Image formation system and connection unit

• US 9,667,821 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Matsunami, Toshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Worku, Negussie
• Application Number:
  US15/065,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20160269581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 235439, 235379, 235492, 455 78, 4555521, 455 412, 4554561, 455 83, 375219, 375220, 375349, 358 115
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00557 Connection or assembly of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00907 Details of supply connection, e.g. arrangement of power cables H04N1/00901 and H04N1/00904 take precedence

Abstract

An image reading system is configured by integrally assembling a flatbed scanner apparatus and a sheet-fed scanner apparatus using a separate component, a connection unit. A circuit substrate for a power source system and a communication system is disposed in the connection unit. The circuit substrate includes a power source input connector to which power is input, a power divider that divides power input from the power source input connector into plural types, and a power source output connector and a communication connector that output each power divided by the power divider to each scanner apparatus.

Claims

1. An image reading system in which a plurality of image reading apparatuses is connected by a connection unit, the system comprising:

the plurality of image reading apparatuses; and

the connection unit,

wherein the connection unit includes;

a power receiver to which power is input,

a power divider that divides power input from the power receiver into plural types of power, and

a plurality of power outputters that outputs each power divided by the power divider to the plurality of image reading apparatuses,

wherein the plurality of power outputters includes a first power outputter and a second power outputter,

the first power outputter includes a first connector that is configured of either a communication connector having a power supply function or a power source output connector, and

the second power outputter includes a second connector that is configured of either a communication connector having a power supply function or a power source output connector.

2. The image reading system according to claim 1,

wherein the power receiver receives power through a power source adapter that converts an alternating current input from a power source into a direct current and outputs the direct current.

3. The image reading system according to claim 1,

wherein the first connector is a communication connector, and

the second connector is a power source output connector.

4. The image reading system according to claim 3,

wherein the first connector is a first communication connector that is connected to a first image reading apparatus through a communication cable, and

the connection unit includes

a host communication connector that is communicably connectable to a host apparatus,

the first communication connector, and

a second communication connector that is connected through a communication cable to a second image reading apparatus to which the power source output connector is connected through a power source cable.

5. The image reading system according to claim 4,

wherein the first communication connector supplies power of a predetermined value or more to a unit connected thereto, and

the second communication connector supplies power less than the predetermined value to a unit connected thereto.

6. The image reading system according to claim 5,

wherein a substrate constituting a circuit substrate is arranged in the connection unit at a position lined up with the first image reading apparatus in a direction intersecting a height direction of the first image reading apparatus attached to the connection unit and is arranged in a direction in which a mounting face thereof intersects the height direction,

the substrate has a predetermined plate shape surrounded by a plurality of sides,

the second communication connector is arranged on a first side that is positioned on an opposite side of the substrate from the first image reading apparatus, and

the first communication connector is arranged on a second side that intersects the first side in the substrate and arranged in a direction in which a direction of connection thereto intersects a direction of connection to the second communication connector.

7. The image reading system according to claim 6,

wherein the power outputter connected to the second image reading apparatus through a power source cable and the second communication connector connected to the second image reading apparatus through a communication cable are adjacently arranged in the connection unit.

8. The image reading system according to claim 7,

wherein the plurality of image reading apparatuses includes a flatbed image reading apparatus and a sheet-fed image reading apparatus.

9. A connection unit for the image reading system according to claim 8, the unit comprising:

a docking unit to which a plurality of image reading apparatuses is attached;

a power receiver to which power is input;

a power divider that divides power input from the power receiver into plural types; and

a plurality of power outputters that outputs each power divided by the power divider to the plurality of image reading apparatuses.

10. The image reading system according to claim 1,

wherein the first connector is a power source output connector, and

the second connector is a power source output connector.

11. The image reading system according to claim 10,

wherein the connection unit includes a circuit substrate,

a power source connector group of a power source system including each connector of the power receiver and the power outputter and a communication connector group of a communication system are arranged as separate groups in a substrate constituting the circuit substrate, and

each power source line connected to the power source connectors and to the communication connectors and each communication line connected to the communication connectors are arranged along non-intersecting paths in the substrate.

12. The image reading system according to claim 11,

wherein a step down circuit that steps down a power source voltage input from a power source input connector of the power source connectors to a predetermined voltage and outputs the stepped down voltage to two or more communication connectors to which the plurality of image reading apparatuses is connected and a communication controller circuit that controls communication performed through the communication connectors are mounted in the substrate constituting the circuit substrate.

13. The image reading system according to claim 12,

wherein two power source lines that connect output terminals of the step down circuit and two communication connectors positioned at both ends of the communication connector group and a plurality of communication lines that connects the communication controller circuit and the communication connector group are arranged in the substrate, and

the two power source lines extending from the step down circuit are arranged along paths that surround the communication controller circuit and the plurality of communication lines on at least two sides.

14. The image reading system according to claim 13,

wherein the communication lines are formed in the substrate along wiring paths that are surrounded by a ground layer formed in the substrate on at least three sides.

15. An image reading system comprising:

a plurality of image reading apparatuses that include a first scanner apparatus and a second scanner apparatus; and

a connection unit,

wherein the first scanner apparatus is attached to the connection unit in a state where a part of the first scanner apparatus is inserted into the connection unit,

wherein the second scanner apparatus is attached to the connection unit in a state mounted on the connection unit,

wherein the connection unit connects electrically between the first scanner apparatus and the second scanner apparatus when the first scanner apparatus and the second scanner apparatus are docked, and

the connection unit includes;

a power receiver to which power is input,

a power divider that divides power input from the power receiver into plural types of power, and

a plurality of power outputters that outputs each power divided by the power divider to the plurality of image reading apparatuses.