JPS6225559A - Picture reader - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image reading device that reads an image on a document;
In particular, the present invention relates to an image reading device that can perform sub-scanning both manually and automatically.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

A device that reads an image on a document by manually moving it over the document in order to transmit the image on the document by facsimile or input it into an image processing device is known as a handy scanner, hand scanner, etc. ing. This uses a line image sensor configured by arranging a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements in one direction, and the scanning of reading the image on the original in the arrangement direction, that is, the main scanning, is replaced by the movement of the image sensor relative to the original, that is, the sub-scanning. The image on the document is read by periodically repeating scanning. An image on a document is formed on an image sensor by an optical lens such as a Rondo lens. Unlike facsimile machines and the like that are currently in practical use, such image reading devices can easily read images on documents other than sheet-like documents, such as books, and can also read images on documents other than sheet documents, such as books. It is also possible to selectively read only a desired area, and furthermore, it can be configured compactly, making it easy to carry.

By the way, such image reading devices can also read images from sheet-like originals, but the original moves when manually moved over the sheet-like original, so it is necessary to hold the edges of the original by hand. There are also disadvantages such as the tendency for the original to wrinkle.

Therefore, it is desirable to automatically transport a sheet-like document and read it by automatic sub-scanning, like in a facsimile machine.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention was made to solve these conventional problems, and it is possible to correctly read images on a document using both manual sub-scanning and automatic sub-scanning. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device that can read images under certain conditions.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention has a first case and a second case in which the first case is removably placed, and a lower part of the first case is placed inside the first case. a line image sensor configured by arranging a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements in one direction for reading an image on a document that moves relatively; an optical lens that forms an image on the document on the image sensor; A fixed shaft fixedly supported in parallel to the arrangement direction of the photoelectric conversion elements in the image sensor, and an upper roller supported by the fixed shaft and abutting the original when reading an image on the original, are provided in the second case. a movable shaft supported so as to be movable up and down via an elastic body so as to be parallel to the fixed shaft in a state where the first case is placed on the second case; A lower roller that faces the upper roller with the first case placed on the second case and transports the document inserted between the upper roller and a motor that drives the upper roller and the lower roller. It is characterized by having the following.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, if the first case is removed from the second case and used, image reading by manual sub-scanning is possible, and the first case is placed on the second case. The image of the sheet-like original can be read by automatic sub-scanning.

Further, according to the present invention, the upper roller in the first case in which the line image sensor and the optical lens are provided is supported by the fixed shaft, so that the document can be easily scanned during manual sub-scanning as well as automatic sub-scanning. Since the distance between the surface and the lens can be kept constant and the document surface will not deviate from the focal depth of the lens, correct reading without blurring is possible.

Further, since the lower roller in the second case is supported by the movable shaft via an elastic body, originals of various thicknesses can be transferred during automatic sub-scanning.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in which the image reading section and the transmitting section are separable,
An embodiment applied to a facsimile machine that can perform sub-scanning both manually and automatically will be described. In FIG. 1 (a>(b), the image reading section 1 and the transmitting section 2 are separated,
2A and 2B are a perspective view and a front view showing a case in which the image reading unit 1 is manually moved over a document A (book) to perform manual scanning, and FIGS. )
2A and 2B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment in which an image reading section 1 and a transmitting section 2 are overlapped and a sheet antigen [8 is automatically transferred between the two and reading is performed by automatic sub-scanning.

As shown in the figure, an image reading section 1 is provided with an operation section 3 such as a power button and a reading button, and a display section 4. The image reading section 1 and the transmitting section 2 are coupled by a multicore cord 5, and the image signal obtained by reading the image in the image reading section 1 is modulated in the transmitting section 2 and then supplied to the acoustic coupler 6. . The acoustic coupler 6 is set in a telephone (not shown) and converts the modulated image signal from the transmitter 2 into an acoustic signal. As a result, the image signal is transmitted to the other party's facsimile machine via the telephone line.

The image reading unit 1 has an Ml case 11 with an open bottom, and a line image sensor 1 is installed above the case 11.
2 is attached to the image sensor, and a rod lens 13 called a SELFOC lens (trade name) is arranged at the front and lower side of the image sensor 12. Line image sensor 1
2 is constructed by arranging photoelectric conversion elements made of COD or 7-morph silicon in a line, and is called a contact image sensor with a length equal to the width of a standard size document such as A4. It is something that will be done. The rod lens 13 forms a so-called equal-magnification imaging system that forms an image on the document on the image sensor 12 in a one-to-one size. Further, the image sensor 1 is located near the light output end of the d-rod lens 13 in the first case 11, and
A light source (for example, a fluorescent lamp) 14 for illuminating the original surface so as to be parallel to the arrangement direction of the photoelectric conversion elements in 2.
is provided.

Furthermore, line image sensor 12. rod lens 13
and fixed shafts 15a and 15b provided parallel to the light source 14 and at a predetermined interval from each other so as to slightly protrude from the opening of the case 11, in other words, to protrude slightly from the rod lens 13 toward the document side. Upper rollers 16a, 16b, preferably substantially rigid, for example made of hard plastic or lightweight metal, are supported on the tails. D-ra 16a
.

16b are connected by a rotation transmission mechanism 17a such as a belt. In addition, a fixed shaft 1 is provided above inside the first case 11.
A rotary encoder 18 for detecting the relative movement speed of the image sensor 12 with respect to the document is attached to another shaft 15C provided parallel to the shafts 5a and 15b. This rotary encoder 18 is connected to a roller 16b via a rotation transmission mechanism 17b such as a belt.

Further, between the rollers 16a and 16b, the document is placed so that the document surface is not located above the focal depth of the rod lens 13, that is, the document surface is not deviated from within the focal depth of the lens 13 in the direction of the lens 13. A document guide 20 is provided for regulating the position. This document guide 20 is preferably made of a translucent material such as an acrylic plate, and the lens 13
A long hole-shaped light transmitting window 19 is formed at a position opposite to the lower part of the window.

On the other hand, in the transmitter 2, as shown in FIG. 2(b),
Separate from the first case 11 in the image reading section 1,
It has a second case 21 with an open top and side. This second
Inside the case 21, there are movable shafts 22a, 22b at positions facing the fixed shafts 15a, 15b in the second case 11.
are provided, and lower rollers 23a, 23b are supported by these movable shafts 22a, 22b. That is, the movable shaft 22
The ends of a and 22b are bearing holes 27a, which are vertically elongated holes provided in the side wall of the second case 21.

27b, and an elastic body (for example, a coil spring)
It is supported via 28a and 28b.

In this example, there are a plurality of lower rollers 23a and 23b, each of which is connected to the movable shaft 22a at a predetermined interval.

22b.

Further, a DC motor 24 is disposed within the second case 21 as a drive source for automatically feeding the document. The rotation of this motor 24 is sequentially transmitted to gears 25a to 25d. Furthermore, in the state shown in FIG.
It also meshes with e. Furthermore, a document guide 26 is provided in the opening of the second case 21 to prevent the document B from being located below the depth of focus of the rod lens 13.

Note that it is desirable that one end of the document guide 26 on the side in the direction in which the document B is inserted is bent downward as shown in the figure or formed with a taper so as not to obstruct the insertion of the document B. FIG. 3 shows in detail the mechanism of the main parts within this transmitting section 2.

In the above configuration, when reading an image on a document A such as a book by manual sub-scanning, the image reading section 1 is separated from the transmitting section 2 as shown in FIG. Manually move the page you want to read in the direction of the arrow. As a result, the image of that page is read by the line image sensor 12 via the rod lens 13, and the image sensor 12 outputs an image signal. In this case, the upper rollers 16a and 16b that come into contact with the original A have fixed shafts '15a,
15b, the surface of the document A and the lens 13
The distance between Hara! The surface of 11A is lens 13
The depth of focus will never deviate from the depth of focus. Therefore, accurate reading without blurring is possible. In this way, the image signal from the image sensor 12 is sent to the transmitter 2 via the code 5, modulated, and then sent to the telephone line via the acoustic coupler 6.

Rotary encoder 18 provided in the image reading section 1
generates one pulse signal every time the roller 16b rotates by a certain amount. That is, the rotary encoder 18 detects the relative movement speed of the image sensor 12 with respect to the document A via the roller 16b and the rotation transmission mechanism 17b, generates a pulse signal with a frequency corresponding to the detected speed, and thereby controls the image sensor 12. Controls the start timing of main scanning.

Next, when reading the image on the sheet anti-original B by automatic sub-scanning, as shown in FIG.
The case 11 is stacked on the second case 21 of the transmitter 2 with the opening facing down.

In this state, the roller 16a on the image reading section 1 side.

16b and rollers 23a and 23b on the side of the transmitter 2 from above the protrusion 21a of the second case 21, and by pressing the read button, the motor 24 is energized and driven. The rotation of the motor 24 is as follows: a gear 25a attached to the shaft of the motor 24 → an intermediate gear 25b → an intermediate gear 25c provided coaxially with the gear 25b → an intermediate gear 25d → a gear 25e provided coaxially with the upper roller 16a. along the path to the upper roller 16a, and further to the roller 16a.
Rotation transmission by timing belt and pulley 1111
The rotation is also transmitted to roller 16b via 7a. Further, when the rollers 16a and 16b rotate, the lower rollers 23a and 23b, which are in contact with each other with the document B interposed therebetween, also rotate. As a result, the document B is transferred to rollers 16a, 16b and roller 23a.

23b, the image is transferred in the direction of the arrow, and the image is read in the same manner as described above.

Here, the movable shafts 22a, 22b are connected to the bearing hole 27a via the elastic bodies 28a, 28b as described above.

27b so that the fourth
As shown in the figure, when the document is a thick document B', the movable shafts 22a and 22b are elastic bodies 28a.

28b and moves downward along the bearing holes 27a, 27b. This allows documents of various thicknesses to be transferred. Also, an upper roller 16a.

Since 16b is supported by fixed shafts 15a and 15b,
Even in this automatic sub-scanning, the distance d between the document surface and the lens 13 is kept constant, making it possible to read images correctly.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
For example, in the embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to an image reading device for inputting a read image to an image processing device using a computer or the like. In that case, the transmitter 2 does not need to have a function of transmitting to a telephone line or the like, and may just have a function as a mere interface, for example.

In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing a case where an image is read by manual sub-scanning of a facsimile machine using an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. a>(b) is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing a mode of image reading by automatic sub-scanning of the same facsimile machine; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing details of the main mechanism of the same embodiment; FIG. The figure is a diagram for explaining the operation of the same embodiment. 1... Image reading section, 2... Transmitting section, 3... Operating section, 4... Display section, 5... Multi-purpose unit. Core cord, 6... Acoustic coupler, 11... First case, 12... Line image sensor, 13... Rondo lens, 14...
- Light source, 15a. 15b...Fixed shaft, 16a, 16b...Upper roller, 178.17b...Rotation transmission mechanism, 18...Rotary encoder, 19...Transparent 1g, 20...Document guide, 21... ...Second case, 21a...Protrusion, 22a. 22b...Movable shaft, 23a, 23b...Lower roller, 24...DC motor, 25a-25e...Gear,
26... Original guide, 27a, 27b... Bearing hole,
28a. 28b...Elastic body. (b) 1st tA (b) Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Consisting of a first case and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in one direction within the first case;
a line image sensor that reads an image on a document that moves relatively at the bottom of the case, an optical lens that forms an image on the document on this image sensor, and a photoelectric conversion device in the image sensor that is installed in the first case. A fixed shaft fixedly supported in parallel with the direction in which the elements are arranged, an upper roller supported by the fixed shaft and in contact with the original when reading an image on the original, and the first case are removably mounted. a second case, which is movable up and down via an elastic body so as to be parallel to the fixed axis with the first case placed on the second case; a movable shaft supported by the movable shaft, and a movable shaft that is supported by the movable shaft, faces the upper roller with the first case placed on the second case, and is inserted between the upper roller. An image reading device comprising: a lower roller for transporting a document; and a motor provided in the second case for driving the upper roller and the lower roller. (2) The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the motor is transmitted to the lower roller via the upper roller. (3) The lower roller is mounted on the first case on the second case.
The gears provided in both cases mesh with each other in a state where the case is placed, so that the rotation of the motor is transmitted through these gears. The image reading device according to item 1 or 2.