the −Y direction side portion of the opening of the housing space 36 . The second accommodation section cover 42 can cover the +Y direction side portion of the opening of the accommodation space 36 .

The first accommodation section cover 41 is rotatable along the Y-axis direction around a shaft section 411 at the end on the -Y direction side (see FIG. 1). The axis of shaft portion 411 extends along the X-axis direction. When the first accommodation section cover 41 is rotated to the open position in the -Y direction, the accommodation space 36 is opened. When the first accommodation section cover 41 is rotated to the closed position in the +Y direction, the accommodation space 36 is closed.

The second housing section cover 42 is rotatable along the Y-axis direction around a shaft section 421 at the end on the -Y direction side. Further, the body portion 12 has a cover support portion 43 protruding in the +Z direction at a position adjacent to the outside of the housing portion 35 in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 1). The cover support portion 43 supports the shaft portion 411 and the shaft portion 421 . Also, the cover support portion 43 supports the support portion 37 . The cover support portion 43 has a left cover support portion 431 located on the +X direction side of the housing portion 35 and a right cover support portion 432 located on the -X direction side. The left cover support portion 431 and the right cover support portion 432 are wall-shaped portions extending along the Y-axis direction.

When the second accommodation section cover 42 is rotated to the open position in the +Y direction (clockwise in FIG. 3), the accommodation space 36 is opened. When the second storage section cover 42 is rotated to the closed position in the -Y direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3), the storage space 36 is closed.

1 to 3 show a state where the first housing cover 41 and the second housing cover 42 are in the closed position. When the storage space 36 is opened by rotating the first storage section cover 41 and the second storage section cover 42, the medium roll 91 can be replaced.

When the first housing cover 41 is closed, the outer surface 412 of the first housing cover 41 forms a plane facing the +Z direction. When the second housing cover 42 is closed, the outer surface 422 of the second housing cover 42 forms an inclined surface that rises in the +Z direction toward the -Y direction.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the scanner device 11 includes a transport unit 45 for printing that transports a medium 90 fed from a medium roll 91 housed in the housing unit 35 . The printing transport unit 45 includes a printing transport roller 46 and a printing transport motor (not shown) that drives the printing transport roller 46 . In the following description, simply referring to the transport unit 45 means the transport unit 45 for printing.

The scanner device 11 includes a printing section 50 that prints on the medium 90 . The medium 90 is conveyed to the printing section 50 by the conveying section 45 . The printing unit 50 includes a guide shaft 51 extending along the X-axis direction, a moving body 52 supported by the guide shaft 51, a printing motor (not shown) that reciprocates the moving body 52 along the guide shaft 51, have The printing unit 50 has a liquid ejection head 54 attached to the -Z direction side of the moving body 52 .

The medium 90 transported by the transport unit 45 passes through the −Z direction side of the liquid ejection head 54 along the Y-axis direction. The liquid ejection head 54 ejects liquid in the -Z direction while reciprocating along the X-axis direction. In the scanner device 11 , printing is performed by ejecting liquid from the liquid ejection head 54 and adhering the liquid to the medium 90 .

The liquid ejection head 54 of this embodiment is a serial type head, but is not limited to this, and may be a line type head that extends across the entire medium 90 in the X-axis direction. In this embodiment, the storage section 35 , the transport section 45 , and the printing section 50 constitute the printing function section 18 .

The body portion 12 has a printing ejection port 55 from which the medium 90 printed by the printing portion 50 is ejected. The print outlet 55 opens in the +Y direction on the front surface 23 of the main body 12 . The print outlet 55 extends along the X-axis direction. In the following description, simply referring to the outlet 55 means the outlet 55 for printing.

The body portion 12 includes a guide plate 56 on the −Z direction side of the discharge port 55 . The guide plate 56 protrudes in the +Y direction from the front surface 23 of the body portion 12 . The guide plate 56 has a guide surface 561 facing the +Z direction. The guide surface 561 is inclined downward in the -Z direction toward the +Y direction.

The medium 90 printed by the printing unit 50 is guided by the guide surface 561 when ejected from the ejection port 55 . Therefore, the discharge direction D1 of the medium 90 at the discharge port 55 is perpendicular to the X-axis direction, intersects the Y-axis direction, and is inclined in the -Z direction. That is, the direction in which the medium 90 printed by the printing unit 50 is discharged from the discharge port 55 is the +Y direction side. Note that, in this embodiment, when a certain direction includes a component in a predetermined direction, it is assumed to be the direction on the side of the predetermined direction. That is, the direction in which the medium 90 is ejected from the ejection port 55 includes a +Y direction component.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the body section 12 includes a reading function section 60 for reading a medium 95 for reading. In the following description, simply referring to the medium 95 means the medium 95 for reading. Medium 95 is an example of a reading medium. A medium 95 is an object to be read by the reading function unit 60 . The reading function unit 60 is provided at the +Y-direction end of the main unit 12 . The reading function unit 60 has a box shape extending along the X-axis direction.

An outline of the reading function unit 60 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the reading function unit 60 includes a reading insertion opening 61 into which the medium 95 is inserted, and a reading opening for conveying the medium 95 inserted from the reading insertion opening 61 along the conveyance direction. It has a conveying unit 62, a reading unit 63 that reads the medium 95 conveyed by the conveying unit 62, and a reading discharge port 64 through which the medium 95 read by the reading unit 63 is discharged. In the following description, simply referring to the insertion port 61 means the reading insertion port 61, simply referring to the transport unit 62 means the reading transport unit 62, and simply referring to the discharge port 64 means the reading port 64. means an outlet 64 for

The reading function unit 60 has a fixing part 67 fixed to the +Y direction end of the main body part 12 and a reading part cover 68 supported on the fixing part 67 so as to be openable and closable. The insertion port 61, the conveying portion 62, the reading portion 63, and the ejection port 64 are configured by members provided on one of the fixing portion 67 and the reading portion cover 68, or members provided separately on both. In the reading function unit 60, the transport path through which the medium 90 passes is configured as a space between the fixing unit 67 and the reading unit cover 68 when the reading unit cover 68 is closed.

The structure of the reading function unit 60 will be described in detail below.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reading unit cover 68 has a rectangular plate shape extending along the X-axis direction. The reading unit cover 68 has an upper surface 681 facing in the +Z direction, a front surface 682 which is an example of an outer surface facing in the +Y direction, and a lower surface 684 facing in the -Z direction.

The reading unit cover 68 has an auxiliary symbol 685 on the upper surface 681 for assisting the user in determining the insertion position of the medium 95 with respect to the insertion opening 61 . The auxiliary symbol 685 may be formed by printing on the upper surface 681 of the reading unit cover 68, or may be formed as a concave portion or a convex portion. Auxiliary symbol 685 indicates a reference position when the user inserts the medium 95 into the insertion port 61 .

The auxiliary symbol 685 is a scale that is an example of a symbol indicating the distance from the center of the reading range of the reading unit 63 in the X-axis direction, and the end of the medium 95 in the X-axis direction is arranged for each standard size of the medium 95. Either one or both of characters or figures, which are examples of symbols indicating the position to be placed, may be used. Also, a scale may be provided as a symbol indicating the distance from the end in the X-axis direction.

The reading unit cover 68 has a cover shaft 683, which is an example of a rotation shaft extending in the +X direction and the −X direction. That is, the axis of the cover shaft 683 extends along the X-axis direction. The cover shaft 683 is positioned on the −Z direction side of the reading unit cover 68 . The cover shaft 683 may be positioned at the end of the reading unit cover 68 on the −Z direction side. The reading unit cover 68 is movably supported so as to rotate about the axis of the cover shaft 683 along the Z-axis direction.

When the reading unit cover 68 is rotated to the closed position P1, which is an example of the first position on the +Z direction side, the fixing unit 67 is covered with the reading unit cover 68, thereby closing the conveying path of the medium 95 (see FIG. 1). reference). The closed position P1 is a position at which the reading unit 63 can read the medium 95 . When the reading unit cover 68 is rotated to the open position P2, which is an example of the second position in the -Z direction, the fixing unit 67 is opened, thereby opening the transport path for the medium 95 (see FIG. 2). The open position P2 is a position where the reading position of the medium 95 by the reading unit 63 on the transport path is opened.

When the reading unit cover 68 is closed, the upper surface 681 constitutes a plane facing the +Z direction, and the front surface 682 constitutes a plane facing the +Y direction. When the reading unit cover 68 is opened, the upper surface 681 faces the +Y direction and the front surface 682 faces the -Z direction. In the reading unit cover 68, the dimension L2 along the X-axis direction, which is an example of the axial direction of the cover shaft 683, is larger than the dimension L1 along the Z-axis direction, which is an example of a direction orthogonal to the axial direction (see FIG. 1). reference).

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the insertion port 61 is a space sandwiched in the Z-axis direction by a fixed-side guide surface 70 of the fixed portion 67 and a cover-side guide surface 71 of the reading unit cover 68. formed. The insertion port 61 opens in the +Z direction in the reading function unit 60 . That is, the insertion port 61 is provided on the upper surface 25 of the main body portion 12 .

The fixed-side guide surface 70 has a first portion 701 adjacent to the viewing window 29 on the +Y direction side, and a second portion 702 connected to the +Y direction side portion of the first portion 701 . The first portion 701 constitutes a plane extending along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The second portion 702 is inclined downward in the -Z direction toward the +Y direction.

The cover-side guide surface 71 is provided in the reading unit cover 68 at a position facing the fixed-side guide surface 70 of the fixed portion 67 (see FIG. 5). The cover-side guide surface 71 faces the -Z direction. The fixed-side guide surface 70 and the cover-side guide surface 71 are farthest from each other on the upstream side in the transport direction of the medium 95 in the reading function unit 60, and come closer to each other toward the downstream side in the transport direction. The insertion direction D3 of the medium 95 in the insertion port 61 is the -Z direction side.

In the reading function unit 60 , the transport unit 62 has a first transport mechanism 73 and a second transport mechanism 77 located downstream of the first transport mechanism 73 in the transport direction of the medium 95 . The transport unit 62 also has a reading drive motor 621 that drives the first transport mechanism 73 and the second transport mechanism 77 (see FIG. 5).

The first transport mechanism 73 has a first drive roller 74 , a first driven roller 75 and a second driven roller 76 . The first drive roller 74 is provided on the fixed portion 67 . The first driven roller 75 and the second driven roller 76 are provided on the reading section cover 68 .

The first driven roller 75 and the second driven roller 76 face the first drive roller 74 when the reading unit cover 68 is closed. The first driven roller 75 is provided upstream of the second driven roller 76 in the transport direction of the medium 95 .

The first drive roller 74 is rotatably supported about the axis of a first drive shaft 741 extending along the X-axis direction. The first driving roller 74 of this embodiment has a plurality of first driving rotating bodies 742 rotatable together with the first driving shaft 741 . The plurality of first drive rotors 742 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the X-axis direction. The first drive roller 74 is driven by a drive motor 621 .

The first driven roller 75 is rotatably supported about the axis of a first driven shaft 751 extending along the X-axis direction. The first driven roller 75 has a plurality of first driven rotating bodies 752 rotatable together with the first driven shaft 751 . The plurality of first driven rotating bodies 752 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the X-axis direction. Note that the configuration of the first driven roller 75 is not limited to the configuration in which the plurality of first driven rotating bodies 752 are supported by the common first driven shaft 751 .

The second driven roller 76 is rotatably supported about the axis of a second driven shaft 761 extending along the X-axis direction. The second driven roller 76 has a plurality of second driven rotating bodies 762 rotatable together with the second driven shaft 761 . The plurality of second driven rotating bodies 762 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the X-axis direction. The configuration of the second driven roller 76 is not limited to the configuration in which the plurality of second driven rotating bodies 762 are supported by the common second driven shaft 761 .

In the first transport mechanism 73 , one first driven rotor 752 and one second driven rotor 762 are provided corresponding to each first drive rotor 742 . The axes of the first drive roller 74, the first driven roller 75, and the second driven roller 76 are substantially parallel to each other.

The first transport mechanism 73 is configured to hold the medium 95 by sandwiching the medium 95 between the first driving roller 74 and the first driven roller 75 . The first drive roller 74 and the first driven roller 75 constitute a holding mechanism 65 that holds the medium 95 inserted from the reading insertion port 61 .

For example, when the medium 95 has a predetermined thickness, the distance between the outer peripheral surface of the first drive roller 74 and the outer peripheral surface of the first driven roller 75 may be smaller than the thickness of the medium 95 . Further, the outer peripheral surface of the first drive roller 74 and the outer peripheral surface of the first driven roller 75 may be in contact with each other when the medium 95 is not present. Of the first drive roller 74 and the first driven roller 75, at least the outer peripheral surface of the first drive roller 74 is preferably covered with an elastically deformable member such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber.

The second transport mechanism 77 has a second drive roller 78 and a third driven roller 79 . The second drive roller 78 is provided on the fixed portion 67 . The third driven roller 79 is provided on the reading section cover 68 . The third driven roller 79 faces the second driving roller 78 when the reading unit cover 68 is closed.

The second drive roller 78 is rotatably supported about the axis of a second drive shaft 781 extending along the X-axis direction. The second driving roller 78 of this embodiment has a plurality of second driving rotating bodies 782 rotatable together with the second driving shaft 781 . The plurality of second drive rotors 782 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the X-axis direction. The second drive roller 78 is driven by a drive motor 621 .

The third driven roller 79 is rotatably supported about the axis of a third driven shaft 791 extending along the X-axis direction. The third driven roller 79 has a plurality of third driven rotating bodies 792 rotatable together with the third driven shaft 791 . The plurality of third driven rotating bodies 792 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the X-axis direction. In addition, the configuration of the third driven roller 79 is not limited to the configuration in which the plurality of third driven rotating bodies 792 are supported by the common third driven shaft 791 .

In the present embodiment, the first driving roller 74, the first driven roller 75, the second driven roller 76, the second driving roller 78, and the third driven roller 79 are the media inserted from the reading insertion opening 61. It is an example of a transport roller that transports 95 . Hereinafter, the first driving roller 74 will be referred to as a transport roller 622 for reading. In the following description, simply referring to the transport roller 622 means the transport roller 622 for reading. Note that the first driven roller 75, the second driven roller 76, the second driving roller 78, and the third driven roller 79 may be the transport rollers 622 for reading.

The axial directions of the first driving roller 74, the first driven roller 75 and the second driven roller 76, and the second driving roller 78 and the third driven roller 79 all extend along the X-axis direction. That is, the +Y direction is a direction that crosses the Z-axis direction and the axial direction of the transport roller 622, and more preferably a direction that crosses them at right angles. As described above, the axis of the cover shaft 683 of the reading unit cover 68 extends along the X-axis direction. Therefore, the axial direction of the cover shaft 683 is parallel to the axial direction of the transport roller 622 . A transport path of the medium 95 by the transport unit 62 extends along the direction from the insertion port 61 to the discharge port 64 . In this embodiment, the transport path of the medium 95 extends in the -Z direction.

The reading unit 63 is provided between the first transport mechanism 73 and the second transport mechanism 77 in the transport direction of the medium 95 . The reading section 63 is provided on a reading section cover 68 . The reading unit 63 is positioned on the +Z direction side of the cover shaft 683 when the reading unit cover 68 is positioned at the closed position P1. The reading unit 63 faces the transport path of the medium 95 when the reading unit cover 68 is closed.

The reading unit 63 of this embodiment has a plurality of contact image sensor (CIS) modules 80 . The CIS module 80 includes a contact glass 801 in contact with the medium 95, a light source (not shown) such as an LED that irradiates the medium 95 with light, and a light receiving element (not shown) such as a CMOS sensor that receives reflected light from the medium 95. and have

The light source of the CIS module 80 irradiates the medium 95 with white light through the contact glass 801 . The CIS module 80 reads reflected light from the medium 95 with a plurality of light receiving elements having red, blue, and green color filters.

The control of the light source and the light receiving element of the CIS module 80 may be performed by the control section 100 described later, or may be performed by a dedicated control section such as a microprocessor provided in the CIS module 80 . The results of reading by the light receiving elements of the CIS module 80 are synthesized by the control section 100, which will be described later, to generate color image data.

In the CIS module 80 of this embodiment, the light receiving elements are arranged along the X-axis direction. The CIS module 80 is configured to be able to collectively read the medium 95 within the range of the dimension along the X-axis direction. In the reading function unit 60, a plurality of CIS modules 80 are arranged along the X-axis direction and partially overlap each other in the Z-axis direction (see FIG. 1).

The reading function unit 60 includes an urging unit 82 that urges the medium 95 against the contact glass 801 of the CIS module 80 . The biasing portion 82 is provided between the first transport mechanism 73 and the second transport mechanism 77 in the transport direction of the medium 95 . The biasing portion 82 is provided on the fixed portion 67 . The biasing portion 82 faces the conveying path of the medium 95 when the reading portion cover 68 is closed.

The biasing portion 82 has a plurality of biasing mechanisms 83 extending along the X direction. Each biasing mechanism 83 has a biasing member 832 having a biasing surface 831 facing the +Y direction, and a member (not shown) such as a spring that biases the biasing member 832 in the +Y direction. When the reading unit cover 68 is closed, the biasing surfaces 831 of the biasing mechanisms 83 are provided to face the contact glass 801 of the CIS module 80 separately. That is, in the reading function unit 60, the plurality of biasing mechanisms 83 are arranged along the X-axis direction and partially overlap each other in the Z-axis direction (see FIG. 2).

The plurality of urging surfaces 831 in this embodiment are examples of areas facing the reading section 63 . A reading position 631 where the reading unit 63 reads the medium 95 is located between the contact glass 801 of the CIS module 80 and the biasing surface 831 of the biasing mechanism 83 . That is, the transport unit 62 transports the medium 95 inserted from the insertion port 61 to the reading position 631 . Also, the reading unit 63 reads the medium 95 inserted from the insertion port 61 .

As shown in FIG. 5, the reading discharge port 64 is formed as a space sandwiched in the Z-axis direction by a flap 85 of the fixed portion 67 and a guide roller 86 of the reading portion cover 68 .

The flap 85 is provided on the −Z direction side of the second transport mechanism 77 in the fixed portion 67 . The flap 85 is a plate-shaped member extending along the X-axis direction. The flap 85 is configured such that the tip portion on the +Y direction side can be displaced in the -Z direction around a flap shaft 851 extending along the X axis direction on the -Y direction side.

The flap 85 has an ejection guide surface 852 facing the +Z direction. The discharge guide surface 852 is inclined downward in the -Z direction as it goes in the +Y direction. In addition, assuming that the discharge guide surface 852 is cut along a plane orthogonal to the X-axis direction, the cross-sectional shape of the discharge guide surface 852 is an arcuate shape that is convex in the -Z direction. The guide roller 86 is rotatably supported about the axis of a guide shaft 861 extending along the X-axis direction. Note that the configuration of the guide roller 86 is not limited to a configuration in which a plurality of rotating bodies forming the guide roller 86 are supported by a common shaft.

In the reading function unit 60 , when the reading medium 95 is inserted into the insertion opening 61 , it is held by being sandwiched between the first drive roller 74 and the first driven roller 75 of the first transport mechanism 73 . The medium 95 is conveyed in the −Z direction by the conveying section 62 through a conveying path extending along the Z-axis direction between the fixed section 67 and the reading section cover 68 .

Between the first transport mechanism 73 and the second transport mechanism 77 , the medium 95 is urged toward the reading section 63 by the urging section 82 . That is, each biasing mechanism 83 that constitutes the biasing unit 82 presses the medium 95 against the contact glass 801 of the CIS module 80 on the opposite side of the medium 95 .

The reading unit 63 reads the medium 95 conveyed while being pressed against the contact glass 801 . The medium 95 read by the reading unit 63 is ejected from the ejection port 64 . The conveying direction of the medium 95 when passing through the second conveying mechanism 77 is the -Z direction. Then, the medium 95 advances along the ejection guide surface 852 by contacting the ejection guide surface 852 of the flap 85 while receiving the propulsive force generated by the driving of the transport unit 62 .

Therefore, the ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 at the ejection port 64 is the extension direction of the ejection guide surface 852 at the tip of the flap 85 . That is, the ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 at the ejection port 64 is the +Y direction side. The flap 85 in this embodiment is an example of a defining portion that defines the ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 .

After being ejected from the ejection port 64, the traveling direction of the medium 95 may move toward the -Z direction under the influence of gravity, and may not coincide with the ejection direction D2. The discharge direction D2 in this specification means the direction when discharged from the discharge port 64 . In other words, the ejection direction D2 does not mean the traveling direction of the medium 95 after being ejected from the ejection port 64 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reading function unit 60 constitutes a part of the main unit 12 in this embodiment. Therefore, the reading unit cover 68 of the reading function unit 60 constitutes the housing 14 of the main unit 12 together with the exterior body 28 , the peep hole cover 31 and the housing unit cover 40 .

That is, the housing 14 has an insertion port 61 for reading and an ejection port 64 for reading. It can also be said that the upper surface 25 of the housing 14 facing the +Z direction has the insertion opening 61 . Further, the reading function unit 60 is provided at the +Y-direction end of the main unit 12 . That is, the insertion port 61 and the discharge port 64 are provided on the +Y direction side of the housing 14 . The front surface 23, which is an example of the second surface, has a print outlet 55. As shown in FIG.

In addition, the housing portion 35 is provided at the end portion on the -Y direction side of the main body portion 12 . That is, the housing 14 includes a housing portion 35 and a housing portion cover 40 . The housing portion 35 is provided on the −Y direction side of the housing 14 .

In this specification, "provided on the +Y direction side of the housing 14" means that it is located on the +Y direction side of the center of the housing 14 in the Y-axis direction. Similarly, in this specification, "provided on the -Y direction side of the housing 14" means located on the -Y direction side of the center of the housing 14 in the Y-axis direction.

The front surface 23 of the main body 12 includes a front surface 283 of the exterior body 28 and a front surface 682 of the reading unit cover 68 . That is, the front surface 682 of the reading unit cover 68 is included in the front surface 23 when the reading unit cover 68 is positioned at the closed position P1. The left side surface 21 of the main body 12 includes the left side surface 281 of the exterior body 28 , and the right side surface 22 of the main body section 12 includes the right side surface 282 of the exterior body 28 . The lower surface 26 of the main body 12 includes the lower surface 286 of the exterior body 28 .

The upper surface 25 of the main body 12 includes the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28, the upper surface 311 of the peep hole cover 31, the upper surface 681 of the reading unit cover 68, the outer surface 412 of the first housing unit cover 41, and the second housing unit cover. 42 outer surfaces 422 . That is, the outer surfaces 412 , 422 of the housing cover 40 are included in the upper surface 25 .

In the scanner device 11 of this embodiment, the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28, the upper surface 311 of the peep hole cover 31, and the upper surface 681 of the reading section cover 68 are included in the same plane perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. In the main body 12, the outer surface 422 of the second housing cover 42 and the outer surface 412 of the first housing cover 41 form a surface connected to the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28 in the -Y direction.

In the present embodiment, when the peephole cover 31, the reading section cover 68, the second housing section cover 42, and the first housing section cover 41 are closed, the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28 and the upper surface 311 of the peephole cover 31 are closed. , the upper surface 681 of the reading section cover 68 , the outer surface 422 of the second housing section cover 42 , and the outer surface 412 of the first housing section cover 41 constitute the mounting surface 15 . That is, the accommodation section cover 40 of the accommodation section 35 constitutes a part of the mounting surface 15 . Further, the reading unit cover 68 forms part of the placement surface 15 .

A portion of the mounting surface 15 formed by the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28, the upper surface 311 of the peep hole cover 31, and the upper surface 681 of the reading unit cover 68 is a horizontal first mounting surface 151. . A portion of the mounting surface 15 formed by the outer surface 422 of the second housing cover 42 and the outer surface 412 of the first housing cover 41 is the second mounting surface 152 . Since the second placement surface 152 includes the outer surface 422 of the second accommodation section cover 42, at least a portion of the second placement surface 152 is inclined.

The mounting surface 15 is a smooth surface except for the gaps where the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28, the upper surface 311 of the peep hole cover 31, and the upper surface 681 of the reading unit cover 68 are adjacent to each other. The mounting surface 15 extends in the −Y direction, which is the opposite direction to the +Y direction, from the reading insertion opening 61 in the housing 14 . That is, the mounting surface 15 is a part of the upper surface 25 of the body portion 12 . It can be said that the reading discharge port 64 is located on the −Z direction side of the mounting surface 15 of the housing 14 and the reading insertion port 61 .

The holding mechanism 65 and the auxiliary symbol 685 are provided in the reading function section 60 on the +Y direction side of the body section 12 . That is, the housing 14 has an auxiliary symbol 685 . The holding mechanism 65 and the auxiliary symbol 685 are provided on the +Y direction side of the housing 14 .

Next, the electrical configuration of the scanner device 11 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the scanner device 11 has a control section 100 . The control unit 100 includes a CPU 101 and a memory 102 including RAM, ROM, and the like. Various programs for controlling the scanner device 11 are stored in the memory 102 . The control unit 100 may have a configuration including dedicated hardware (application-specific integrated circuit: ASIC) that executes at least part of the various types of processing. That is, the control unit 100 may have a configuration including one or more processors operating according to a computer program (software), one or more dedicated hardware such as ASIC, or a combination thereof. The processor includes a CPU and memory such as RAM and ROM. The memory stores program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to perform processes. Memory, one example of a computer-readable medium, includes anything that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

The control section 100 is connected to the operation section 34 . The control unit 100 can input an operation signal that is output when the operation unit 34 is operated. Control unit 100 accepts a copy request upon input of a copy request signal output when operation unit 34 is operated in a predetermined manner. The copy request serves as a trigger to operate the scanner device 11 so that the reading function unit 60 reads the medium 95 to generate image data and prints the generated image data on the printing medium 90 for copying.

The control unit 100 is connected to the input/output unit 103 so as to enable two-way communication. The input/output unit 103 is configured to be connectable to a terminal device 105 such as a notebook personal computer. Note that the input/output unit 103 may be configured to allow wired connection, or may be configured to enable wireless connection. The control unit 100 can receive a print request signal and a read request signal output by the terminal device 105 connected to the input/output unit 103 .

When a print request signal is input from the terminal device 105, the control unit 100 accepts the print request. The print request serves as a trigger to operate the scanner device 11 so as to print image data such as images and characters input from the terminal device 105 on the print medium 90 . A print request signal is output by the user operating the terminal device 105 .

When a read request signal is input from the terminal device 105, the control unit 100 accepts the read request. The reading request serves as a trigger to operate the scanner device 11 so as to read the reading medium 95 to generate image data and to output the generated image data from the input/output unit 103 to the terminal device 105 . A read request signal is output by the user operating the terminal device 105 .

The control unit 100 is electrically connected to the transport unit 45 and the printing unit 50 of the print function unit 18 . The control unit 100 operates the print function unit 18 of the scanner device 11 by controlling the conveying unit 45 and the printing unit 50 . The control section 100 is electrically connected to the transport section 62 and the reading section 63 of the reading function section 60 . The control unit 100 operates the reading function unit 60 of the scanner device 11 by controlling the transport unit 62 and the reading unit 63 . The controller 100 controls the first transport mechanism 73 and the second transport mechanism 77 .

The details of control by the control unit 100 will be described.
Upon receiving the copy request, the control unit 100 controls the reading function unit 60 to read the medium 95 . Hereinafter, processing for causing the reading function unit 60 to perform a reading operation will be referred to as reading control processing.

In the read control process, the control unit 100 controls the drive motor 621 of the transport unit 62 so as to transport the medium 95 inserted into the insertion port 61 along the transport path for reading. The control unit 100 controls the reading unit 63 so as to read images and characters recorded on the medium 95 when the medium 95 passes through the reading position 631 .

The controller 100 controls the light source (not shown) of each CIS module 80 so as to irradiate the medium 95 with white light. The control unit 100 receives the results detected by a plurality of light receiving elements (not shown) through red, blue, and green filters. The control unit 100 generates color image data such as characters and images recorded on the medium 95 by synthesizing detection results from the light receiving elements of the plurality of CIS modules 80 . Note that the control unit 100 stores the generated color image data in the memory 102 . After that, the control unit 100 terminates the reading control process.

Subsequently, the control unit 100 controls the print function unit 18 to perform a print operation for printing on the print medium 90 . Hereinafter, processing for causing the print function unit 18 to perform a printing operation will be referred to as print control processing.

In the print control process, the control unit 100 controls the transport motor of the transport unit 45 so as to transport the medium 90 stored in the storage unit 35 along the transport path for printing. The control unit 100 controls the print motor of the printing unit 50 and the liquid ejection head 54 so that the liquid is ejected onto the medium 90 when the medium 90 passes the printing position of the printing unit 50 . The control unit 100 controls the printing unit 50 so that image data to be printed is printed. Image data to be printed when a copy request is received is image data generated by reading the medium 95 . When the printing of the image data to be printed is completed, the control unit 100 ends the print control process.

Upon receiving a print request, the control unit 100 executes print control processing. Image data to be printed when a print request is received is image data input from the terminal device 105 . Further, upon receiving a read request, the control unit 100 executes read control processing. When the read request is accepted, the control unit 100 outputs the image data generated by reading from the medium 95 to the terminal device 105 from the input/output unit 103 after completing the read control process.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.
It is assumed that the scanner device is configured such that the insertion port 61 and the ejection port 64 are provided on the +Y direction side of the housing 14, and the transport path of the medium 95 inside the housing 14 is folded back in a U shape. Assume that. With such a configuration, the user can select the portion of the medium 95 on the first end 951 side discharged from the discharge port 64 and the portion on the second end 952 side before being inserted into the insertion port 61 . can be handled from the same +Y direction side.

On the other hand, in the imaginary scanner device, the portion on the side of the first end portion 951 ejected from the ejection port 64 and the portion on the side of the second end portion 952 before being inserted into the insertion port 61 interfere with each other. Otherwise, the portion on the first end 951 side that has been ejected from the ejection port 64 may be reinserted into the insertion port 61 , which may affect the conveyance of the medium 95 . Such a problem is conspicuous when the medium 95 is curled while passing through the U-shaped transport path.

Therefore, in the imaginary scanner device, the portion of the medium 95 on the side of the first end 951 discharged from the discharge port 64 interferes with the portion on the side of the second end 952 before being inserted into the insertion port 61 . In order to prevent this, it is necessary to provide a support for supporting the medium 95 or to support the medium 95 by the user. If the supporting portion for the medium 95 is provided, the size of the scanner device is increased. Also, if the user supports the medium 95, the user's convenience is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the scanner device 11 of the present embodiment, the reading insertion port 61 is provided in the housing 14 on the +Y direction side. Therefore, the user can easily insert the medium 95 into the insertion slot 61 from the +Y direction side. In the scanner device 11 , the discharge port 64 for reading is provided on the +Y direction side of the housing 14 . Therefore, the user can easily handle the medium 95 ejected from the ejection port 64 from the +Y direction side.

For example, assuming that the ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 is the -Y direction side, the medium 95 is ejected in a direction away from the user who is on the +Y direction side of the scanner device 11 . That is, the user needs to go around the scanner device 11 in the -Y direction to collect the medium 95 ejected from the ejection port 64 .

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 at the ejection port 64 is the +Y direction side. Therefore, the user can easily handle the medium 95 ejected from the ejection port 64 from the +Y direction side.

As described above, in the scanner device 11, the user can insert the medium 95 into the insertion port 61 and handle the medium 95 discharged from the discharge port 64 from the same +Y direction side.

The housing 14 has a placement surface 15 extending from the insertion port 61 in the -Y direction. Therefore, when the first end 951 of the medium 95 is inserted into the insertion port 61 , the mounting surface 15 is positioned on the side of the second end 952 of the medium 95 opposite to the first end 951 . Able to support parts. That is, the user can place the second end 952 side of the medium 95 on the placement surface 15 while the first end 951 of the medium 95 is inserted into the insertion port 61 .

Therefore, in the scanner device 11, the portion on the second end 952 side is mounted on the mounting surface 15 so as to extend in the -Y direction, while the portion on the first end 951 side extends in the +Y direction. direction. That is, the portion of the medium 95 on the side of the first end 951 that has been read and the portion on the side of the second end 952 that has not yet been read are less likely to come into contact with each other. Therefore, the scanner device 11 of the present embodiment includes a supporting portion that supports the second end portion 952 side of the medium 95, which is necessary for the scanner device having the above-described imaginary configuration in which the transport path is folded back in a U shape. Even without it, the first end portion 951 side and the second end portion 952 side of the medium 95 are prevented from interfering with each other.

Further, in the scanner device 11 , the transport path of the medium 95 by the transport unit 62 extends along the direction from the insertion port 61 to the discharge port 64 . Therefore, the dimension of the components for reading the medium 95 above the mounting surface 15 of the housing 14 in the Z-axis direction is small compared to Therefore, even if the components for reading the medium are arranged on the +Y direction side of the storage unit 35, it is difficult for the user to access the storage unit 35 from the +Y direction side of the scanner device 11. .

Further, in this embodiment, a viewing window 29 is provided on the -Y direction side of the component for reading the medium 95 . Therefore, when a component for reading the medium 95 occupies a large dimension in the Z-axis direction above the mounting surface 15 of the housing 14 and the distance between the component and the viewing window 29 in the Y-axis direction is short, A user standing on the +Y direction side of the scanner device 11 is likely to be prevented from viewing the inside of the main body 12 through the viewing window 29 . Therefore, in a configuration in which the transport path of the medium 95 is folded back in a U shape, it is necessary to make the distance between the component for reading the medium 95 and the viewing window 29 sufficiently long in the Y-axis direction. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the dimension occupied by the components for reading the medium 95 in the Z-axis direction is relatively small, the distance from the end of the housing 14 on the +Y direction side to the storage section 35 is can be reduced. Therefore, the user can easily access the storage section 35 from the +Y direction side of the housing 14 . Further, as described above, since the accommodation section cover 40 of the present embodiment constitutes a part of the mounting surface 15, the mounting surface 15 having a large area can be realized.

In particular, in the scanner device 11 , the ejection port 64 is located on the −Z direction side of the placement surface 15 of the housing 14 and the insertion port 61 . Therefore, the transport path of the medium 95 includes a component in the -Z direction. Therefore, the dimension along the Y-axis direction of the transport path of the medium 95 can be reduced. That is, the reading function unit 60 is configured so that the dimension in the Y-axis direction can be reduced.

Therefore, in the housing 14, the insertion port 61 for reading can be moved further toward the +Y direction side. Therefore, the medium 95 can be easily inserted into the insertion port 61 for reading. Moreover, the mounting surface 15 having a larger area can be realized without increasing the dimension of the housing 14 in the Y-axis direction.

In the reading function unit 60, the insertion port 61 and the discharge port 64 are arranged along the Z-axis direction, and the transport path for the medium 95 is also a plate-like space extending along the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the medium 95 is not greatly bent or curved except for slight bending by the conveying section 62 during the period from being inserted into the insertion port 61 to being ejected from the ejection port 64 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the medium 95 from being curled.

When the container cover 40 is closed, the outer surface 412 of the first container cover 41 is horizontal, and the outer surface 422 of the second container cover 42 slopes upward in the +Z direction toward the -Y direction. It is the surface. Therefore, it is possible to form the second mounting surface 152 that is continuous with the first mounting surface 151 as the mounting surface 15 while ensuring the volume of the accommodation space 36 .

In the scanner device 11 , the print outlet 55 is provided on the +Y direction side of the housing 14 . Further, the direction D1 of discharging the medium 90 from the discharge port 55 is the +Y direction side, like the direction D2 of discharging the medium 95 from the discharge port 64 . Therefore, the user can handle the medium 95 read by the reading unit 63 and the medium 90 printed by the printing unit 50 from the same +Y direction side of the housing 14 .

The scanner device 11 has a holding mechanism 65 that holds the medium 95 inserted from the insertion port 61 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, even though the user positions and inserts the medium 95 into the insertion port 61, the position of the medium 95 is prevented from being unintentionally shifted before the medium 95 is started to be conveyed. . Further, since the holding mechanism 65 is provided on the +Y direction side of the housing 14 , the user can easily cause the holding mechanism 65 to hold the medium 95 .

Further, the scanner device 11 is provided with an auxiliary symbol 685 indicating a position that serves as a reference when the user inserts the medium 95 into the insertion port 61 . Therefore, the user can use the auxiliary symbol 685 as a guide to insert the medium 95 into the insertion slot 61 so that the medium 95 is in the proper position.

The holding mechanism 65 and the auxiliary symbol 685 are provided on the +Y direction side of the housing 14 in the same manner as the insertion port 61 and the discharge port 64 . Therefore, the operation of inserting the medium 95 into the insertion port 61 is simplified.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the presence of the placement surface 15 on the +Z direction side of the scanner device 11 means that the medium 95 is placed (see FIG. 7), or the terminal device 105 or the like is placed. It is useful for placing an object to be placed (see FIG. 8). The placement surface 15 is where the terminal device 105 can be placed when requesting printing of image data created using the terminal device 105 or when checking image data, which is an example of the reading result of the scanner device 11 . and convenient.

Assuming that the reading function unit 60 is provided in the center of the Y-axis direction in the portion on the +Z direction side of the body unit 12, and the reading unit cover is opened in the +Z direction, the transport path of the medium 95 and the reading position by the reading unit can be changed. Assume that the scanner device is configured so that it can be opened.

Also in such a scanner device, it is possible to assume that the surface of the reading section cover on the +Z direction side is used as the placement surface when the reading section cover is closed. However, in the above-described imaginary scanner device, when the reading unit cover is open in the +Z direction, it is difficult to use the mounting surface as a space for placing the mounting object.

Further, it is conceivable to provide a mounting surface so as to be aligned with the reading section cover in the Y-axis direction in the +Z direction side portion of the main body section 12 . However, in order to prevent light from entering the reading unit from the outside of the scanner device, the reading unit cover should be long enough to cover the front and rear of the reading unit in the transport path of the medium 95. is preferred. For this reason, it is difficult to increase the area of the mounting surface in the above-described imaginary scanner device.

In the scanner device 11 of the present embodiment, the reading position 631 by the reading section 63 can be opened by moving the reading section cover 68 from the closed position P1 to the open position P2. Therefore, the maintenance of the reading unit 63 or the measures for clearing the clogging of the medium 95 are facilitated.

The front surface 682 of the reading unit cover 68 constitutes the front surface 23 extending in the direction intersecting the upper surface 25 of the main body 12 . That is, the reading unit cover 68 constitutes the +Y-direction end of the scanner device 11 . Therefore, it is possible to increase the area of the upper surface 25 that can be used as the mounting surface 15 . Therefore, user convenience can be enhanced.

Even when the reading unit cover 68 is moved to the open position P2, the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28 and the upper surface 311 of the peep hole cover 31 of the first mounting surface 151 maintain horizontal surfaces. Therefore, among the first placement surface 151, the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28 and the upper surface 311 of the peephole cover 31 can be used as a space for placing an object regardless of whether the reading unit cover 68 is opened or closed. In other words, the reading section cover 68 can be moved to the open position P2 while the object is placed on the first placement surface 151, and maintenance of the reading section 63 can be performed. Further, by moving the reading section cover 68 to the closed position P1, the entire first placement surface 151 including the upper surface 681 of the reading section cover 68 can be used as a space for placing the placement target.

As described above, the reading function unit 60 of the scanner device 11 is configured to have a small size in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the proportion of the upper surface 681 of the reading unit cover 68 in the first placement surface 151 can be reduced. That is, in this embodiment, the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28 and the upper surface 311 of the peep hole cover 31 can be widened. Further, when the object to be placed has a shape that easily rolls like the medium roll 91 accommodated in the accommodation unit 35, the object to be placed on the area of the first placement surface 151 excluding the upper surface 681 is easy to place, and the degree of freedom in the shape of the reading section cover 68 is increased. In addition, although at least a portion of the second placement surface 152 includes a non-horizontal portion, it can be used as a space for placing an object regardless of whether the reading section cover 68 is opened or closed.

In the above-described imaginary scanner device, when the user on the +Y direction side of the scanner device opens the reading section cover in the +Z direction, the reading section cover moves toward the storage section 35 in the +Z direction side of the scanner device. stand up as if to block the access of That is, the reading section cover 68 interferes with access to the accommodating section 35 .

On the other hand, in the scanner device 11 of the present embodiment, the reading section cover 68 is included in the front surface 23 extending in the direction intersecting the upper surface 25, while the outer surfaces 412 and 422 of the housing section cover 40 are the main body section. 12 on the upper surface 25 . Therefore, even when the reading section cover 68 is moved to the open position P2, access to the housing section cover 40 is prevented from being obstructed.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the open position P2 of the reading unit cover 68 is a position rotated in the -Z direction. Therefore, when the reading section cover 68 is opened, the reading section cover 68 does not obstruct access to the housing section cover 40 .

Effects of the present embodiment will be described.
(1) In the scanner device 11, the work of inserting the medium 95 into the insertion port 61 and the handling of the medium 95 discharged from the discharge port 64 can be performed from the same +Y direction side. Therefore, user convenience can be enhanced. Further, in a state where the first end portion 951 of the medium 95 is inserted into the insertion port 61 , the second end portion 952 side can be placed on the placement surface 15 . Therefore, the first end 951 side and the second end 952 side of the medium 95 are prevented from interfering with each other without providing a support portion for supporting the second end portion 952 side of the medium. Therefore, an increase in the size of the scanner device 11 can be suppressed.

(2) The reading function unit 60 is configured so that the dimension in the Y-axis direction can be reduced. Therefore, the distance from the end of the housing 14 on the +Y direction side to the housing portion 35 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to easily access the housing portion 35 from the +Y direction side of the housing 14 . Since the accommodation section cover 40 constitutes a part of the mounting surface 15, the mounting surface 15 having a large area is realized.

(3) The transportation path of the medium 95 by the transportation unit 62 includes a component in the -Z direction. Therefore, the dimension of the reading function unit 60 in the Y-axis direction can be further reduced. That is, in the housing 14, the insertion opening 61 can be moved further toward the +Y direction side. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate the insertion of the medium 95 into the insertion port 61 .

(4) The ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 at the ejection port 64 and the ejection direction D1 of the medium 90 at the ejection port 55 are both on the +Y direction side. Therefore, both the medium 90 and the medium 95 can be handled from the +Y direction side of the housing 14 .

(5) The holding mechanism 65 and the auxiliary symbol 685 are provided on the +Y direction side of the housing 14 in the same manner as the insertion port 61 and the discharge port 64 . Therefore, the operation of inserting the medium 95 into the insertion port 61 is simplified.

(6) The reading position 631 can be opened by moving the reading section cover 68 from the closed position P1 to the open position P2. Therefore, the maintenance of the reading unit 63 or the measures for clearing the clogging of the medium 95 are facilitated. A front surface 682 of the reading unit cover 68 constitutes the front surface 23 of the main unit 12 . That is, the reading unit cover 68 constitutes an end portion in the +Y direction in the scanner device 11 . Therefore, it is possible to increase the area of the portion that can be used as the mounting surface 15 . Therefore, user convenience can be enhanced.

(7) Since the front surface 682 of the reading unit cover 68 is included in the front surface 23 of the main unit 12, even when the reading unit cover 68 is moved to the open position P2, it is difficult to access the housing unit cover 40. is suppressed from interfering with

(8) The reading unit cover 68 rotates about the cover shaft 683 between the closed position P1 and the open position P2. Therefore, the reading section cover 68 can be easily moved compared to a configuration in which the reading section cover 68 is moved by sliding.

(9) The reading unit cover 68 has a dimension L2 in the axial direction of the cover shaft 683 that is larger than a dimension L1 in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the cover shaft 683 . Therefore, compared to the case where the dimension L2 is smaller than the dimension L1, the space required for rotating the reading section cover 68 can be reduced.

(10) The reading unit cover 68 rotates around a cover shaft 683 located on the −Z direction side of the reading unit 63 . That is, the reading section cover 68 rotates in the direction of gravity. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism to keep the reading section cover 68 at the open position P2.

(11) The ejection port 55 for printing is provided on the front surface 23 including the outer surface of the reading section cover 68 . Therefore, the user can handle the reading unit cover 68 and the medium 90 printed by the printing unit 50 from the same +Y direction side.

(12) The user can view the medium 90 immediately after printing by the printing unit 50 through the viewing window 29 . Therefore, the user can easily check whether printing by the printing unit 50 is normally performed while using the placement surface 15 including the upper surface 311 of the peep hole cover 31 .

(13) The −Y direction side portion of the first mounting surface 151 and the second mounting surface 152 are sandwiched between the left cover support portion 431 and the right cover support portion 432 in the X axis direction. Therefore, the portion of the medium 95 on the second end portion 952 side is prevented from being displaced in the X-axis direction. That is, the left cover support portion 431 and the right cover support portion 432 can be said to be an example of a medium guide that guides the medium 95 .

This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the components having the same functions as those of the components described above, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the scanner device 11 of the above-described embodiment, the reading function unit 60 extends along the Z-axis direction at the +Y-direction end of the body unit 12 . That is, the reading function unit 60 is I-shaped when viewed from the X-axis direction. The reading function unit 60 has an insertion opening 61 on an upper surface 601 facing in the +Z direction, and an ejection opening 64 on a front surface 602 facing in the +Y direction. The ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 is the direction on the +Y direction side. Note that the upper surface 601 of the reading function unit 60 is the upper surface 681 of the reading unit cover 68 . The front face 602 of the reading function portion 60 is the front face 682 of the reading portion cover 68 .

The opening direction and position of the insertion port 61 and the discharge port 64, and the discharge direction D2 of the medium 95 are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as described below.
FIG. 9 schematically shows a scanner device 11 of a first modified example in addition to the scanner device 11 of the above embodiment. In the scanner device 11 of the first modified example, the reading function unit 60 extends along the Z-axis direction at the +Y-direction end of the body unit 12 . That is, the reading function unit 60 is I-shaped when viewed from the X-axis direction.

The reading function unit 60 has an insertion port 61 on an upper surface 601 facing the +Z direction, and an ejection port 64 on a lower surface 603 facing the -Z direction. In the first modification, the ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 is the -Z direction. The lower surface 603 of the reading function unit 60 is the lower surface 684 of the reading unit cover 68 . Note that the scanner device 11 of the first modified example does not have the discharge port 64 on the front surface 602 . In the above embodiment and the first modified example, the discharge port 64 may be provided on the front surface 602 of the reading function unit 60 facing the +Y direction.

FIG. 10 schematically shows scanner devices 11 of second and third modifications. In the scanner device 11 of the second modification and the third modification, the reading function unit 60 is L-shaped so as to extend over the upper surface 25 and the front surface 23 of the main body 12 when viewed from the X-axis direction. . An upper surface 681 of the reading unit cover 68 , which is the upper surface 601 of the reading function unit 60 , is not on the same plane as the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28 , but constitutes the upper surface 25 of the main body 12 .

The reading function unit 60 of the second modification has an insertion opening 61 on the rear surface 604 facing the -Y direction and an ejection opening 64 on the front surface 602 facing the +Y direction. In the second modification, the ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 is the +Y direction side. The reading function unit 60 of the third modification has an insertion port 61 on a rear surface 604 facing the -Y direction and an ejection port 64 on a bottom surface 603 facing the -Z direction. In the third modification, the ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 is the -Z direction.

In the second and third modifications, the rear surface 604 may be the surface of the reading unit cover 68 facing the −Y direction, or the surface of the fixing unit 67 facing the −Y direction. It may be a combination of these. In the second modification and the third modification, the insertion port 61 may be provided on the upper surface 601 of the reading function unit 60 facing the +Z direction.

FIG. 11 schematically shows the scanner device 11 of the fourth modified example. In the scanner device 11 of the fourth modified example, the reading function section 60 has an I shape extending in the Y-axis direction on the upper surface 25 of the main body section 12 .

The reading function unit 60 of the fourth modification has the insertion port 61 on the rear surface 604 facing the -Y direction and the discharge port 64 on the front surface 602 facing the +Y direction. That is, in the fourth modification, the ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 is the +Y direction side. In the fourth modification, the insertion port 61 may be provided on the upper surface 601 of the reading function unit 60 facing the +Z direction.

- As shown in FIG. 12, the insertion direction D3 of the medium 95 in the insertion port 61 is not limited to the -Z direction side. That is, the insertion direction D3 of the medium 95 with respect to the insertion port 61 can be arbitrarily selected within a range other than the +Z direction. In order to reduce bending between the insertion opening 61 and the second end portion 952, it is preferable that the insertion direction D3 is arbitrarily selected within a range excluding the -Y direction side.

- As shown in FIG. 12, the ejection direction D2 of the medium 95 at the ejection port 64 is not limited to the +Y direction side. The ejection direction D2 can be arbitrarily selected within a range excluding the +Z direction and the -Y direction. That is, the discharge direction D2 may be the -Z direction. Further, the discharge direction D2 may be a direction inclined toward the +Z direction from the horizontal direction, or may be a direction inclined toward the −Z direction from the horizontal direction.

- As shown in FIG. 12 , the scanner device 11 may include a reading medium receiver 161 for receiving the medium 95 discharged from the discharge port 64 . The scanner device 11 may include a print medium receiver 162 that receives the medium 90 ejected from the ejection port 55 . The medium receiver 161 for reading and the medium receiver 162 for printing may be used in common, or may be independent of each other.

- The insertion port 61 and the discharge port 64 may be provided in a portion different from the above-described embodiment as long as it is a portion on the +Y direction side of the housing 14 . For example, the insertion port 61 may open at a corner portion where the front surface 23 and the upper surface 25 of the body portion 12 are connected.

- The reading function unit 60 may include a pair of outlet rollers at the outlet 64 instead of the flap 85 . When the medium 95 is fed while being sandwiched between the pair of discharge rollers, the discharge direction D2 of the medium 95 is the tangential direction at the contact portion between the discharge rollers. That is, the pair of outlet rollers is an example of a defining portion that defines the discharge direction D2 of the medium 95 .

- The 1st mounting surface 151 may incline as long as it is the range which can mount a mounting target object. The first mounting surface 151 may have a structure such as a concave portion or a convex portion as long as the object can be placed thereon.

- On the first mounting surface 151, the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28, the upper surface 311 of the peep hole cover 31, and the upper surface 681 of the reading unit cover 68 do not need to be included in the same plane. That is, some of the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28, the upper surface 311 of the peep hole cover 31, and the upper surface 681 of the reading unit cover 68 are shifted in the +Z direction or the -Z direction with respect to the other surfaces. good too.

- The 1st mounting surface 151 is not necessarily flat as a whole. For example, the first placement surface 151 may be curved in the +Z direction or the -Z direction.
- The whole 2nd mounting surface 152 may be a plane. In this case, the first mounting surface 151 and the second mounting surface 152 may or may not be included in the same plane.

The first mounting surface 151 may be composed only of the upper surface 285 of the exterior body 28, may be composed of only the upper surface 311 of the peep hole cover 31, or may be composed of a combination thereof. . That is, the upper surface 681 of the reading section cover 68 does not have to form the placement surface 15 . Further, the reading unit cover 68 may not have an upper surface facing the +Z direction.

- The mounting surface 15 may be separated from the insertion port 61 in the -Y direction.
- The accommodation part cover 40 does not need to constitute the mounting surface 15 . The scanner device 11 does not have to include the housing cover 40 .

- The position of the auxiliary symbol 685 is not limited to the upper surface 681 of the reading section cover 68 . The auxiliary symbol 685 may be provided on the outer surface of the reading unit cover 68 on the side opposite to the cover-side guide surface 71 in the Z-axis direction. According to this modified example, since the auxiliary symbol 685 is close to the insertion port 61, positioning of the medium 95 is further facilitated.

The printing function unit 18 may include a cutting unit that cuts the medium 90 downstream of the printing unit 50 in the transport direction.
The configuration of the reading function unit 60 is not limited to reading the medium 95 and generating color image data. The reading function unit 60 may be configured to generate monochrome image data. In this case, the reading unit 63 may emit monochromatic light and read reflected light from the medium 95 . Further, the light irradiated onto the medium 95 in the reading unit 63 is not limited to visible light.

The configuration of the reading function unit 60 is not limited to reading the medium 95 and generating image data. A colorimetric unit that measures the color of the medium 95 may be provided as the reading unit 63 .
- Instead of the reading function unit 60, a processing unit having at least an insertion port 61, a transport unit 62 (transport rollers 622), and an ejection port 64 may be provided. As the processing unit, for example, a cutting mechanism that cuts the medium or a laminator that processes the surface of the medium may be provided.

- The reading unit 63 is not limited to having a plurality of CIS modules 80 . The reading unit 63 may be configured to have a single CIS module 80 extending over the entire width of the transport path of the medium 95 in the X-axis direction.

The CIS module 80 constituting the reading unit 63 irradiates the medium 95 while the light source switches red light, blue light, and green light, and the light receiving element reads the reflected light for each color of light that is switched in order. There may be.

- The rotation direction of the reading unit cover 68 is not limited to the above embodiment. The cover shaft 683 of the reading section cover 68 may extend in the X-axis direction at the +Z direction side portion of the reading section cover 68 . In this case, the open position P2 of the reading unit cover 68 is a position rotated in the +Z direction. The cover shaft 683 of the reading unit cover 68 may extend along the Z-axis direction at either end of the X-axis direction of the reading unit cover 68 . In this case, the reading section cover 68 is rotatable along the Y-axis direction. The reading unit cover 68 may be divided into the +X direction side and the −X direction side. In this case, the divided reading unit cover 68 is preferably supported so as to be rotatable along the Z-axis direction or the Y-axis direction. Thus, the first position and the second position of the reading section cover 68 can be arbitrarily changed according to the structure for enabling the reading section cover 68 to be opened and closed.

- The reading unit cover 68 may be configured to be opened and closed so as to slide in the X-axis direction or the Z-axis direction. Further, the reading unit cover 68 may be detachable from the fixing unit 67 .

The reading function unit 60 may have a configuration in which the reading unit cover 68 has the biasing mechanism 83 and the fixing unit 67 has the reading unit 63 . The reading function unit 60 may have a configuration in which the reading unit 63 is provided on both the fixing unit 67 and the reading unit cover 68 . That is, the reading function unit 60 may be configured to be able to read one side of the medium 95, or may be configured to be able to read both sides.

- The print function unit 18 may be a page printer that prints page by page. That is, the medium 90 is not limited to a long one, and may be a short one.
The medium 90 for printing and the medium 95 for reading may be of the same type or may be of different types.

- In the scanner device 11, the insertion port 61 may be configured to be also used as an insertion port for inserting the medium 90 for printing. In this case, the placement surface 15 is convenient in that the portion of the printing medium 90 that is not inserted into the insertion slot 61 can be placed thereon. Moreover, the placement surface 15 is convenient in that the terminal device 105 can be placed thereon when checking the reading result of the medium 95 using the terminal device 105 .

- The scanner device 11 may not have the legs 13 .
- The scanner device 11 does not have to include the print function unit 18 . That is, the scanner device 11 may be configured as a single-function device having only a reading function.

- The scanner device 11 may have any one or a plurality of functions out of a printing function, a communication function, a prepress function, and the like. A print function can be realized by the print function unit 18 . The communication function can be realized by providing a communication section that transmits image data generated by reading the medium 95 via a local area network, the Internet, or an electric communication line. The plate making function can be realized by a plate making section that physically makes a plate based on the image data generated by reading the medium 95 .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Scanner device 12... Main body part 13... Leg part 14... Housing 15... Placement surface 151... First placement surface 152... Second placement surface 21... Left side 22... Right side Surface 24... Rear surface 23... Front surface 25... Upper surface 26... Lower surface 28... Exterior body 281... Left side surface 282... Right side surface 283... Front surface 284... Rear surface 285... Upper surface 286... Lower surface 29 Peephole 31 Peephole cover 311 Upper surface 34 Operation part 35 Receiving part 40 Receiving part cover 41 First receptacle part cover 411 Axle 412 Outer surface 42 Second housing section cover 421... Shaft part 422... Outer surface 43... Cover supporting part 431... Left cover supporting part 432... Right cover supporting part 50... Printing part 55... Output port for printing 60 Reading function unit 61 Insertion opening 62 Conveyance unit for reading 622 Conveyance roller for reading 63 Reading unit 631 Reading position 64 Ejection for reading 65 Holding mechanism 67 Fixed portion 68 Reading portion cover 681 Upper surface 682 Front surface 683 Cover shaft 685 Auxiliary symbol 73 First conveying mechanism 77 Second conveying mechanism 83 Biasing mechanism 831 Biasing surface 90... Medium for printing 91... Medium roll 95... Medium for reading 951... First end 952... Second end D1, D2... Ejection direction L1, L2... Dimensions, P1... Closed position, P2... Open position.

Claims (5)

a housing having a reading insertion port into which a medium is inserted and a reading discharge port from which the medium is discharged;
a transport roller for transporting the medium inserted from the reading insertion port;
a reading unit that reads the medium transported by the transport roller;
a printing unit that prints on a printing medium,
The housing has a print outlet through which the print medium printed by the print unit is ejected,
The reading insertion port, the reading discharge port, and the printing discharge port are provided in the housing on the first direction side in a direction intersecting the vertical direction and the axial direction of the transport roller. ,
the direction in which the medium is ejected from the reading ejection port is the first direction side or the vertically downward direction;
a direction in which the print medium is discharged from the print discharge port is a direction on the side of the first direction ;
The housing has a first surface facing vertically upward and a second surface intersecting the first surface and facing forward in the depth direction,
The reading insertion port is provided on the first surface,
The reading outlet and the printing outlet are provided on the second surface,
The scanner device according to claim 1, wherein the printing discharge port is located vertically below the reading discharge port. The housing has a mounting surface extending from the reading insertion port in a second direction opposite to the first direction,
The placement surface covers a portion of the medium on the second end side opposite to the first end when the first end of the medium is inserted into the reading insertion port. 2. The scanner device of claim 1, wherein the scanner device is supportable. The housing is
an accommodation unit that accommodates a print medium wound in a roll;
further comprising a housing cover,
A transport path of the medium by the transport roller extends along a direction from the reading insertion port to the reading discharge port,
The housing portion is provided on the second direction side of the housing,
3. The scanner device according to claim 2, wherein the outer surface of the housing cover is included in the mounting surface. 4. The scanner device according to claim 2, wherein the reading discharge port is positioned vertically below the loading surface of the housing and the reading insertion port. further comprising a holding mechanism for holding the medium inserted from the reading insertion port,
The housing has an auxiliary symbol for assisting in determining the insertion position of the medium with respect to the reading insertion port,
The scanner device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the holding mechanism and the auxiliary symbol are provided on the first direction side of the housing .

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