JP2000069248A - Image scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To readily make a scanner having a contact type reading head simply function as a self-traveling and a sheet feeding type. SOLUTION: This device has a scan unit 20, which can self travel on a read paper 1 and a sheet feed station 30 to which the scan unit 20 is inseparably set, and the scan head 20 is equipped with a reading head 201 for closely contacting the read paper 1 and reading image information, a pair of rolls 202 for rotating on the read paper 1, and driving means 203 for moving the scan unit 20 as a whole on the read paper 1 by rotating the rolls 202. The sheet feed station 30 is equipped with a transfer roll 301, which press contacts the rolls 202 and rotates, clamps the read paper 1 by cooperating with the rolls 202 and transfers the read paper 1, when the scan unit 20 is set and a pressure means 40 which makes the read paper 1 contact the reading head 201.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image scanner having a reading head (contact type image reading head) for reading image information on a sheet to be read in close contact with the sheet to be read.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image scanner having a reading head (contact type image reading head) which comes into close contact with a paper to be read includes a self-propelled scanner having a built-in moving mechanism which runs on the paper to be read, and a paper to be read. There are sheet-feed type scanners equipped with a transport mechanism having a platen roll that is in close contact with the read head, and these image scanners are used as self-propelled or sheet-feed type dedicated machines, and one is not configured to be able to double as the other Is common. This is because the depth of focus of the lens system constituting the reading head is small, and unless the paper to be read is brought into close contact with the reading head, the image to be read will be blurred and accurate image information cannot be read. Because it occurs.

[0003]

However, in recent years,
It is desired that an image scanner having a reading head in close contact with a sheet to be read can be used as a self-propelled and sheet-fed scanner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily operate a scanner having a contact type reading head as a self-propelled type and a sheet feed type. To provide a scanner.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image scanner according to the present invention comprises a scanning unit capable of self-propelling on a sheet to be read, and a scanning unit for transporting the sheet to be read on which the scanning unit is separably set. A scanning head for reading image information on the read sheet in close contact with the read sheet; and the read head in a state in which the read head is in close contact with the read sheet. And a drive unit for driving the roll to move the entire scanning unit relative to the sheet to be read, wherein the sheet feed station is provided with the scanning unit on the sheet feed station. It is characterized by comprising a pressing means for bringing the read paper into close contact with the reading head when the unit is set.

The present invention is also characterized in that the pressing means includes an urging means for urging the paper to be read in a direction in which the paper is brought into close contact with the reading head with a predetermined pressure. The present invention is further characterized in that the biasing means is a spring member. The present invention is further characterized in that the sheet feed station further includes a transfer roll that rotates while being pressed against the roll, and that cooperates with the roll to pinch the read paper and transfer the read paper. And The present invention is also directed to a lever, wherein the pressing means is provided swingably on a pivot shaft of the transfer roll, and a pressing member provided at a swinging tip of the lever for bringing the read sheet into close contact with the reading head. The torque of the transfer roll, which is provided between the pivot portion of the lever and the pivot shaft of the transfer roll, is converted into a predetermined pressing force necessary for the read sheet to come into close contact with the reading head, and is applied to the pressing member. It is composed of a torque limiter to be applied. The present invention is also characterized in that the torque limiter is one of an oil damper and a friction clutch. The present invention is also characterized in that the roll is formed of a rubber roll, and the rubber roll and the driving unit are connected by a rotation transmitting unit.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of an image scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram when the image scanner according to the embodiment of the present invention is used as a self-propelled scanner, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view when an image scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention is set and used in a sheet feed station, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing an internal configuration of a reading head according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4
And FIG. 6 is a front view showing the configuration of the pressing means according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, an image scanner includes a scanning unit 20 which can move on a reading paper 10 by itself and a sheet feeding station 3 for transporting a reading paper on which the scanning unit 20 is separably set.
0 is provided. The scanning unit 20 includes a reading head 201 that comes into close contact with the read paper 10 developed on a plane as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and reads characters, figures, and the like of the read paper 10 as image information. A pair of rolls 202 arranged in parallel with the self-running direction of the scan unit 20 with the head 201 interposed therebetween and rolling on the read paper 10 in a state where the read head 201 is in close contact with the read paper 10;
By rotating one of the rolls 202, the scanning unit 2 is rotated.
0 is moved along the upper surface of the paper 10 to be read.
It is configured to be housed inside.

The driving means 203 comprises a small electric motor 2
03A, and a rotation transmission mechanism 203B for transmitting the rotation of the small electric motor 203A to one roll 202,
This rotation transmission mechanism 203B is a small electric motor 203A.
And a gear arranged between the rotation shaft of the first roller 202 and the support shaft of one roll 202. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the reading head 201 includes a housing 201B having a transparent reading window 201A on a surface facing the paper 10 to be read,
A CCD arranged in the housing 201B in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the paper 10 to be read facing the reading window 201A.
A line sensor 201C, a lens array 201D for imaging characters, figures, and the like of the paper 10 to be read on the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 201C disposed facing the housing 201B, and a transparent reading window 201A disposed in the housing 201B. Light source 20 illuminating paper 10 to be read through
1E.

The sheet feed station 30 includes:
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the scan unit 20 is set on the sheet feed station 30,
A transport roll 301 that rotates while pressing against one of the rolls 202 and cooperates with the roll 202 to pinch the paper 10 to be read and transport the paper 10 to be read; The transfer roll 301 and the pressing means 40 are provided with a pressing means 40 which is in close contact with a transparent reading window 201A which is a lower surface of the housing 201.
It is configured to be housed inside. The pressing means 40
As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG.
A pair of levers 401 swingably provided at both ends of one pivot shaft 301A, and a pair of levers 401 provided horizontally between the swinging front ends of the levers 401, and the reading target paper 10 is the lower surface of the reading head 201. A platen roller 402 that is brought into close contact with the transparent reading window 201A, and a transfer roll 3 that is provided between a pivot portion of one lever 401 and a pivot shaft 301A of the transfer roll 301.
A torque limiter 403 converts the torque of No. 01 into a predetermined pressing force necessary for the read sheet 10 to come into close contact with the read head 201 and applies the same to the platen roller 402.

Next, the operation of the image scanner configured as described above according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, a case in which the scanning unit 20 is driven to read the paper to be read 10 by itself will be described. in this case,
As shown in FIG. 2, the scan unit 20 is set on the read sheet 10 developed on a plane, and a power switch (not shown) is turned on to start the small drive motor 203A and to set the read head 201 to an operating state. I do. Accordingly, the rotation of the small drive motor 203A is transmitted to one of the rolls 202 via a gear train serving as a rotation transmission mechanism 203B, and by rotating this roll 202, the entire scan unit 20 is illustrated on the paper 10 to be read. 2 in the X direction. When the scanning unit 20 is moved in the direction of the arrow X, the reading head 201 scans the paper 10 while the reading head 201 is in close contact with the paper 10 to be read. After being read by the CCD line sensor 201C through the lens array 201D in the head 201 and transmitted as image information to an image processing circuit or the like (not shown) built in the scan unit 20 and subjected to predetermined processing, the scan unit 2
0 and transmitted to a computer connected via a cable, and the read content is displayed on its display unit. This allows the scan unit 20 to function as a self-propelled image scanner.

Next, a case where the scan unit 20 is operated as a sheet feed type image scanner will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the scanning unit 20 is set on the sheet feed station 30, and one of the rolls 202 is kept in pressure contact with the transfer roll 301. In this state, the paper 10 to be read is inserted from the paper insertion slot 303 provided in the sheet feed station 30, and a power switch (not shown) is turned on to start the small drive motor 203A and to put the read head 201 into an operating state. The sheet feed station 30 is activated, and the sheet to be read 10 is moved in the direction indicated by an arrow -X in FIG.
Transfer in the direction. When the small drive motor 203A is started, one of the rolls 202 is rotated, and at the same time, the transfer roll 301 is also rotated.
The paper 10 to be read transferred from 3 through the reading head 201 is sent out of the scan unit 20 while being held between one roll 202 and the transfer roll 301.

On the other hand, when the transfer roll 301 is rotated,
The lever 401 coupled to the pivot shaft 301A of the transfer roll 301 via the torque limiter 403 is rotated in the direction of arrow B in FIG.
Is pressed from the lower surface of the reading paper 10 to automatically bring the transferred reading paper 10 into close contact with the transparent reading window 201A from the lower surface of the reading head 201 at a predetermined pressure set by the torque limiter 403. Along with this, the characters and figures of the transported paper 10 are transferred through the lens array 201D in the reading head 201 to the CCD line sensor 2D.
01C, is transmitted as image information to an image processing circuit or the like (not shown) built in the scan unit 20 and is subjected to predetermined processing.
Is transmitted to a computer connected via a cable, and the read content is displayed on its display unit. Thereby, the scan unit 20 can function as a sheet feed type image scanner.

According to the image scanner according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, the contact type read head 201 is provided.
Can be made to function as a self-propelled image scanner, and the scanning unit 20 can be made to function as a sheet feed type image scanner simply by setting the scan unit 20 on the sheet feed station 30. When the scan unit 20 functions as a sheet feed type image scanner, the rollers 20 of the scan unit 20 are used.
Since the paper 10 to be transported is automatically brought into close contact with the reading head 201 by the pressing means 40 which operates in conjunction with the rotation of 2, the platen roller 402 is pressed against the reading head 201 of the scanning unit 20. The configuration is simplified, and the transport system of the sheet feed station 30 can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, the pressing means 4
Although the case has been described where 0 is constituted by a pair of levers 401, a platen roller 402 and a torque limiter 403, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the scanning unit 20 is set on the sheet feed station 30, the reading head 201 of the scanning unit 20
The sheet feed station 30 is provided with a platen roller 402 that moves in the direction of contact and separation with respect to the reading head 2 by a biasing means such as a spring member.
A configuration may be adopted in which the sheet to be read is brought into close contact with the reading head 201 at a predetermined pressure by urging in a direction in which the sheet is pressed against the sheet.

[0016]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a scan unit having a contact type reading head can function as a self-propelled image scanner, and the scan unit can be mounted on a sheet feed station. Can be easily operated as a sheet feed type image scanner by simply setting
In addition, there is an effect that the transport system of the sheet feed station can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of an image scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram when the image scanner according to the embodiment of the present invention is used as a self-propelled scanner.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when the image scanner according to the embodiment of the present invention is set and used in a sheet feed station.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing an internal configuration of a reading head according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a pressing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 To be read 20 Scanning unit 201 Reading head 202 Roll 203 Driving means 30 Sheet feed station 301 Transfer roll 40 Pressing means 401 Lever 402 Platen roller 403 Torque limiter

Claims (7)

[Claims] A scanning unit capable of self-running on a read sheet; and a sheet feed station for transferring the read sheet on which the scan unit is detachably set, wherein the scan unit is in close contact with the read sheet. A read head for reading image information on the read paper, a roll that rolls on the read paper in a state where the read head is in close contact with the read paper, and a drive unit that drives the roll to scan the entire scan unit. Driving means for moving the sheet relative to the sheet to be read, wherein the sheet feed station presses the sheet to be read into close contact with the read head when the scan unit is set on the sheet feed station. An image scanner, comprising: 2. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit includes an urging unit that urges the sheet to be read in a direction in which the sheet is brought into close contact with the reading head with a predetermined pressure. 3. The biasing means is a spring member.
The described image scanner. 4. The sheet feed station further comprises a transfer roll that rotates while being pressed against the roll, and that cooperates with the roll to pinch the read paper and transfer the read paper. Claims 1 to 3
The image scanner according to any one of the above. 5. The pressing means comprises: a lever pivotally provided on a pivot shaft of the transfer roll; and a pressing member provided at a pivoting tip of the lever for bringing the read sheet into close contact with the reading head. The torque of the transfer roll, which is provided between the pivot portion of the lever and the pivot shaft of the transfer roll, is converted into a predetermined pressing force necessary for the read sheet to come into close contact with the reading head, and is applied to the pressing member. 5. The image scanner according to claim 4, comprising a torque limiter to be applied. 6. The image scanner according to claim 5, wherein the torque limiter is one of an oil damper and a friction clutch. 7. The roll comprises a rubber roll,
2. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said rubber roll and said driving means are connected by rotation transmitting means.