U.S. patent application number 08/964257 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-28 for apparatus eqipped with removable scanner unit.
Invention is credited to ISHIDA, SATOSHI, KIRITA, SATOSHI, OHMI, KUNIHIKO, OHUE, TERUNOBU, SANO, TOMOHISA, SAWADA, TAKETOSHI, TERASHIMA, HITOSHI, TSUCHIYAMA, YOSHIKI, YAMAGISHI, HIROSHI, YOSHIO, HITOSHI.
Application Number | 20020036807 08/964257 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 17785478 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020036807 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TERASHIMA, HITOSHI ; et
al. |
March 28, 2002 |
APPARATUS EQIPPED WITH REMOVABLE SCANNER UNIT
Abstract
A scanner-equipped apparatus includes a combination of a base
unit such as a printer unit, personal computer or word processor
incorporating a printer unit and a scanner unit. The printer unit
and the scanner unit can operate as automatic sheet feeder type
apparatus, respectively. The scanner unit can be used as a handy
scanner in the state detached from the base unit. The basic unit
and the scanner unit are disposed substantially in upstanding
posture in parallel with each other, wherein the scanner unit is
removably combined with the base unit so that the scanner unit can
be used as the handy scanner. A sheet transporting path for the
scanner is formed between confronting surfaces of the base unit and
the scanner unit. The sheet feeding mechanism for the scanner unit
is so implemented as to be used intact as a driving mechanism for
the handy scanner. The scanner-equipped apparatus can be realized
inexpensively in a simplified mechanical structure while ensuring
enhanced manipulatability.
Inventors: |
TERASHIMA, HITOSHI;
(KAHOKU-GUN, JP) ; OHMI, KUNIHIKO; (KAHOKU-GUN,
JP) ; ISHIDA, SATOSHI; (KAHOKU-GUN, JP) ;
SANO, TOMOHISA; (KAHOKU-GUN, JP) ; YAMAGISHI,
HIROSHI; (KAHOKU-GUN, JP) ; SAWADA, TAKETOSHI;
(KAHOKU-GUN, JP) ; TSUCHIYAMA, YOSHIKI;
(KAHOKU-GUN, JP) ; KIRITA, SATOSHI; (KAHOKU-GUN,
JP) ; YOSHIO, HITOSHI; (KAHOKU-GUN, JP) ;
OHUE, TERUNOBU; (KANAGAWA, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCGLEW & TUTTLE, PC
SCARBOROUGH STATION
SCARBOROUGH
NY
10510
US
|
Family ID: |
17785478 |
Appl. No.: |
08/964257 |
Filed: |
November 4, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/474 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00525 20130101;
H04N 1/107 20130101; H04N 1/0071 20130101; H04N 1/00541 20130101;
H04N 1/00713 20130101; H04N 1/00 20130101; H04N 1/0074 20130101;
H04N 1/00742 20130101; H04N 1/00551 20130101; H04N 1/12 20130101;
H04N 1/121 20130101; H04N 1/193 20130101; H04N 1/1071 20130101;
H04N 1/00694 20130101; H04N 1/00538 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/474 |
International
Class: |
H04N 001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 5, 1996 |
JP |
292722/8 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus equipped with a scanner, comprising: a base unit;
and a scanner unit which can be removably mounted on said base
unit, wherein said base unit includes at least a part of sheet
transporting mechanism and scanner mounting means for mounting
detachably said scanner unit, and wherein said scanner unit
includes at least reading means, other part of said sheet
transporting mechanism, and engaging means adapted for engaging
said scanner mounting means for thereby securing said scanner unit
onto said base unit.
2. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 1,
wherein said scanner unit is so implemented as to be capable of
operating as a handy scanner in the state where said scanner unit
has been detached from said base unit.
3. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 1,
wherein said base unit includes a printer unit.
4. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 2, said
base unit being of an automatic sheet feeding type and including a
first sheet transporting path extending substantially vertically,
while said scanner unit is of an automatic sheet feeding type and
includes a second sheet transporting path extending substantially
vertically, wherein said first and second sheet transporting paths
extend substantially in parallel and adjacent to each other.
5. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 3, said
base unit being of an automatic sheet feeding type and including a
first sheet transporting path extending substantially vertically,
while said scanner unit is of an automatic sheet feeding type and
includes a second sheet transporting path extending substantially
vertically, wherein said first and second sheet transporting paths
extend substantially in parallel and adjacent to each other.
6. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 4,
wherein said second sheet transporting path for said scanner unit
is defined by confronting surfaces of said base unit and said
scanner unit in the state in which said scanner unit is mounted on
said base unit.
7. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 6,
further including a pick roller disposed at a location upstream of
said second sheet transporting path of said scanner unit as viewed
in a sheet transporting direction, and feed rollers disposed at
locations downstream of said second sheet transportation path for
said scanner unit as viewed in the sheet transporting
direction.
8. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 7,
wherein said pick roller is made of a material having low hardness,
said scanner unit including auxiliary rollers which are made of a
material having high hardness and disposed at sides of said pick
roller, respectively, for the purpose of protecting said pick
roller when said scanner unit is used as the handy scanner.
9. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 8,
wherein said auxiliary rollers are disposed at locations outside of
a reading region of said scanner unit.
10. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 8,
wherein said auxiliary rollers are disposed in the vicinity of said
pick roller, and wherein grooves are provided in a surface of said
base unit facing in opposition to said auxiliary rollers.
11. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 2,
wherein a mark indicating a reading region is provided at least on
one of a front side portion and a rear side portion of said scanner
unit, and wherein a mark indicating a reading position is provided
on a lateral side portion of said scanner unit.
12. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 2,
wherein a cable for electrically coupling said scanner unit to said
base unit is led out from a location positioned at a lateral
surface of said scanner unit.
13. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 2,
wherein a cable for electrically coupling said base unit to said
scanner unit is led out from a location positioned at a lower
portion of a lateral surface of said base unit.
14. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 1,
wherein the sheet transporting mechanism for said scanner unit
includes at least a feed roller so that said scanner unit can
operate as a handy scanner of a running type by using said feed
roller.
15. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 1,
wherein the sheet transporting mechanism for said scanner unit
includes a driving motor so that said scanner unit can operate as a
handy scanner of an automatically running type by using said
driving motor.
16. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 1,
wherein the sheet transporting mechanism for said scanner unit
includes feed rollers and a driving motor for driving said feed
rollers so that said scanner unit can operate as a handy scanner of
an automatically running type by using said feed rollers.
17. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 2,
wherein the sheet transporting mechanism for said scanner unit
includes feed rollers and a driving motor for driving said feed
rollers so that said scanner unit can operate as a handy scanner of
an automatically running type by using said feed rollers.
18. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 1, said
base unit including a printer unit, wherein a sheet transporting
mechanism of said printer unit includes a feed roller and a driving
motor for driving said feed roller, and wherein a sheet
transporting mechanism for said scanner unit includes a sheet
transporting roller and an encoder for detecting an amount of
rotation of said sheet transporting roller so that said scanner
unit can be operated as a manual type handy scanner.
19. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 1,
wherein either one of engaging portions of said base unit and said
scanner unit is constituted by a pivotal shaft for allowing said
scanner unit to rotate frontwards, while the other engaging portion
is implemented as a groove or alternatively as a recess for
receiving and holding snugly said pivotal shaft.
20. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 2,
wherein either one of engaging portions of said base unit and said
scanner unit is constituted by a pivotal shaft for allowing said
scanner unit to rotate frontwards, while the other engaging portion
is implemented as a groove or alternatively as a recess for
receiving and holding snugly said pivotal shaft.
21. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 19,
further comprising: lock means including a claw and a projecting
member adapted to engage said claw for thereby locking said scanner
unit in the state mounted on said base unit.
22. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 19,
further comprising: rotation limiting stopper means for preventing
said scanner unit from swinging excessively frontwards upon
detachment of said scanner unit from said base unit.
23. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 19,
further comprising: deviation preventing stopper means for
preventing said scanner unit from displacing upwardly in the state
in which said scanner unit is mounted on said base unit.
24. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 1,
further comprising: sheet feeding means formed in a wedge-like
shape as viewed in a vertical section by a pair of sheet guides
disposed in opposition to each other so that a space defined
between said pair of sheet guides becomes gradually narrower toward
a sheet withdrawal port; and offset means provided for at least one
of said paired sheet guides for limiting stepwise moving of the
sheet toward said sheet withdrawal port.
25. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 2,
further comprising: sheet feeding means formed in a wedge-like
shape as viewed in a vertical section by a pair of sheet guides
disposed in opposition to each other so that a space defined
between said pair of sheet guides becomes gradually narrower toward
a sheet withdrawal port; and offset means provided for at least one
of said paired sheet guides for limiting stepwise moving of the
sheet toward said sheet withdrawal port.
26. An apparatus equipped with a scanner, comprising: a base unit;
and a scanner unit which can be removably mounted on said base
unit, wherein said base unit includes at least a part of sheet
transporting mechanism and scanner mounting means for mounting
detachably said scanner unit, and wherein said scanner unit
includes at least reading means, engaging portion for engaging said
scanner mounting means for there by securing said scanner unit onto
said basic unit and driving motor which is used for said sheet
transporting mechanism when said scanner unit mounts on said base
unit, and said driving motor is further used for running said
scanner unit when said scanner unit is further used for running
said scanner unit when said scanner unit is detached from said base
unit and operas as a handy scanner.
27. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 26,
wherein said base unit includes a printer unit.
28. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 27,
said base unit being of an automatic sheet feeding type and
including a first sheet transporting path extending substantially
vertically, while said scanner unit is of an automatic sheet
feeding type and includes a second sheet transporting path
extending substantially vertically, wherein said first and second
sheet transporting paths extend substantially in parallel and
adjacent to each other.
29. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 26,
said base unit being of an automatic sheet feeding type and
including a first sheet transporting path extending substantially
vertically, while said scanner unit is of an automatic sheet
feeding type and includes a second sheet transporting path
extending substantially vertically, wherein said first and second
sheet transporting paths extend substantially in parallel and
adjacent to each other. wherein said second sheet transporting path
for said scanner unit is defined by confronting surfaces of said
base unit and said scanner unit in the state in which said scanner
unit is mounted on said base unit.
30. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 26,
wherein a cable for electrically coupling said base unit to said
scanner unit is led out from a location positioned at a lower
portion of a lateral surface of said base unit.
31. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 26,
wherein the sheet transporting mechanism for said scanner unit
includes feed rollers and a driving motor for driving said feed
rollers so that said scanner unit can operate as a handy scanner of
an automatically running type by using said feed rollers.
32. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 26,
said base unit including a printer unit, wherein a sheet
transporting mechanism of said printer unit includes a feed roller
and a driving motor for driving said feed roller, and wherein a
sheet transporting mechanism for said scanner unit includes a sheet
transporting roller and an encoder for detecting an amount of
rotation of said sheet transporting roller so that said scanner
unit can be operated as a manual type handy scanner.
33. An apparatus equipped with a scanner according to claim 26,
wherein either one of engaging portions of said base unit and said
scanner unit is constituted by a pivotal shaft for allowing said
scanner unit to rotate frontwards, while the other engaging portion
is implemented as a groove or alternatively as a recess for
receiving and holding snugly said pivotal shaft.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus
equipped removably with a scanner unit (also referred to as a
scanner-equipped apparatus) in which a base apparatus or base unit
such as a personal computer, a word processor or the like
incorporating therein a printer unit is combined detachably with a
scanner unit so that the scanner unit itself can also be used
independently as a so-called handy scanner. By way of example, as a
typical one of the scanner-equipped apparatus, there may be
mentioned a printer/scanner combination apparatus which is composed
of a printer unit and a scanner unit combined integrally and
mutually detachably and which provides advantages that the space
demanded for the installation of the apparatus can be reduced when
compared with the space required for installing separately the
printer unit and the scanner unit and that the printer/scanner
combination apparatus can be manufactured at relatively low costs.
Thus, the present invention is particularly concerned with a
printer/scanner combination apparatus which includes a printer unit
and a scanner unit combined detachably such that the scanner unit
can be detached to be used as the handy scanner, to thereby enhance
the utility of the scanning function while ensuring high
manipulatabilty and serviceability for maintenance of the
apparatus.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] In recent years, in the field of data processing with the
personal computer, there arises an increasing tendency of
processing image, graphics and the like data, which is accompanied
with rapid spreading of the scanner apparatus for fetching the
image data.
[0005] In general, the personal computer system is comprised of a
main body, a display unit, a keyboard, a printer, etc.
Consequently, for the installation of the personal computer system,
a considerably large space is demanded. Such being the
circumstances, user who bought a scanner will often bother his or
her head over the place where the scanner is to be installed.
Furthermore, although the scanner is commercially available at
remarkably low price at present, purchase of the scanner means not
a little burden on the consumers.
[0006] Under the circumstances, there have been developed various
scanner-equipped printer apparatuses in which a sensor is mounted
on a carriage of the printer, wherein image reading operation is
carried out by making use of the sheet feed mechanism of the
printer for feeding an image document sheet (i.e., paper or the
like sheet having text, a picture or graphics recorded thereon) in
efforts to implement the scanner at low costs while mitigating the
space demand for the installation of the scanner.
[0007] However, in the case of the conventional scanner-equipped
printer apparatuses known heretofore, the sheet feeding mechanism
is used in common for both the scanning function and the printing
function. Consequently, it has been impossible to use both the
functions at the same time. Further known is such a printer/scanner
combination apparatus in which the reader unit provided for
realizing the scanning function can be detached so as to be used as
a so-called handy scanner. However, because the conventional reader
unit includes no driving mechanism, the handy scanner can be
operated only manually. In order to allow the handy scanner to
operate automatically, it is required to provide a driving
mechanism dedicated for the handy scanner. However, in the
conventional apparatus, the driving mechanism for the handy scanner
is left unused in the state in which the handy scanner is mounted
on the printer unit. Thus, in the conventional printer/scanner
combination apparatus, the efficiency of hardware utilization is
low, which in turn means that the cost-performance of the
conventional printer/scanner combination apparatus is poor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In the light of the state of the art described above, it is
an object of the present invention to provide a scanner-equipped
apparatus which includes automatic sheet feeders separately for a
base unit such as a printer unit or personal computer or word
processor incorporating a printer unit and a scanner unit,
respectively, so that the printing function and the scanning or
reading function can be made use of independently and separately
from each other.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
scanner-equipped apparatus which allows a scanner unit to be
detached for use as a handy scanner which is capable of operating
automatically with high efficiency.
[0010] In view of the above and other objects which will become
apparent as the description proceeds, there is provided according
to a general aspect of the present invention a scanner-equipped
apparatus of such a basic structure in which a base unit such as a
printer, personal computer, word processor or the like and a
scanner unit are disposed substantially vertically or in upstanding
posture in parallel with each other, wherein the scanner unit is
removably or detachably combined with the base unit so that the
scanner unit can be used as a handy scanner. A sheet transporting
path (or document sheet transportation path) for the scanner is
formed between confronting surfaces of the base unit and the
scanner unit when they are combined each other. Besides, the sheet
feeding mechanism for the scanner unit is so implemented as to be
used intact as a driving mechanism for the handy scanner. Thus, the
scanner-equipped apparatus according to the present invention can
be realized in a simplified mechanical structure while ensuring
enhanced manipulatability.
[0011] Fundamental features of the invention as well as preferred
modes for carrying out the invention will be summarized below.
[0012] According to a general or basic feature of the present
invention, the apparatus equipped removably with a scanner or the
scanner-equipped apparatus includes a base unit and a scanner unit
which can be removably mounted on the base unit. The base unit
includes at least a controller, a part of sheet transporting
mechanism and a scanner mounting means for mounting detachably the
scanner unit. The scanner unit includes at least a reading unit,
the remaining part of the sheet transporting mechanism and an
engaging means adapted for engaging the scanner mounting means for
thereby securing the scanner unit onto the base unit.
[0013] In a preferred mode for carrying out the invention, the
scanner unit may be so implemented as to be capable of operating as
a handy scanner in the state where the scanner unit has been
detached from the base unit.
[0014] In another preferred mode for carrying out the invention,
the base unit may be a printer unit.
[0015] In yet another preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, the base unit may be of an automatic sheet feeding type
and include a first sheet transporting path extending substantially
vertically, while the scanner unit may be of an automatic sheet
feeding type and include a second sheet transporting path extending
substantially vertically, wherein the first and second sheet
transporting paths are so disposed as to extend substantially in
parallel and adjacent to each other.
[0016] In a further preferred mode for carrying out the invention,
the sheet transporting path or document sheet transporting path for
the scanner unit may be defined by confronting surfaces of the base
unit and the scanner unit in the state in which the scanner unit is
mounted on the base unit.
[0017] In a yet further preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, the scanner-equipped apparatus may be so arranged that a
pick roller is disposed at a location upstream of the second sheet
transporting path of the scanner unit as viewed in the sheet
transporting direction, while feed rollers are disposed at
locations downstream of the second sheet transportation path for
the scanner unit as viewed in the sheet transporting direction.
[0018] In a still further preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, the pick roller may be made of a material having low
hardness, wherein auxiliary rollers which are made of a material
having high hardness may be disposed at sides of the pick roller,
respectively, for thereby protecting the pick roller when the
scanner unit is used as the handy scanner.
[0019] In yet further preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, the auxiliary rollers may be disposed at locations
outside of a reading region of the scanner unit.
[0020] In another preferred mode for carrying out the invention,
the auxiliary rollers may be disposed in the vicinity of the pick
roller, while grooves may be provided in a surface of the base unit
facing in opposition to the auxiliary rollers.
[0021] In yet another preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, a mark indicating a reading region may be provided at
least on one of a front side portion and a rear side portion of the
scanner unit, while a mark indicating a reading position may be
provided on a lateral side portion of the scanner unit.
[0022] In still another preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, a cable for electrically coupling the scanner unit to
the base unit may be led out from a location positioned at a
lateral surface of the scanner unit.
[0023] In a further preferred mode for carrying out the invention,
a cable for electrically coupling the base unit to the scanner unit
may be led out from a location positioned at a lower portion of a
lateral surface of the base unit.
[0024] In a yet further preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, the sheet transporting mechanism for the scanner unit
may include feed rollers and a driving motor for driving the feed
rollers so that the scanner unit can operate as a handy scanner of
an automatically running type by using the feed rollers.
[0025] In a still further preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, the base unit may include a printer unit, wherein a
sheet transporting mechanism of the printer unit is comprised of a
feed roller and a driving motor for driving the feed roller.
Further, a sheet transporting mechanism for the scanner unit may be
comprised of a sheet transporting roller and an encoder for
detecting an amount of rotation of the sheet transporting roller so
that the scanner unit can be operated as a manual type handy
scanner.
[0026] In another preferred mode for carrying out the invention,
either one of engaging portions of the base unit and the scanner
unit may be constituted by a pivotal shaft for allowing the scanner
unit to rotate or swing frontwards, while the other engaging
portion may be implemented as a groove or alternatively as a recess
for receiving and holding snugly the pivotal shaft.
[0027] In yet another preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, the scanner-equipped apparatus may further include a
lock means including a claw and a projecting member adapted to
engage with the claw for thereby locking the scanner unit in the
state mounted on the base unit.
[0028] In still another preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, the scanner-equipped apparatus mentioned above may
further be so arranged as to include a rotation limiting stopper
means for preventing the scanner unit from swinging excessively
frontwards upon detachment of the scanner unit from the base
unit.
[0029] In still another preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, the scanner-equipped apparatus may additionally be so
arranged as to include a deviation preventing stopper means for
preventing the scanner unit from displacing upwardly in the state
in which the scanner unit is mounted on the base unit.
[0030] In still another preferred mode for carrying out the
invention, the scanner-equipped apparatus described above may be so
arranged as to include a sheet feeding means formed in a wedge-like
shape as viewed in a vertical section by a pair of sheet guides
disposed in opposition to each other so that a space defined
between the pair of sheet guides becomes gradually narrower toward
a sheet withdrawal port, and an offset means provided for at least
one of the paired sheet guides for limiting stepwise the moving of
the sheet toward the sheets withdrawal port.
[0031] The above and other objects, features and attendant
advantages of the present invention will more easily be understood
by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments
thereof taken, only by way of example, in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] In the course of the description which follows, reference is
made to the drawings, in which:
[0033] FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing generally an outer
appearance of a printer/scanner combination apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A shows the
same in a state in which a reader unit is combined with a printer
unit so as to be capable of operating as an automatic paper feed
type scanner unit, and FIG. 1B shows the reader unit dismounted
from the printer unit so that the reader unit can be used as a
handy scanner on a guide plate;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a scanner unit
showing a document sheet feeding mechanism for the reader unit;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a developed view showing a mount/detachment
mechanism for the reader unit;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the reader unit;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the reader unit;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the reader unit;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing schematically an optical
mechanism incorporated in the reader unit;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing two kinds of
sheet transportation paths are provided separately; and
[0041] FIG. 9 is a schematic suctional view of a document sheet
feeding tray in a printer/scanner combination apparatus according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] Now, the present invention will be described in detail in
conjunction with what is presently considered as preferred or
typical embodiments thereof by reference to the drawings. In the
following description, like reference characters designate like or
corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the
following description, it is to be understood that such terms as
"left", "right", "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "lateral",
"vertical", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like are words
of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.
Further, definition of terms used herein will be made. With the
phrase "paper sheet", it is contemplated to encompass a blank sheet
of paper and forms such as letterhead, labels, envelopes, etc. on
which texts, graphics, pictures are to be printed. On the other
hand, with the phrase "document sheet", it is intended to encompass
such sheets or papers on which text, graphics, picture, etc, are
visibly recorded. Of course, photograph and the like are equally
covered by the phrase "document sheet".
[0043] FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing generally an outer
appearance of a printer/scanner combination apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A shows the
same in the state in which a reader unit 1 is combined with a
printer unit 3 so as to be capable of operating as an automatic
paper feed type scanner unit, and FIG. 1B shows the same in the
state in which the reader unit 1 is dismounted from the printer
unit 3 so that the reader unit 1 can be used as a handy scanner on
a guide plate 2.
[0044] In FIG. 1A, major portions of a mechanical structure of the
printer unit 3 are located at the back side of the printer/scanner
combination apparatus and thus they are invisible in this figure.
The printer unit of the printer/scanner combination apparatus shown
in FIG. 1A is implemented in a vertical standing structure, wherein
a paper sheet is discharged through a printed paper delivery port 5
after having been printed by a printing means (not shown). The
reader unit 1 is equipped with a pick roller, a reading window and
feed rollers etc., at a rear surface (which forms a bottom surface
when the reader unit 1 is used as the handy scanner). The scanner
unit is implemented also in a substantially upstanding structure,
wherein a document sheet fed from a document sheet feeding tray 6
is discharged from a scanned document sheet delivery port 7 after
data (image data) on the document sheet have been read out by the
reader unit 1. Parenthetically, an L-shaped auxiliary guide 6a is
provided in association with the document sheet feeding tray 6 for
the purpose of supporting a pile of document sheets of large sizes.
The L-shaped auxiliary guide 6a may be so implemented as to be
capable of supporting the document sheets of various sizes with a
simplified structure.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 1B, in the state where the reader unit 1
is detached from the printer unit to be used as the handy scanner,
as shown in the figure, the reader unit 1 is electrically coupled
to the printer unit 3 by means of a cable (not shown) through which
power supply as well as transmission of control signals and data
can be realized between the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 3.
The guide plate 2 is formed of a transparent material such as
acrylic resin or the like and ordinarily adapted to be disposed on
a document sheet. The reader unit 1 is so dimensioned as to be
snugly fit within a guide frame of the guide plate 2. By moving
slideably the reader unit 1 manually or automatically over the
guide plate 2, a document sheet disposed beneath the guide plate is
scanned, whereby the corresponding image data is read by the reader
unit 1. A reading position mark 1a is indicated at a lateral side
of the reader unit 1, while reading area marks 1b are provided at
the front and rear sides, respectively. These marks serve to aid
the user in positioning the reader unit 1 within the reading region
of the document sheet with accuracy in particular when the original
reading operation is to be carried out without resorting to the use
of the guide plate.
[0046] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the scanner unit
showing a document sheet feeding mechanism of the reader unit 1. A
document sheet transportation path for the scanner unit is formed
between the printer unit and the reader unit 1 when the reader unit
1 is mounted on the printer unit. The reader unit 1 is equipped
with a pick roller 10 and a feed roller 11 which are rotationally
driven by a driving motor 8 through the medium of a driving gear
train generally denoted by reference numeral 9. From a layer or
pile of loose document sheets 12 placed on the document sheet
feeding tray 6, a document sheet is withdrawn downwardly on a
sheet-by-sheet basis through cooperation of the pick roller 10 and
the document sheet separating member 13. The document sheet as
withdrawn from the pile 12 is detected by a document sheet
detection sensor 14 for making preparation for the data reading
operation, which is followed by detection of the leading edge of
the document sheet by a leading/trailing edge detecting sensor 15,
whereupon image data reading operation is started. Subsequently,
upon detection of the trailing edge of the document sheet, the
image data reading operation is terminated. The feed roller 11 and
a follower roller 16 cooperate to feed the scanned document sheet
to a scanned document sheet delivery guide 17. In this conjunction,
it should be mentioned that the scanned document sheet delivery
guide 17 may be so implemented as to serve also as a cover for the
printed paper delivery port 5 of the printer unit 3 shown in FIG.
1A.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a developed view showing a mount/removal mechanism
for the reader unit to be used also as the handy scanner. As will
hereinafter be described in detail by reference to FIGS. 4 and 6,
the reader unit 1 is provided with a pivotal shaft receiving groove
18a, a locking claw receiving groove 20a and a stopper groove 21a,
respectively, so that the reader unit 1 can be mounted removably on
the printer unit at both sides of the reader unit 1 with high
security. Correspondingly, the printer unit 3 is provided with a
pivotal shaft 18b, a locking claw 20b and a stopper 21b which are
adapted to engage with the pivotal shaft receiving groove 18a, the
locking claw 20b and the stopper groove 21a of the reader unit,
respectively.
[0048] The pivotal shaft receiving groove 18a has a bottom opened.
Thus, the reader unit 1 can easily be dismounted from the printer
unit 3 by rotating or turning the reader unit 1 in the
counterclockwise direction, as indicated by an arrow {circle over
(1)}, from the mounted state in which the reader unit 1 is inclined
in the right-hand direction (indicated by a solid line) to a
substantially vertical state (indicated by broken line) and then
lifting upwardly the reader unit 1, as indicated by an arrow
{circle over (2)}. Needless to say, the reader unit 1 can be
mounted by carrying out the procedures indicated by the arrows
{circle over (1)} and {circle over (2)} in the reverse order. In
the state where the reader unit 1 is mounted on the printer unit 3,
the reader unit 1 is prevented from the counterclockwise rotation
so long as a force of predetermined magnitude is not applied
because of the engagement between the locking claw receiving groove
20a and the locking claw 20b. Besides, in addition to the
prevention of the counterclockwise rotation of the reader unit 1,
upward move of the reader unit 1 in the mounted state is prevented
owing to the mutual engagement of the stopper groove 21a and the
stopper 21b. In this manner, the reader unit 1 can be mounted on
the printer unit 3 with significantly high security. Moreover,
since the rotation stopper 19a is formed integrally with the
pivotal shaft receiving groove 18a of the reader unit 1 and extends
downwardly, the rotation of the reader unit 1 can be limited to
within a predetermined angular range because the rotation stopper
19a is received by the rotation stopper receiving groove 19b
provided in association with the printer unit 3 upon
counterclockwise rotation of the reader unit 1. In this manner, the
reader unit 1 can positively be protected against accidental
removal from the printer unit 3 due to inadvertent manipulation of
the user.
[0049] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view showing the reader unit 1, FIG.
5 is a top plan view showing the same, and FIG. 6 is a perspective
view thereof. As can be seen in FIG. 4, a pick roller 22 may be
mounted on the bottom surface of the reader unit 1 at a front and
center location, while a pair of feed rollers 23 are mounted at
right and left positions, respectively, symmetrically relative to
the rear center of the reading window 24. As can be seen in FIG. 5,
each of the pick roller 22 and the feed rollers 23 is driven
rotationally by the driving motor 8 by way of the driving gear
train 9. Thus, when the reader unit 1 is used as the handy scanner,
operation of the scanner can be performed automatically by making
use of the rotational driving force or torque generated by the
electric motor mentioned above. At this juncture, it should be
mentioned that the pick roller 22 is usually made of a relatively
flexible material of low hardness such as urethane resin. In that
case, such situation may occur that the pick roller 22 is collapsed
under the gravity of the reader unit and can not support the reader
unit. In order to avoid such situation as mentioned above, there is
provided an auxiliary rollers 22a made of a material of high
hardness which serves for supporting the reader unit 1 so that the
pick roller 22 does not apply excessive pressure onto the guide
plate or the top surface of the document sheet. The auxiliary
rollers 22a are disposed outside of the reading region 24 in order
to protect the surface of the document sheet 12 against injury, as
can be seen in FIG. 4. In this conjunction, it should be mentioned
that the width of the auxiliary rollers 22a may be increased and
mounted in the vicinity of the pick roller 22 so that the auxiliary
rollers 22a can rotate freely coaxially with the pick roller
22.
[0050] FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an optical mechanism 25
incorporated in the reader unit 1. The reading position is defined
at the reading window 24 described hereinbefore by reference to
FIG. 4. Light rays reflected from the document sheet to be read out
and impinging into the optical mechanism through the reading window
24 reflections a number of times at a plurality of mirrors 25a to
be collected by a lens 25b and received by a charge coupled device
25c which serves for converting the optical information into an
electric signal.
[0051] At this juncture, it should be mentioned that the printer
unit and the scanner unit of the printer/scanner combination
apparatus according to the instant embodiment of the invention have
sheet transportation paths (i.e., the paper sheet transportation
path and the document sheet transportation path) provided
separately for the printer unit and the scanner unit, respectively.
Ordinarily, the printer unit is in the state where a pile of paper
sheets is set or placed on the paper sheet feeding tray, while for
the scanner unit, various kinds of the document sheets to be
scanned or read out are set or placed on the document sheet feeding
tray 6 every time the reading operation is desired. In this
conjunction, if a transportation path is provided in common to the
paper sheet and the document sheet for the printer unit and the
scanner unit, as mentioned hereinbefore, troublesome work will be
required for exchanging the paper sheets and the document sheets,
incurring possibility of the paper sheets and the document sheet
being erroneously mixed together. Accordingly, in the case of the
printer/scanner combination apparatus according to the instant
embodiment of the invention, the paper sheet transportation path
and the document sheet transportation path are provided separately
for the printer unit and the scanner unit, respectively.
Furthermore, it is desirable that the document sheets can be placed
at the document sheet feeding tray 6 more easily when compared with
the setting of blank paper sheets. To this end, the document sheet
transportation path for the scanner unit should be disposed at a
position near to the front side of the apparatus, as viewed in FIG.
1A.
[0052] FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the printer/scanner
combination apparatus in which the two sheet transportation paths
(i.e., the paper sheet transportation path and the document sheet
transportation path) are provided separately, as mentioned above.
In the printer unit 3, the paper sheet placed as a pile at the
paper sheet feeding tray 4 for the printer is automatically
transported on a sheet-by-sheet basis along the paper sheet
transportation path 30 as indicated by an arrow. After having been
printed by a printing head 28, the printed paper sheet is
discharged from the printed paper delivery port 5. On the other
hand, in the scanner unit portion having the reading window 24
mounted on the printer unit, the document sheet placed on the
document sheet feeding tray 6 is automatically fed into the reader
unit 1 on a sheet-by-sheet basis. The document sheet undergone the
reading operation is transported along the document sheet
transportation path 31 as indicated by an arrow to be discharged
from the document sheet withdrawal port 35.
[0053] As can be seen in FIG. 8, the sheet transportation paths for
the printer unit and the scanner unit are provided substantially in
parallel with each other.
[0054] Since the printer unit and the scanner unit of the
printer/scanner combination apparatus according to the instant
embodiment of the invention are combined together and disposed at
rear and front sides (as viewed in FIG. 1) or at left and right
sides, respectively, as viewed in FIG. 8, the document sheet
feeding tray 6 disposed at the front side (right-hand side as
viewed in FIG. 8) may present an obstacle to the setting or
positioning of a pile of paper sheets on the paper sheet feeding
tray 4 for the printer. To cope with this problem, the document
sheet feeding tray 6 should preferably be so implemented as to be
pivotally inclined to the front side, as viewed in FIG. 1 (or to
the right-hand side, as viewed in FIG. 8) within a predetermined
angular range. It should also be noted that the printer
cover/document sheet guide means 29 serves not only as the cover
for the printing mechanism of the printer unit but also as the
guide for the document sheet which has undergone the reading
operation by the scanner unit. Consequently, the printer
cover/document sheet guide means 29 should preferably be so
implemented that it can be inclined toward the front side or
removed in order to facilitate the maintenance of the printing
mechanism.
[0055] FIG. 9 is a schematic suctional view of the document sheet
feeding tray in the printer/scanner combination apparatus according
to the instant embodiment of the invention. Referring to the
figure, a document sheet guide 32 and an auxiliary document sheet
guide member 33 are disposed in opposition to each other in such
orientation that the space defined between the document sheet guide
32 and the auxiliary document sheet guide member 33 becomes
narrower gradually toward a document sheet withdrawal port 35. To
say in another way, the vertical section of the space between the
document sheet guide 32 and the auxiliary document sheet guide
member 33 presents substantially a wedge-like shape. By virtue of
such arrangement, the document sheet is fed automatically into the
printer/scanner combination apparatus essentially on a
sheet-by-sheet even when a pile of document sheets is placed on the
document sheet feeding tray 6. However, when the number of the
document sheets contained in the pile is excessively large, there
may take place jamming of the document sheets at or in the vicinity
of the document sheet withdrawal port 35 under the weight of the
document sheets as piled. To evade this problem, the document sheet
guide 32 should preferably be provided with an offset portion 34 in
order to prevent the load of all the document sheets piled from
being concentrated to the document sheet withdrawal port 35. In
this conjunction, it should be noted that a plurality of such
offset portions 34 may be provided although only one offset portion
34 is shown in FIG. 9. Additionally, such offset portion may be
provided in the auxiliary document sheet guide member 33 as well.
Parenthetically, the offset portion is imparted with a lenient
inclination so that the document sheet can slidably move downwardly
to the document sheet withdrawal port 35.
[0056] Many features and advantages of the present invention are
apparent from the detailed description and thus it is intended by
the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of
the system which fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and combinations
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not intended
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
illustrated and described.
[0057] By way of example, in the printer/scanner combination
apparatus described above, the driving motor 8 and the feed rollers
11 are incorporated in the reader unit 1 so that the reader unit 1
can be operated independently. However, the present invention is
never restricted to the implementation of the reader unit 1 in the
form of the handy scanner which can be operated automatically.
Furthermore, the driving mechanism may be incorporated in the base
unit (printer unit) with the reader unit 1 being constituted by the
following roller and the position detecting encoder. In that case,
the reader unit can be implemented in a miniaturized structure of
light weight. When the handy scanner is manipulated on the guide
plate, the cable is likely to provide an obstacle to the
manipulation or operation of the handy scanner. Accordingly, the
cable interconnecting the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 3 may
preferably be secured to lower side portions of the reader unit 1
and the printer unit 3, respectively, while a cable clamp member
for securing the cable to the guide plate may be provided in
association with the latter.
[0058] Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
[0059] As will now be apparent from the foregoing description, it
is possible to combine the scanner unit with a base unit such as a
printer unit, personal computer, word processor or the like
incorporating a printer unit so that the printer unit and the
scanner unit can be operated independent of each other. Thus, the
space required for installing the base unit and the scanner unit
can be reduced significantly. Besides, the scanner unit can be
easily detached or removed from the base unit and used as an
automatically or manually operated handy scanner essentially
without need for provision of any additional means. Thus, the
utility efficiency of the printer/scanner combination apparatus can
be enhanced remarkably as a whole nevertheless of low manufacturing
cost.
* * * * *