JPH02222220A - Interunit communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obviate the need for a cable or the like, to facilitate handling and to avoid the occurrence of inconvenience relating to various noses by using a communication means isolated electrically. CONSTITUTION:Positioning pins 8, 9 are fitted respectively to positioning holes 10, 11 to couple a printer 1 and a sorter 3 in a prescribed relation. Thus, communication is attained between light emitting elements 12, 12' and light receiving elements 13, 13' isolated electrically automatically. Then required information is exchanged and recording paper discharged from the printer 1 is sorted in sorter paper trays 5-7. Thus, the coupling between units is facilitated and no communication is applied via an electric signal line to solve a problem relating to noise or the like.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an inter-unit communication device that performs a communication function between two units when they are coupled. [Prior Art] Conventionally, the means for communicating between units in order to combine them to obtain new functions has been carried out using electrical signal fibers such as cables that electrically connect the units. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above conventional example has the following drawbacks. (1) A cable is required to connect the two units, and the connection work is troublesome. (2) Since there is a cable, when doing some work (for example,
- The cable gets in the way when you occasionally move the unit apart to perform adjustment work. (3) Since electrical connections are made using cables, radiation noise emitted from the cables becomes a problem, and a lot of time and money are required to take countermeasures. (4) When electrostatic discharge occurs in one unit, noise may be transmitted through the cable, causing the other unit to malfunction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an inter-unit communication device that performs communication between two units using electrically isolated communication means in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. [Summary of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, one unit is provided with a transmitting means, and the other unit is provided with a receiving means electrically isolated from the transmitting means. When both units are connected via the positioning mechanism,
These three transmitting/receiving means and the positioning mechanism are arranged so that communication is possible between the three transmitting means and the receiving means. As a result, the inter-unit communication device can easily connect the units, and since communication is not performed via the electrical line 14, problems related to noise and the like are eliminated.

【Example】

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the present invention in detail. In the figure, l is the printer, 2 is a paper cassette, 3 is a sorter, 4 is a paper output tray of the printer 1, 5, 6.7 is a paper output tray of the sorter 3, and 8.9 is a positioning bin that constitutes a positioning mechanism. , 10.11 are the same (positioning holes, 1212' is a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode, 13, i3: is a light receiving element such as a photodiode, 14.14' is a hole for optical communication provided on the top surface of the printer l) Window 15. 15' is a window for passing light provided on the bottom surface of the sorter, 16 is a paper discharge port to the sorter 3 on the printer l side, and 17 is a paper feed port of the sorter 3.
8.18' is the light emitting element 12.12' and the light receiving element! 3.1
3' optical axis. By fitting the positioning bins 8.9 into the positioning holes 1O111, the printer 1 and the sorter 3 are coupled in a predetermined relationship, thereby enabling optical communication between the two and exchanging necessary information, for example, The recording paper discharged by the printer 1 is sorted into the sorter discharge tray 5%6.7. FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration block diagram illustrating the optical communication system of this embodiment. 101 is a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that controls the printer 1; 102 and 102' are detection circuits that detect whether or not the light receiving elements 13 and 13' have received light; 103 is a CPU that controls the sorter 3; 1
04 and 104' are drive circuits that drive one light emitting element 12 and 12', respectively. Attach the sorter 3 to the printer l in a predetermined relationship after fixing the rain noise with a fixing means (not shown).
When the power is turned on, CPU10I is connected to the serial transmitter board r
A status request command is sent from the XD to the light emitting element 12'. This command causes the light emitting element 12' and the drive circuit 1 to
04' becomes light No. 13 (for example, created by flashing the light emitting element 12'), and the sorter 3 is correctly connected to the printer 1.
If the optical signal is fixed to
Input to XD. 'When the CPULO3 receives the status request command, it returns the status from the serial transmission port TxD. The status is converted into an optical signal by the light emitting element 12 and the driving circuit 104, and is input to the serial receiving port R×D of the microprocessor 101 via the light receiving element and the detection circuit 102. As a result, the CPU 10I determines that the sorter 3 has been correctly inserted, and in the next step, the sorter control i! Commands are sent from the serial transmission port TXD to control the sorter 3 in the same manner as described above. If the status is not returned within a specified time even after sending the status request command, the CPU IO1 of the printer 1 determines that the sorter 3 is not present (or the sorter 3 is inserted incorrectly), and in the next step No control is provided. As described above, when the printer 1 and the sorter 3 are connected via the 1 positioning 111 structure 8.9.1011, the
Light emitting elements 12.12 electrically isolated from each other
′ and the light-receiving elements 13, 13′ become possible. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the CPU tol that controls the above-mentioned contents. In step 201, a status request command is sent, and in step 202, it is checked whether or not the status return timer is running.If the status return timer is not running, the status return timer is started in step 203, and in step 204, it is checked whether or not the status return is being executed. Determine whether If no status is returned, step 202
If the status is returned, it is determined in step 205 that the sorter 3 is present, and the process proceeds to the next step (not shown). If the status return timer is not running in step 202, it is checked in step 206 whether or not the status return timer time is longer than the specified time Tsec.
At step 7, it is determined that the sorter 3 is not present, and the process proceeds to the next step (not shown). FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control of the CPU 103 on the sorter 3 side. In step 301, it is checked whether a status request command is present or not, and if a status request comment is present, the status is returned in step 302 and the process proceeds to the next step (not shown). In this way, it is possible to automatically check whether or not both units are connected in a normal positional relationship. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment. In the second example,
Magnetic communication is performed using an IQ generation means and a magnetic detection means as communication means. 21.21' is a coil (with or without an iron core), and 22.22' is a magnetic sensor (for example, a Hall element). A circuit configuration block diagram explaining the communication method of this example. In FIG. 6, when the power is turned on, the CP of printer l is
The status request command from LI 101 is sent to coil 2.
1 and a coil drive circuit 24 to generate a magnetic signal. This magnetic signal is detected by the magnetic sensor 22 when the sorter 3 is inserted, and is input to the CPU 103 of the sorter 3. When the CPU 103 receives this command, it returns the status from the serial transmission port TXD, and this status is converted into a magnetic signal by the coil 21' and the drive circuit 24', and is input to the serial reception port RXD of the CPU10I via the magnetic sensor 22'. Ru. Other operations are the same as in the first embodiment. In the second example,
Since there is no need to create a special window or the like to form the optical path as in the first embodiment, there is no possibility of dust entering through such a window and having an adverse effect.Furthermore, since there is no window, it is aesthetically pleasing. is also excellent. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the communication method of the third embodiment. In this example, ultrasound is used as the communication medium. Serial transmission port TXD of CPU 101 of printer l
The output signal (status request command, etc.) is converted into an ultrasonic wave by an ultrasonic oscillation circuit 33 and an ultrasonic transmitting element 31 (using magnetostrictive effect or piezoelectric effect).
This ultrasonic wave passes through an ultrasonic receiving element 32 (using a piezoelectric crystal or a hot wire microphone) and an ultrasonic receiving circuit 34.
The serial receiving port RXD of the PU 103 is powered by one person. Similarly, signals (status, etc.) output from the serial transmission port TXD of the CPU 103 are converted into ultrasonic waves by an ultrasonic oscillating circuit 33' and an ultrasonic transmitting element 31', which are equivalent to the circuit 33, and are transmitted to an ultrasonic receiving element 32'. and cput through an ultrasonic receiving circuit 34° equivalent to circuit 34. The other operations input to the serial reception port RXD of 1 are the same as in the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, there is no need for a window, so there is no adverse effect from dust, etc., and since ultrasonic waves are used, high-speed communication is possible. FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment. In this example, communication is performed using capacitance. In FIG. 8, which shows the combined state of the printer 1 and the sorter 3 from the side, 41, 42 are the electrodes on the printer l side, and 41' and 42' are the i! of the three sorters.
is the pole, 43 is the signal ground terminal of the printer L, 43
' is the signal ground terminal of the sorter 3, and the screw 44
By connecting the printer 1 and the sorter 3, the terminals 43 and 43' are electrically connected. Furthermore, 45.45'
is an insulating member on the sorter 3 side for insulating the electrodes 41, 41' and 42, 42'. In the fourth embodiment, screw 4
Since 4 also serves as a positioning mechanism, 1 positioning bin 8 and positioning hole 10 are formed at only one location. In the block diagram of FIG. 9, the CPU t of printer 1
A signal (such as a status request command) from o t is turned into a high-frequency signal by the high-frequency oscillation circuit 47, and the high-frequency signal is transmitted to the receiving circuit 48 through the capacitance between the electrodes 41 and 41' facing each other via the insulating member 45. transmitted to. A signal is transmitted from this circuit 48 to CPUIO3. Signals sent from the CPU 103 (status, etc.)
Also includes a high frequency oscillation circuit 47' equivalent to the circuit 47, and an electrode 42.
Capacitance between 42' and receiving circuit 48' equivalent to circuit 48
is transmitted to the serial reception port RXD of CPUl0I. Other operations are the same as in the first embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, since there is no window, it is not affected by harmful effects such as dust, relatively high-speed communication is possible, and it can be manufactured at a relatively low cost. Effects of the Invention J As described above, according to the present invention, since an electrically isolated communication means is used, cables and the like are not required, making handling easier and eliminating the occurrence of various noise-related inconveniences.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view explaining the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the first embodiment, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are the first embodiment.
Flowchart diagram for explaining control of the embodiment, No. 5
The figure is a perspective view showing the second embodiment, FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of the third embodiment,
Fig. 8 is a side view explaining the fourth embodiment, Fig. 9 is a W44
It is a circuit block diagram of an example. l...Printer, 3...Sorter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an inter-unit communication device that performs communication between a plurality of units connected by a positioning mechanism, a transmission means provided in one unit and an electrical transmission from the transmission means provided in the other unit are provided. The communication means is constituted by the isolated receiving means, and the transmitting means, the receiving means, and the positioning mechanism are arranged so that communication by the communication means is possible when both units are coupled by the positioning mechanism. Communication device between units. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication means includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that performs optical communication between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication means includes a magnetism generating element and a magnetic sensing element that performs magnetic communication therebetween. 4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication means includes an ultrasonic transmitting element and an ultrasonic receiving element that performs ultrasonic communication between the ultrasonic transmitting element and the ultrasonic receiving element. 5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said communication means performs communication by applying alternating current to a communication path coupled by capacitance. 6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein the capacitance is provided between two electrodes facing each other via an insulating member.