JPH04314258A - Image scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read a picture data in a pre-designated area on paper even in the case of the head fixed type image scanner. CONSTITUTION:An area symbol X is provided to a space of paper 16 in the main scanning direction corresponding to a picture read range in the subscanning direction. A drive source 14 carries the paper 16 to a picture input element group 20 through a drive system 12 and feed rollers 10a, 10b. When a sensor 22 detects a start part of the area symbol X, the picture input element group 20 corresponding to the picture read area in the main scanning direction designated in advance among the picture input element groups 20 is activated by a control section. As a result, the fetch of picture information is started from the activated picture input element group 20 is started. Furthermore, when the end part of the area symbol X is detected by the sensor 22, the control section inactivates the picture element to inhibit the fetch of the picture information.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image scanner that reads image information recorded on drawings, documents, etc., and in particular, a group of image input elements are arranged in the main scanning direction, and image input devices are arranged in the sub-scanning direction. The present invention relates to an image scanner suitable for moving a drawing or the like and selectively inputting only image information of a necessary partial area thereof.

0002

[Prior Art] As an image scanner for reading image information written on drawings, documents, etc., so-called linear image scanners, which have a reading head in which image input elements are arranged in parallel in the main scanning direction, that is, in the paper width direction, are widely used. has been done. There are two types of linear image scanners: a moving head type in which the reading head is moved in the longitudinal direction of the paper, that is, in the sub-scanning direction to scan the paper surface, and a fixed head type in which the reading head is fixed and the paper is moved by a transport means.

In the case of a moving head type image scanner,
The paper on which image information is recorded is placed on a fixed flat surface, and the reading head is moved over the entire sub-scanning direction of the paper while irradiating light from the top or bottom of the paper, reducing the area occupied by the image scanner. is larger than the paper area. In particular, it is difficult to save space when reading large-sized drawings, documents, etc. whose paper size exceeds A2 size. Therefore, large-sized image scanners generally have a fixed-head structure in which the reading head is fixed and a sheet of paper on which image information is recorded is moved along the upper or lower surface of the reading head.

On the other hand, when reading image information recorded on paper using an image scanner, it is not always necessary to have image information recorded on the entire surface of the paper, but rather it is often desired to read image information only on a partial area. . Therefore, it is efficient to shorten processing time by specifying a necessary partial area on a sheet of paper before starting a reading operation to the image scanner, and processing only the necessary image information. In particular, graphic input devices that further vectorize image information input from an image scanner and pattern judgment devices that perform graphic recognition require a long processing time after reading the information, so avoid inputting unnecessary information as much as possible. is essential to shorten processing time.

[0005]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In a moving head type image scanner, the paper table has an area large enough to place the entire surface of the paper, so it is necessary to use a presser sheet that covers the placement surface or the paper to flatten it. It is easy to make it possible to read a partial area of image information recorded on a sheet of paper by providing a coordinate input function (so-called digitizer function) to a computer and specifying a desired image reading area.

However, as mentioned above, in fixed head type image scanners, the dimension in the sub-scanning direction of the image scanner is shorter than the length of the paper from the viewpoint of space saving, so it is difficult to cover the entire surface of the paper. It is not possible to provide a coordinate input function. Therefore, in a fixed-head image scanner, the paper is moved over its entire length in the sub-scanning direction, and after reading the image information recorded on the entire paper, it is displayed on the surface of a CRT, etc., and the image information of the necessary partial area is extracted. It was common practice to carry out treatment. As a result, post-processing took longer than necessary and additional work was required, such as displaying all image information recorded on paper on a CRT and processing data in memory based on the specification of the necessary partial area. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image scanner that can read image data only in a pre-designated necessary partial area even if the head is fixed. .

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] An image scanner of the present invention includes a group of image input elements arranged in the main scanning direction,
An image information reading means for reading image information, a paper feeding means for feeding paper on which an image is recorded in the sub-scanning direction, and a reading range specifying means for specifying a desired reading range of the image information recorded on the paper. and a control means for controlling the image information reading means and the paper feeding means so as to read the image information belonging to the area on the paper specified by the reading range specifying means.

[0009]

[Operation] In the image scanner configured as described above, the reading range specifying means selects an image input element corresponding to an area specified range in the main scanning direction among the image input element group arranged in the main scanning direction constituting the image information reading means. The image forming apparatus includes an operating means for specifying a group in advance, and a mark detecting means for detecting a mark previously written in the sub-scanning direction on the paper corresponding to an area specified range in the sub-scanning direction.

[0010] By detecting the mark by the mark detection means, a designated area range in the sub-scanning direction is specified;
The image input element group designated by the operating means is activated by the control means only during the period when the area designation range in the sub-scanning direction is passing through the opposing position of the image input element group.

While the paper feeding means is feeding the paper toward the image information reading means in the sub-scanning direction, the front and rear ends of the specified image reading range in the sub-scanning direction are the front ends of the image information reading means. The image reading range in the sub-scanning direction is specified based on a position detection signal obtained by the operator operating the operating means when the object passes near the area.

Furthermore, the image reading range in the sub-scanning direction can also be specified by calculating from the amount of movement of the drive system that drives the paper on which the image information is recorded. Therefore, according to the present invention, even with a fixed head type image scanner, it is possible to read image data only from a pre-designated necessary partial area.

[0013]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of essential parts of an embodiment of an image scanner according to the present invention. In the figure, arrow A indicates the main scanning direction, and arrow B indicates the sub-scanning direction. The feed roller groups 10a and 10b, which are configured as two pairs, are rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R via a drive system 12 driven by a drive source 14. 16 is configured to be transported along a guide plate 18 in the sub-scanning direction.

In the main scanning direction A, a group of image input elements 20 constituting a reading head are arranged in parallel over a length L, and a sensor 22 for detecting an area symbol X, which will be described later, is separately installed on the side thereof. There is.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paper 16 has a length L1 in the main scanning direction and a length L2 in the sub-scanning direction, and the lengths of its effective image recording area in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction are respectively L3.
, L4. Note that, as a matter of course, in order to read the information of the entire effective image recording area, the image input element group 20
The installation length L must be L≧L3. Of this effective image recording area, a rectangular diagonal area M whose dimensions in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction are x and y, respectively, is a partial area that requires reading in this embodiment. Image input element group 2
0 corresponds to the reading range in the main scanning direction that includes the area length x in the main scanning direction that defines the rectangular partial area M from the console (not shown). The range na of the image input element group 20 to
By instructing ~nb, only the image input element corresponding to the area length x is activated to a state where it can input an image.

The designation of the image reading area length x in the main scanning direction is not limited to the method described above; for example, it is possible to specify the range by providing a one-dimensional coordinate input mechanism in the main scanning direction. . Specifically, it is possible to adopt a method using a digitizer, or a method in which two sliding indicators capable of outputting self-position signals are installed to indicate the start and end points of the image data input range.

In the main scanning direction margin of the paper 16, there is a
As shown in the figure, an area symbol X is written in a range corresponding to the reading area length y in the sub-scanning direction.

The paper 16 is sent in the main scanning direction and the sensor 2
2 detects the area symbol X, the image input elements belonging to the range na to nb of the image input element group 20 described above are activated until a detection signal indicating that the area symbol X is interrupted is input to the sensor 22. Reading of image information is continued by a control section (not shown). This operation allows the image scanner to read only the image information within the necessary partial area M.

As shown in FIG. 3, the area symbol X consists of two symbols X1,
The image input start signal and the image input end signal may be obtained by dividing the signal into X2.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the area signal X is written using the blank space in the sub-scanning direction of the paper 16, but this area symbol X cannot be detected by the image input element group 20, but can be detected by the sensor 22. By writing using such a recording medium, it is also possible to set the position where the area symbol is written within the above-mentioned effective image recording area. Specifically, for example, there is a method of using an area symbol X formed by a magnetic recording medium and using a magnetic sensor as the sensor 22. The structure, arrangement, etc. of each component of the image scanner are not limited to those described in this embodiment.

Next, the image reading operation of the image scanner of this embodiment will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG. When the image reading range in the main scanning direction is specified by an operation means provided on a console (not shown in the figure) and the drive system 12 is driven by the drive source 14, the feed roller group 1
0a and 10b are rotationally driven, and the paper 16 is transported in the sub-scanning direction toward the image input element group 20 (step 3
0,31). While the paper 16 is being transported in the sub-scanning direction, the sensor 2
2, when the start part of the area symbol Steps 32, 33, 34). This image information is captured by sensor 2 at the end of area symbol
The process continues until detected by 2. Then the sensor 22
When the end of area symbol X is detected, the capture of image information is prohibited (steps 35 and 36).

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of another embodiment of the image scanner according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the drive source 14, drive system 12, and feed roller 10 in FIG.
a, 10b, and portions corresponding to the image input element group 20 are built into the cover 40, and although not shown in FIG. 5, these structures are exactly the same as in the above embodiment.

This embodiment differs from the above embodiments in that the image reading area in the sub-scanning direction is designated based on a detection signal from an operating section operated by an operator.

The method of specifying the area length x of the image reading range of the paper 16 in the main scanning direction in this embodiment is exactly the same as in the above embodiment, but in order to facilitate the instruction for the operator, the front part of the cover 40 is A scale 42 with graduations from n1 to nn indicating the specified range of the image display element group 20 is attached to.

In this embodiment, the paper 16 is fed in the sub-scanning direction, and when the start and end points of the image reading area in the sub-scanning direction pass the front end of the cover 40, the operator
When the operation button 44 provided at 1 is pressed, the detection signal outputted by the operation button 44 becomes the image input start signal and image input end signal in the embodiment shown in FIG.

Image input element group 20 from the front end of cover 40
If there is a certain distance between them, the image input elements corresponding to the range of na to nb are controlled by the control signal output from the control section in the console by delaying the distance by the time it takes for the paper 16 to be transferred. Activated or deactivated.

In this embodiment, the front end of the cover 40 is used as the determination position for the operator to operate the operation button 44, but a reference line may be provided on the guide plate 18 to serve as the determination position. Similar operations can also be performed by adding some kind of indicator.

Next, still another embodiment of the image scanner according to the present invention is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the image reading area in the sub-scanning direction is determined by calculating from the amount of movement of the drive system. The mechanical configuration of the image scanner is exactly the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the length of the paper 16 in the sub-scanning direction, that is, the length L in the sub-scanning direction
2 is divided into m equal parts m1 to mm, so that the area length y of the image reading area in the sub-scanning direction can be specified as ma to mb. Further, in this embodiment, the sensor 22 uses, for example, a photo sensor or the like that can detect the presence or absence of the paper 16.

Next, the image reading operation of the image scanner of this embodiment will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG. When the image information reading range in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is specified by operating an operation unit provided on a console (not shown) (steps 50 and 51), the paper 16 on which image information is recorded is The paper 16 is fed toward the input element group 20, and the sensor 22 detects the front and rear edges of the paper 16 (steps 52, 53, and 54). The control unit provided in the console performs sub-scanning from the length L2 of the paper 16 in the sub-scanning direction, which is determined from the instruction value of the image reading range ma to mb in the sub-scanning direction specified in step 51 and the detection signal of the sensor 22. An actual length corresponding to the image reading area length y in the direction is calculated (steps 55 and 56). In other words, m is a set fixed value, but since the length L2 of the paper 16 in the sub-scanning direction is undefined, the value of L2/m is
The size of paper 16 changes each time the size of paper 16 changes.
It is necessary to calculate the value of the total length L2 in the sub-scanning direction based on the detection signal of the sensor 22.

When the rear end of the paper 16 is detected by the sensor 22, the drive source 14 is driven by the control unit in the reverse direction with respect to the direction of arrow R, and the paper 16 is moved toward the image input element group 2.
0 in the opposite direction from the rear end of the paper 16 (step 57). Next, when the image reading areas ma to mb in the sub-scanning direction on the paper 16 enter the opposing positions of the image input element group 20, the image input elements in the image reading areas na to nb in the main scanning direction designated by the control section are activated. image information is started (step 58,
59, 60). This image information capture is continued until the image reading area (ma to mb) in the sub-scanning direction passes through a position facing the image input element group 20 (step 61). Furthermore, when the image reading area (ma to mb) in the sub-scanning direction passes the opposing position of the image input element group 20, the image input elements na to nb corresponding to the image reading area in the main scanning direction specified in advance are activated by the control unit. is deactivated and the capture of image information is prohibited (steps 61, 62, 63).

[0031] In this way, it is possible to read only the image information of the necessary partial area on the paper 16 on which the image information is recorded.

In this embodiment, when the paper 16 is reversely fed in the sub-scanning direction, the image information included in the image reading area specified in advance is taken in, but the reading range of the image information is not set. After that, the image information included in the image reading range ma to mb in the sub-scanning direction may be read by first returning the paper to the feed start position by reverse feeding and then feeding the paper in the forward direction again. .

It is also possible to use the output signals of the image input element group 20 to obtain detection signals for the front and rear edges of the paper 16 without specifically providing the sensor 22.

[0034]

As described above, according to the image scanner of the present invention, the image information reading means and Since the paper feeding means is configured to be controlled, even with a fixed head type image scanner, it is possible to read only image information belonging to a partial area within the effective image reading area. Therefore, unnecessary post-processing can be omitted, and processing time for inputting image information can be shortened and operations can be made easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of essential parts of an embodiment of an image scanner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the dimensions of a sheet of paper on which image information read by an image scanner is recorded and an effective image recording area.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the relationship between an image reading area and an area symbol on a sheet of paper on which image information is recorded.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of an image reading operation of the image scanner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of main parts of another embodiment of the image scanner according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing still another embodiment of the image scanner according to the present invention, and showing the details of the image reading operation thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 Drive system 14 Driving source 16 Paper 20 Image input element group 22 Sensor 40 Cover 42 Scale 44 Operation button

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image information reading means comprising a group of image input elements arranged in the main scanning direction and reading image information; a paper feeding means for feeding paper on which an image is recorded in the sub scanning direction; A reading range specifying means for specifying a desired reading range of the image information recorded on the paper, and an image information reading means and a paper feeder configured to read the image information belonging to the area on the paper specified by the reading range specifying means. An image scanner comprising: a control means for controlling a sending means. 2. The reading range specifying means includes one-dimensional coordinate input means provided in the main scanning direction for specifying the main scanning direction within the desired reading range. Image scanner as described. 3. The reading range specifying means specifies in advance an image input element group corresponding to an area specification range in the main scanning direction among the image input element groups arranged in the main scanning direction constituting the image information reading means. and a mark detection means for detecting a mark previously written in the sub-scanning direction on the paper corresponding to an area specified range in the sub-scanning direction, and the control means detects a mark that is detected by the mark detection means. 2. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the image input device group specified by the operating means is activated only during a period when the area specified range in the sub-scanning direction is passing through a position facing the image input device group. scanner. 4. The reading range specifying means specifies in advance an image input element group corresponding to an area specification range in the main scanning direction among the image input element groups arranged in the main scanning direction constituting the image information reading means. and a first operating means for controlling the front and rear ends of the designated image reading range in the sub-scanning direction while the paper is being fed by the paper feeding means in the sub-scanning direction toward the image information reading means. a second operation means that outputs a position detection signal for specifying the image reading range in the sub-scanning direction by operating when the image information reading means passes near the front end of the image information reading means; The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the image input element group specified by the first operating means is activated only during a period specified by a position detection signal outputted by the second operating means. scanner. 5. Image information reading means comprising a group of image input elements arranged in the main scanning direction and reading image information; paper feeding means feeding the paper on which the image is recorded in the sub scanning direction; reading range specifying means for specifying a desired reading range of image information recorded on a sheet; paper length detecting means for detecting the length of the sheet in the sub-scanning direction when feeding the sheet; and the reading range specifying means. and a control means for controlling the image information reading means and the paper feeding means so as to take in the detection output of the paper length detection means and read image information belonging to an area on the paper specified by the reading range specifying means, The reading range specifying means includes an operation means for specifying in advance an image input element group corresponding to an area specification range in the main scanning direction among the image input element groups arranged in the main scanning direction constituting the image information reading means. , the control means feeds the paper in the sub-scanning direction after a desired reading range is designated by the reading range designation means, and feeds the paper in the sub-scanning direction according to the length of the paper in the sub-scanning direction detected by the paper length detection means. Based on this, the reading range of the actual image information in the sub-scanning direction on the paper specified by the reading range specifying means is specified, and then the paper is reversed in the sub-scanning direction, and the actual reading range of the image information on the paper in the sub-scanning direction is specified. An image scanner characterized in that the image input element group designated by the operating means is activated only during a period when the image information reading range of the image information reading area passes through a position facing the image input element group constituting the image information reading means. .