JP2001088400A - Optional device connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To reduce the cost burden of a power supply part for a user of a main unit that does not require an optional device and for a user who uses an optional device connected to the main unit. I do. A power is supplied to an option device from an AC portion of a power supply circuit including an AC portion and a DC portion of a main body device. The main body device 101 and the optional device 102 are provided with connectors, respectively, and can be connected to each other. These connectors are used at least for power supply. Further, a shutter mechanism 109 is provided, and when the connector is electrically connected, power supply to the optional device 102 is stopped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optional device connecting device, and more particularly to an optional device connecting device for connecting an optional device to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a main unit such as a printer includes:
Optional devices such as an image scanner, an envelope feeder, a paper feed deck, and a sorter may be connected.

[0003] The power supply in such an optional device is as follows.
Conventionally, DC power is supplied from the main unit, or
An AC adapter for converting from an AC power supply to a DC power supply is provided separately and independently of the main unit.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional optional device, when DC power is supplied from the main unit, there is a problem that the cost of the power supply circuit of the main unit increases. In other words, in the power supply circuit of the main unit, it is necessary to supply a large amount of current in consideration of the current capacity to be supplied to the optional device, and it is necessary to increase the current capacity of electric components constituting the power supply circuit. It will increase the cost.
This imposes a cost burden on the user of the main unit which does not need the optional device.

Furthermore, since the rated power supply load of the main unit is set to be large, the load range to be covered by the main unit power supply is widened, and it has been difficult to realize an optimum power supply design (cost and energy saving).

When an AC adapter is provided separately from the main unit, the cost of the main unit can be reduced, but it is necessary to provide an AC adapter on the optional device side. The total cost including the equipment has been increased. That is, the power supply circuit originally has many parts that can be shared in common, and when an optional device is connected to the main device, the common components are wastefully provided, and even more, the number of optional devices connected to the main device increases. The total cost increase was a major problem.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and is intended for both a user of a main unit which does not require an optional device and a user who connects an optional device to the main unit. It is another object of the present invention to provide an optional device main body connection device in which the cost burden on a power supply portion is reduced.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for connecting an optional device to a main unit having a power supply circuit comprising an AC section and a DC section. A power supply unit provided in the main unit and configured to supply power to the optional device from an AC part of a power supply circuit of the main unit; and a power supply unit provided in the main unit and provided at least by the power supply unit. A connector used to supply power to the optional device.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the connector is electrically connected to the connector on the option device side, the power supply to the option device by the power supply means is temporarily stopped. It is characterized by further having a supply stopping means for stopping.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, the connector is used not only for power supply by the power supply means but also for communication of a control signal performed between the main unit and the optional device. It is characterized by that.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a main unit and an optional device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a main unit,
102 is an optional device. Reference numeral 103 denotes a commercial power supply. Electric power from the commercial power supply 103 is supplied to the main device 101, and is sent to the low-voltage power supply unit 106 via the filter unit 104 and the rectifier circuit 105. The filter unit 104 includes a power switch, a current fuse, a varistor, a capacitor, and the like. The rectifier circuit 105 is a full-wave rectifier circuit including a diode bridge, an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, and the like. The low-voltage power supply unit 106 converts the commercial power supply voltage to a low voltage, and supplies power to the control unit 107, the actuator 108, and the like.

The optional device 102 is a main device 101
The output from the filter unit 104 is output to the shutter mechanism 109.
Through the rectifier circuit 110 and the low-voltage power supply unit 112, and power is supplied to the control unit 113, the actuator 114, and the like. Reference numeral 115 denotes a signal line connecting the control units 107 and 113, and is used for communication between the main device 101 and the optional device 102.

FIG. 4 shows a main unit 101 as a printer,
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a circuit example when an optional device 102 is an image scanner.

Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a printer;
Is an image scanner, and the commercial power supply is a printer 40.
1 inlet 403 and the power switch 40
4. Connected to the filter unit 406 via the current fuse 405. 407 is a rectifier circuit, and 408 is a low voltage power supply unit.

Reference numeral 409 denotes a fixing unit for thermally fixing toner on paper in an electrophotographic process. Control unit 4
12, a high-voltage power supply unit (not shown), an optical scanning unit (not shown),
It controls a paper transport unit (not shown) and prints image data from a host computer (not shown) on paper.
Reference numerals 410 and 411 denote various actuators included in these units. The output of the low-voltage power supply unit 408 is sent to the actuators 410 and 411 and the control unit 412.

Reference numeral 413 denotes a shutter mechanism interlocked with the power switch 404 of the printer 401.

In the image scanner 402, 421
Is a rectifier circuit, and 420 is a low voltage power supply unit. Reference numeral 414 denotes a control unit on the image scanner 402 side; 419, a document presence / absence sensor; 418, a document leading edge detection sensor; 415, a contact type contact image sensor;
Reference numeral 417 denotes a motor for transporting the original.

The control section 414 detects the document by the document detection sensor 419 and, upon receiving a document reading command from the control section 412, starts the document transport by the document transport section 416. Then, the document is read by the contact image sensor 415 in accordance with the input timing of the document leading edge detection signal from the document leading edge detection sensor 418. The image signal from the contact image sensor 415 is
01 to be used for printing or transferred to the host computer.

The output of the low-voltage power supply unit 420 is
4, the contact image sensor 415 and the document transport unit 4
Sent to 16 actuators.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the structure of the shutter mechanism 413 (109 in FIG. 1). FIG. 2 shows the state before the image scanner 402 and the printer 401 are connected, and FIG. 3 shows the state after the connection.

2 and 3, reference numeral 208 denotes a power switch; 213, a connector on the image scanner side;
Is a connector on the printer side. Reference numeral 203 denotes a shutter for selecting whether to connect the image scanner 402 and the printer 401. 212 is an image scanner 402
And a lid that is removed by the user when connected. The shutter 203 is connected to a spring 211, and is always pulled in a direction to close the shutter 203.
The power switch 208 is connected to the member 204 via the member 207. The member 204 is rotated clockwise around the fulcrum 205 by turning on the power switch 208 and counterclockwise by turning off the member. Power switch 20
8 is connected to the member 204 via the member 207,
It can be located in a location that is easy for the user to access. Member 2
04 is the shutter 2 when rotating in the counterclockwise direction.
The shutter 203 is moved to the left and the shutter 203 is moved to the right when rotating clockwise. However, when the movement is obstructed when the shutter 203 is moving to the right, the shutter 203 is moved. Is left in that position and rotated clockwise.

With this configuration, the power switch 208
Is in the ON state, the shutter 203 is closed,
Even if the user removes the lid 212, the image scanner 402 cannot be connected to the printer 401. That is, the image scanner 402 is connected to the printer 4
01, the connection cannot be established unless the power switch 208 is turned off. It should be noted that once the image scanner 4
02 is connected to the printer 401, the power switch 2
08 in the OFF direction, the shutter 203 stops at the position corresponding to the connector 213, and the power switch 20 is turned off.
8 further moves in the OFF direction to be in the OFF state. That is, after the image scanner 402 is connected to the printer 401, the shutter 203 is turned ON / OFF of the power switch 208.
It is a mechanism that does not hinder turning off.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the ON / OFF state of the power switch of the main unit (printer) and the open / closed state of the connector shutter with respect to the presence or absence of the connection of the optional device (image scanner).

A column 701 shows ON / OFF of a power switch of the main unit (printer), a column 702 shows whether or not an optional device (image scanner) is connected, and a column 703 shows an open / closed state of a connector shutter. Main unit power switch is O
At N (704, 705), the connector shutter is closed (712) only when the image scanner is not connected (708, 710).

As described above, in the first embodiment, the cost reduction is achieved by sharing the filter unit 104 in which the performance of the components is not so affected by the magnitude of the supplied current capacity between the main unit and the optional unit. In addition, the main unit has a shutter mechanism linked to the power switch to ensure user safety when connecting optional devices to the main unit, prevent deterioration due to rush current of the connector, and improve usability. are doing.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described.

Since the configuration of the second embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, the configuration of the first embodiment will be used in the description of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the connector 21 shown in FIGS.
3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a structure of a connector 3 and a connector 209, wherein FIG. 3A is a side view and FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numerals 502 to 515 denote contact electrodes of the connector. In this example, the contact electrodes 506 to 50 are used.
8, 513 to 515 are contact electrodes for control signals.
03, 505, 509, 511 and 512 are contact electrodes for power supply. Reference numerals 502, 504, and 510 are empty spaces. The contact electrode 513 is a ground electrode for a control signal, and the contact electrodes 505, 511, and 512 are contact electrodes for power ground (for frame ground).
The contact electrodes 503 and 509 are power supply high voltage contact electrodes. The contact electrodes 503 and 509 are used for a high voltage of a power supply, and are applied with voltages having opposite phases. Therefore, the contact electrodes 503 and 509 are arranged at positions oblique to each other so as to avoid leakage between them.

As described above, the contact electrode for power supply,
A control signal contact electrode and a contact electrode are arranged in one connector,
A power supply line and a control signal communication line can be connected by a single connection operation, and a power supply ground (frame ground connection) is provided between the power supply high voltage contact electrode and the control signal contact electrode. By arranging the contact electrodes of (1), safety (user, device) at the time of connection can be secured at low cost.

In addition to the arrangement of the contact electrodes of the connector shown in FIG. 5, the contact electrodes may be formed in a structure as shown in FIG.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views showing another structure of the connector, wherein FIG. 6A is a side view and FIG. 6B is a plan view.

Each of the contact electrodes 602 to 615 corresponds to each of the contact electrodes 602 to 615 in FIG. 5, but in the configuration of FIG. 6, the length of the contact electrodes is set to the contact electrodes 605, 611, and 612 for power ground. , The control signal ground electrode 613 is made the second longest, and the control signal electrode 60
6 to 608, 614, 615 and power supply high voltage electrode 60
3,609 is the shortest.

Thus, when connecting the connectors, the contact electrodes 605, 611, 612 for the power ground are connected.
Are connected first and the adverse effect due to the electric power charged to the primary side of the power supply can be prevented. Next, the ground electrode 613 of the control signal is connected, so that the ground potential of the DC circuit of the optional device can be set to the same potential as the ground potential of the DC circuit of the main device, so that the connection can be performed more safely. Can be.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a printer 801 and an image scanner 80 according to a third embodiment.
2 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of FIG.

In the first embodiment, the output from the filter unit 406 is supplied to the image scanner 402 as shown in FIG. 4, but in the third embodiment, the output from the filter unit 806 is supplied as shown in FIG. Also, the output of the later rectifier circuit 807 is supplied to the image scanner 802.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 807 denotes a rectifier circuit of the printer 801, which is composed of a diode bridge and a smoothing aluminum electrolytic capacitor. Power is supplied to the image scanner 802 from the output side of the diode bridge.

As a result, the image scanner 802 does not require a diode bridge of a rectifier circuit, and the cost of the image scanner 802 can be reduced.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, another device is provided that supplies power from the low-voltage power supply unit of the main unit to the optional device and that performs the connection between the connector and the power switch.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a main unit and an optional device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a main unit, and 1002 denotes an optional device. Reference numeral 1003 denotes a commercial power supply, and the power from the commercial power supply 1003 is
001 and the filter unit 1004 and the rectifier circuit 1
After passing through 005, it is sent to the low voltage power supply unit 1006. The filter unit 1004 includes a power switch, a current fuse, a varistor, a capacitor, and the like. The rectifier circuit 1005 is a full-wave rectifier circuit including a diode bridge, an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, and the like. The low-voltage power supply unit 1006 converts the commercial power supply voltage to a low voltage, and controls the control unit 1007 and the actuator 1
008 or the like.

The optional device 1002 is a main device 10
01 is output from the transformer constituting the low-voltage power supply unit 1006 to the shutter mechanism 1009 and the power switch 1015.
Through the low-voltage power supply unit 1010 and the control unit 10
13, power is supplied to the actuator 1014 and the like.
Reference numeral 1015 denotes a signal line connecting the control units 1007 and 1013, and is used for communication between the main device 1001 and the optional device 1002.

The contact of the power switch 1015 is
6, and operates in conjunction with the main unit 100.
1 and is stored in a concave portion 1017 provided in the main body device 1001. These will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 shows the power switch 1015 and the projection 10
16A and 16B are diagrams showing the configuration and operation of the concave portion 1017 and the connector 1009, wherein FIG. 14A shows a state before connection between the main device 1001 and the optional device 1002, FIG. It is a figure showing a state after. Note that connectors 903 and 904 in FIG. 9 correspond to connector 1009 in FIG.

In FIG. 9A, reference numeral 903 denotes the main unit 1.
Reference numeral 904 denotes a connector on the optional device 1002 side. The protrusion 1016 is integrated with the contact 908 of the power switch 1015 and is urged upward by a spring 907.

When the optional device 1002 is the main device 100
9 and is moved to the position shown in FIG. 9B, the protrusion 1016 is pushed by the main body device 1001, the contact 908 is separated, and the power switch 1015 is opened. Next, the optional device 1002 is
When the connector 901 is further inserted, the connector 903 and the connector 904 are connected. And finally, FIG.
As shown in (C), the protrusion 1016 is accommodated in the recess 1017, and the power switch 1015 is closed again.

That is, the connector 903 and the connector 90
4 is electrically connected, the power supply current is prevented from flowing between the connector 903 and the connector 904, thereby preventing the connector from being deteriorated due to an inrush current.

The power switch configuration as shown in FIG. 9 may be applied to the first to third embodiments.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the same effect can be obtained even if the positional relationship between the main device 1001 and the optional device 1002 is reversed.

[0052]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in the main unit and the optional unit, the portion where the performance of the component parts is not greatly affected by the magnitude of the supplied current capacity is shared to reduce the cost. Also, by preventing power supply current from flowing from the main unit to the optional device when the connector is connected, user safety is ensured when the optional device is connected to the main unit, prevention of deterioration due to rush current of the connector, and improvement of usability. Has been realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a main device and an optional device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a shutter mechanism before connection between an image scanner and a printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a shutter mechanism after connection between the image scanner and the printer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit in a case where a main body device is a printer and an optional device is an image scanner.

5A and 5B are diagrams showing the structure of the connector shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein FIG. 5A is a side view and FIG. 5B is a plan view.

6A and 6B are diagrams showing another structure of the connector, wherein FIG. 6A is a side view and FIG. 6B is a plan view.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an open / closed state of a connector shutter with respect to ON / OFF of a power switch of a main body device and connection / non-connection of an optional device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a printer and an image scanner according to a third embodiment.

9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a configuration and an operation of a power switch, a convex portion, a concave portion, and a connector. FIG. 9A illustrates a state before connection between a main device and an optional device, FIG. (C) is a diagram showing a state after connection.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a main device and an optional device according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 main unit 102 optional device 103 commercial power supply 104 filter unit 105 rectifier circuit 106 low-voltage power supply unit 107 control unit 108 actuator 109 shutter mechanism 110 rectifier circuit 112 low-voltage power supply unit 113 control unit 114 actuator 115 signal line

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An optional device main body connection device for connecting an optional device to a main device provided with a power supply circuit including an AC part and a DC part, wherein the AC part of a power supply circuit of the main body device is provided in the main body device. A power supply unit for supplying power to the option device; and a connector provided in the main body device and used at least for power supply to the option device by the power supply unit. Body connection device. 2. The power supply means supplies power to the option device from between at least the current fuse and the diode bridge among at least a power switch, a current fuse, a diode bridge, and a transformer constituting the AC section. 2. The optional device main body connection device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The power supply means supplies power to the optional device from between the diode bridge and the transformer among at least a power switch, a current fuse, a diode bridge, and a transformer constituting the AC section. 2. The optional device connection device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The power supply means for supplying power to the option device from the transformer among at least a power switch, a current fuse, a diode bridge, and a transformer constituting the AC portion. Optional device main body connection device described. 5. A power supply stop means for temporarily stopping power supply to the option device by the power supply means when the connector is electrically connected to the connector on the option device side. The optional device main body connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. A supply stop means provided on the main unit side, for preventing connection of the connector with a connector on the optional unit side, and a shutter provided on the main unit side, a power supply of the main unit. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an interlocking operation unit that moves the shutter in conjunction with an operation of a switch. 7. The supply stopping means is provided on the option device side and cuts off a power supply from the main unit, and interlocks with a connection operation between the connector and the connector on the option device side. 6. The option device main body connection device according to claim 5, further comprising interlocking operation means for operating the cutoff switch. 8. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is used for communication of a control signal performed between the main unit and the optional device in addition to the power supply by the power supply unit. The optional device main body connection device according to claim 7. 9. The connector has a contact electrode used for power supply by the power supply means and a contact electrode used for communication of the control signal, and a frame ground electrode is arranged between the two electrodes. 9. The connection device for an optional device main body according to claim 8, wherein the connection is performed. 10. The connecting device according to claim 9, wherein the lengths of the contact electrodes are different from each other.