JPH0412669B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a reading device for a facsimile machine, a copying machine, etc.

[Prior art]

Some facsimile machines and copying machines have a system in which sheet-shaped originals are set in a document tray, and the sheets are automatically sent out one by one to a reading section to read the image information.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional reading device for a facsimile machine or a copying machine.

In this apparatus, a document tray 2 is provided on one side of a main body 1, and a discharge tray 3 is provided on the other side. Guide plates 4 and 5 are provided between the document tray 2 and the discharge tray 3. Original tray 2
A feed belt 6 is provided between the guide plate 4 and the guide plate 4. A retard roller 7 (not shown) is pressed against the feed belt 6 to prevent double feeding of documents. Between the guide plates 4 and 5 is a drive roller 8 and a pinch roller 9 that is in rolling contact with the drive roller 8.
is provided. A drive roller 10 and a pinch roller 11 in rolling contact with the drive roller 10 are provided between the guide plate 5 and the discharge tray 3. A stepping motor 12 is provided at a predetermined location within the main body 1 of the apparatus. The driving force of the stepping motor 12 is transmitted to the feed belt 6 via the belt 13, electromagnetic clutch 14, belt 15, etc.
Further, the signal is transmitted to the drive rollers 8 and 10 via a belt (partly not shown) 16 or the like. A lamp 1 is installed at a predetermined location below the guide plate 5.
7, a lens 18 and an image sensor 19 are provided.

When reading the image information of a document using this device, the document is first set on the document tray 2 and the feed belt 6. When a start button (not shown) is pressed in this state, the stepping motor 12 starts driving, the electromagnetic clutch 14 is connected, and the lamp 17 is turned on. When the stepping motor 12 is driven, the feed belt 6 runs in a predetermined direction, and the drive rollers 8, 1
0 rotates in a predetermined direction. When the feed belt 6 runs, conveyance of the document starts. The transported original passes through the guide plate 4 and between the drive roller 8 and pinch roller 9, respectively, and then enters the guide plate 5. When the leading edge of the document reaches a position facing the sensor 20, the sensor detects this. As a result, the electromagnetic clutch 14 becomes disconnected, and the feed belt 6 stops. Thereafter, the document is conveyed by drive rollers 8.

When the leading edge of the document reaches a predetermined reading line 21, the image sensor 19 is activated at this timing and starts reading the image information of the document. In this reading, the lamp 17 illuminates the document passing through the reading line 21, and the reflected light is reflected by the lens 1.
This is performed line by line by forming an image on the image sensor 19 via the image sensor 8. Image sensor 1
The image signal photoelectrically converted in step 9 is supplied to a signal processing section (not shown), where signal processing such as binarization is performed. After scanning the document, move it to drive roller 1.
0 and discharged onto the discharge tray 3. When the trailing edge of the document passes the sensor 20, the sensor detects this. As a result, the electromagnetic clutch 14 is connected again, the feed belt 6 begins to run in the predetermined direction again, and conveyance of the next document is started. When all the originals set on the original tray 2 have been conveyed and their image information has been read, the stepping motor 12 is stopped and the lamp 17 is turned off.

By the way, with this type of device, the image information is read while the document is being transported, so if the document is a small sheet-like document, there is no problem, but if the document is a book, a notebook, or a drawing, etc. If the image is large, it cannot be transported and therefore the image information cannot be read. Therefore, a device has been proposed that can read both stationary originals such as books and sheet-like originals being transported (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1983-1999-1).
Publication No. 42832). In this device, a target glass is placed next to a platen glass. and,
Originals that cannot be transported, such as books, are placed on a platen glass and read, while sheet-shaped originals are transported on a target glass and read.

However, in this proposed device, the light source lamp must be specially moved not only to the irradiation range of the platen glass but also to the irradiation position of the target glass, which complicates the control for the movement. Furthermore, since the movement range of the light source lamp is wider than the range necessary for reading the document on the platen glass, there is also the problem that the apparatus becomes larger.

[Object of the Invention] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a reading device capable of reading both a stationary original such as a book and a sheet-shaped original in a conveyed state on the same platen glass.

[Structure of the invention]

In the present invention, there is provided a platen glass on which a book or the like is placed, a reading unit provided below the platen glass so as to be able to reciprocate along the platen glass, and a reading unit that is reciprocally movable in a document stationary reading mode. There is a reciprocating means for the reading unit that enables reading of a stationary original placed on top of the platen glass, and a means for reciprocating the reading unit is provided next to the platen glass, and a sheet-shaped original passes over the upper surface of the side of the platen glass in the original transport reading mode. A document conveying means that enables a document to be conveyed on the upper surface of the side of the platen glass to be read by a reading section that is stationary within a position range where reciprocating motion is performed; The reading device is provided with a selection means for selecting one of the mode and the document transport reading mode.

Then, the image information of the book etc. is read in the original static reading mode of the two modes, the original static reading mode and the original conveyance reading mode, and the image information of the book etc. is read. The image information is read in the transport reading mode.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples below.

FIG. 2 shows the main parts of a reading device in one embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation of some of them will be omitted.

In this device, a lamp 17, a lens 18, an image sensor 19, etc. are integrated into a unit and housed in a casing 31. A platen glass 32 is provided at a predetermined location on the device body 1 above the casing 31 . As shown in FIG. 3, both sides of the casing 31 are connected to each other via bearings 33.
It is movably attached to shafts 34 provided at two predetermined locations within the device main body 1. That is, the casing 31 is guided by the shaft 34,
It is designed to be able to reciprocate along the platen glass 32 in the directions of arrows A and B. A belt 35 is provided below the casing 31. belt 3
5 is wound around two pulleys 36 and 37, and a portion thereof is fixed to a chuck portion 38 provided at the center of the lower part of the casing 31. One pulley 37
is attached to the output shaft of the stepping motor 39. When the stepping motor 39 is driven in the normal direction, the casing 31 moves in the direction of the arrow A, and when the stepping motor 39 is driven in the reverse direction, the casing 31 moves in the direction of the arrow B. Limit switches 40 and 41 are provided at two predetermined locations near the pulleys 36 and 37, respectively.

A platen cover 42 is provided above the platen glass 32 so as to be openable and closable. The platen cover 42 has a cover main body 43 as shown in FIG.
The cover body 43 is made up of a sponge 44 provided inside the cover body 43, and a white sheet 45 provided on the underside of the sponge 44. A drive roller 46 made of foamed sponge is provided on one side of the cover main body 43 and has a substantially similar role to the drive roller 10 in FIG. The drive roller 46 is in contact with the platen glass 32 with the platen cover 42 closed. A discharge port 4 is provided at a predetermined location on the cover body 43.
7 is provided. A base end portion of a guide film 49 made of polyester film or the like is attached to the discharge surface 48 of the discharge port 47 . The leading end of the guide film 49 extends to the vicinity of the drive roller 46 and is in contact with the platen glass 32 when the platen cover 42 is closed. A discharge roller 50 made of sponge is rolled into contact with the base end of the guide film 49. A guide plate 51 is provided above the guide film 49 and between the rollers 46 and 50.

The drive roller 46, as shown in FIG.
The rotational force of the drive roller 8 is transmitted via a belt 52, a universal joint 53, etc., and rotates in a predetermined direction. The universal joint 53 is provided on the opening/closing centerline of the platen cover 42. As a result, even if the platen cover 42 is opened or closed, the rotational force of the drive roller 8 is transferred to the drive roller 46.
It is now being transmitted to Ejection roller 5
0 means that the rotational force of the drive roller 46 is transferred to the belt 54.
etc., and rotate in a predetermined direction.

When this device reads the image information of the book 55, the book 55 is first placed on the platen glass 32, and the platen cover 42 is closed.
In this state, the sponge 44 and the drive roller 46 are appropriately elastically deformed, the guide film 49 is upwardly bent and appropriately bent, and the book 55 is pressed against the platen glass 32 by these restoring forces. In this state, when the start button for books on the operation panel 56 is pressed, the stepping motor 39 starts normal rotation, and the lamp 1
7 lights up. When the stepping motor 39 is driven to rotate normally, the casing 31 moves in the direction of arrow A. At this time, the lamp 17 illuminates the book 55, and the reflected light passes through the lens 18 and forms an image on the image sensor 19. As a result, the book item 55
Image information is read line by line.

When the casing 31 reaches the movement limit position in the direction of arrow A, its chuck portion 38 comes into contact with the actuator of the limit switch 40. Then, the limit switch 40 is switched, whereby the stepping motor 39 stops and then starts reverse drive, and the lamp 17 goes out. When the stepping motor 39 is driven in reverse, the casing 31 moves in the direction of arrow B. When the casing 31 reaches the same direction movement limit position, its chuck portion 38 comes into contact with the actuator of the limit switch 41. Then, the limit switch 41 switches,
This causes the stepping motor 39 to stop.

On the other hand, when reading a small sheet-like original (not shown) with this apparatus, the original is first set on the original tray 2 and the feed belt 6.
At this time, no book 55 is placed on the platen glass 32, and the platen cover 42 is closed. Therefore, in this state, the drive roller 46 and the guide film 49 are in pressure contact with the platen glass 32. In this state, when the original start button on the operation panel 56 is pressed, the stepping motor 12 starts driving, the electromagnetic clutch 14 is connected, and the lamp 17 is turned on. When the original is conveyed by the running of the feed belt 6, it passes through the guide plate 4, the drive roller 8, and the pinch roller 9, respectively, and then is sent onto the platen glass 32. When the leading edge of the document reaches a position facing the sensor 20, the sensor detects this and the electromagnetic clutch 14 is placed in the disconnected state.

When the leading edge of the document reaches a predetermined reading line 21, the image sensor 19 of the casing 31, which is stopped at the movement limit position in the direction of arrow B, is driven at this timing, and reading of the image information of the document is started. After reading, the document is conveyed by the drive roller 46, passes between the guide film 49 and the guide plate 51, and between the guide film 49 and the discharge roller 50, and then is discharged from the discharge port 47 onto the platen cover 42. Ru. That is, at this time, the platen cover 42 serves as an ejection tray. The thickness of the guide film 49 is
It has a thickness of about 200μ, whereas the thickness of a normal original is about 100μ. Therefore, even if the guide film 49 is pushed by the document, it does not bend, and can fully fulfill its role as a guide.
The circumferential speed of the ejection roller 50 is about 1.5 times the circumferential speed of the drive roller 46, so the document is ejected from the ejection port 47 with great force. When the reading of the image information of the original is completed, the stepping motor 12 is stopped and the lamp 17 is turned off.

In this device, the image information of the book 55 is read by reciprocating the casing 31 in the directions of arrows A and B, and moreover, by simply stopping the casing 31 at the movement limit position in the direction of arrow B, it is possible to read the image information of the book 55. It is possible to read small originals. Therefore, the image information of the book and the original can be alternatively read without changing the structure of the reading section including the image sensor 19 and the like.
Further, in this device, since the drive roller 46 is provided inside the platen cover 42, the device can be made smaller accordingly.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the main parts of a reading device in another embodiment of the present invention.
In these figures, the same parts as in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description of some of them will be omitted.

In this device, in order to make it possible to read the image information of the thick book 55, the platen glass 32
A flexible platen cover 61 is provided above so as to be openable and closable. Incidentally, in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the drive roller 46 moves the book 5.
5 will be held down, so the diameter of this should be 30mm.
Readable books 55
The maximum thickness is about 5 mm.

Since this device uses a flexible platen cover 61, it is not possible to incorporate the drive roller 46 or the like therein. For this purpose, a drive roller 10, a guide plate 5, etc. are provided. By the way, the casing 3 is at the movement limit position in the direction of arrow B.
1 is located below the drive roller 10, and in the structure shown in FIG. 1, the distance from the lamp 17 to the reading line 21 becomes large, making it impossible to secure a sufficient amount of light. Therefore, in this device, pinch rollers 9 and 11 are provided below the drive rollers 8 and 10, and the diameter of the latter (about 10 mm) is made smaller than the diameter of the former (about 16 mm). Also, in this device, the belt 13
is shaped like a cross.

In this device, a discharge port 62 is provided at a predetermined location of the device body 1 between the drive roller 10 and the platen glass 32. Therefore, in this device, the original after reading is delivered to the platen glass 32 or the platen cover 61 through the discharge port 62.
It will be discharged onto the top surface.

This device includes two limit switches 40,
A sensor 63 for detecting a reading start position is provided at a predetermined location between 41 and 41 . The sensor 63 consists of a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged facing each other. A light shielding plate 64 is provided on the lower surface of the chuck portion 38 of the casing 31. Light shielding plate 6
4 passes between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 63 as the casing 31 moves. Therefore, in this device, when the casing 31 moves in the direction of arrow A and reaches the position where it starts reading the image information of the book 55, the light-shielding plate 64 shields the sensor 63 from light, thereby driving the image sensor 19. , reading will begin.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, two types of image information, such as a book and a small original in the form of a sheet, can be combined into one.
Since it can be read selectively with two reading sections, and there is no need to change the structure of the reading section,
Accordingly, the configuration is simpler and costs can be reduced. Furthermore, in the present invention, the static position of the reading section in the document transport reading mode is set to the movement range of the document in the document static reading mode, and the sheet transport means is disposed inside the platen cover. Not only can you easily carry out printing by passing the document through the cover and ejecting it to the top surface of the cover, but you can also feed the sheet-shaped document to the stationary position of the scanning unit in the document feeding/reading mode, and also use the main path from now on to eject the document. It can be stored inside the platen cover.
This has the effect of being able to effectively deal with the space saving of so-called OA equipment. Furthermore, in the present invention, since the position of the reading unit in the document transport reading mode is set within the movement range of the original in the document static reading mode, the position of the reading unit in the document transport reading mode is set within the movement range of the original in the document static reading mode. This has the effect of simplifying position control. In addition, since reading is performed using the same platen glass for both modes, it is possible to reduce the cost of the device, and even if dirt occurs, it can be easily cleaned and good images can always be obtained. effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional reading device, FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the main parts of a reading device in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view showing a casing of the same device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of the platen cover of the apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a transmission system such as a drive roller provided within the platen cover. 1...Device main body, 2...Document tray, 6...Feed belt, 8, 10...Drive roller, 1
2, 39...Stepping motor, 17...Lamp, 18...Lens, 19...Image sensor,
31...Casing, 32...Platen glass,
35... Belt, 42, 61... Platen cover, 46... Drive roller, 47... Platen cover, 50... Discharge roller, 52, 54... Belt, 53... Universal joint, 55... Book item.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A platen glass on which a book or the like is placed, a reading unit provided below the platen glass so as to be able to reciprocate along the platen glass, and a reading unit that can reciprocate in a document stationary reading mode. A reading section reciprocating means is provided next to the platen glass to enable reading of a stationary original placed on the platen glass, and a sheet-shaped original is moved to a part of the platen glass in the document transport reading mode. a document conveying means that allows the document to be conveyed so as to pass through the upper surface of the platen glass and to be read by a reading section that is stationary in a position range where the reciprocating movement is performed; A freely openable and closable device having a built-in selection means for selecting one of a document stationary mode and a document conveyance reading mode during reading, and a sheet conveyance means for conveying a sheet-like document conveyed by the document conveyance means through the inside of the cover. A reading device comprising: a platen cover;