JP2002185713A - Flat bed type image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flat bed type image reader in which restraining and releasing of a carriage is surely conducted at appropriate time even without squiring the intention of a user. SOLUTION: For a push button switch, when the pushing operation of the first time is performed from an off-state indicated in the figure 3 (A), a pushed state, that is an on-state, is maintained by a mechanical locking mechanism provided in a switch part 41. At the time, since a pin 11 projected from the carriage 10 is housed in the notch 22a of an arm 22, the moving of the carriage 10 in a sub scanning direction is inhibited by the arm 22 through the pin 11. When the pushing operation of the second time is performed, the locking mechanism is released and the OFF state indicated in the figure 3(B) is restored by the energizing force of a spring. Thus, every time the operation part 43 of the push button switch is pressed, the state of releasing the carriage with power on and the state of restraining the carriage with the power off are switched.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flatbed type image reading apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for properly and reliably restraining and releasing a carriage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a flatbed type image reading apparatus such as a flatbed type scanner or a flatbed type copying machine is provided with a mechanism for preventing a carriage from moving during conveyance. The scanner is transported from the production plant to the user with the carriage restrained, and the carriage is released when the user operates some mechanical switch. After the carriage is released by the user and the use of the scanner is started, there is no chance that the carriage has to be restrained unless there is a movement of an installation place, a failure or the like.

[0003]

On the other hand, if the user forgets to perform the operation of restraining the carriage when the scanner needs to be transported due to a movement of the installation place, a failure, or the like, the carriage moves during transportation, and the carriage moves. There is a possibility that the driving device and the components mounted on the carriage may break down.
Conversely, if the user forgets to perform the operation of releasing the carriage, the power is turned on while the carriage is restrained, and there is a risk that the carriage driving device may break down in an attempt to forcibly move the carriage. However, since the user of the scanner has very few opportunities to restrain and release the carriage, a failure that often occurs due to forgetting to restrain and release the carriage has frequently occurred.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and provides a flat bed type image reading apparatus in which the carriage is restrained and released in a timely manner without user's intention. The purpose is to do.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flat bed type image reading apparatus, comprising: an image sensor for generating an image signal corresponding to optical density information of an original; and an optical system for forming an image of the original on the image sensor. And a power supply switch unit that turns off the power supply circuit, restrains the carriage, turns on the power supply circuit, and releases the carriage. The power supply circuit only needs to be off when the carriage must be restrained, and the carriage must be released when the power supply circuit is on. The carriage can be restrained and released in a timely and reliable manner by restraining the carriage in conjunction with the turning off of the carriage. Further, by releasing or restraining the carriage in accordance with the ON or OFF operation of the power supply circuit, it is possible to eliminate the need for the user to be aware of the restraint and release of the carriage. According to the flatbed type image reading apparatus of the present invention, the power switch unit turns off the power supply circuit and restrains the carriage, and turns on the power supply circuit and releases the carriage. Is released and released in a timely manner.

The image sensor may be mounted on the carriage and move parallel to the original surface, or may be fixed to a member other than the carriage and not move relative to the original surface. Further, the carriage may carry all of the optical system, or may carry only a part of the optical system, for example, only the light source and the mirror.

According to the flatbed type image reading apparatus of the present invention, the movement of the operation section of the push button switch and the movement of the arm for restraining and releasing the carriage are linked, so that the power circuit is turned on. The carriage is released, and the carriage is restrained in conjunction with turning off of the power supply circuit.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the movement of the operation unit of the rotary switch and the movement of the arm for restraining and releasing the carriage are interlocked with each other, so that the carriage is interlocked with the turning on of the power supply circuit. Is released, and the carriage is restrained in conjunction with the turning off of the power supply circuit.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention; (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a scanner 1 according to a first embodiment. The scanner 1 is of a flatbed type having a carriage 10 which reciprocates in parallel with the document surface. The case 30 is provided with an original surface glass (not shown), a white reference, and the like. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the upper surface of a case 10 provided with a document surface glass, a white reference, and the like is cut out and the inside of the case 10 is viewed from the document surface side.

The carriage 10 has one end in the main scanning direction slidably supported by a guide rod 54 and the other end in the main scanning direction slidably supported by a step 33 of the case 30. At the other end of the carriage 10 in the main scanning direction, a pin 11 restrained by an arm 22 described later is provided so as to protrude in the main scanning direction. The guide rods 54 are provided at both ends of a support frame 52 fixed to the bottom frame 51. The bottom frame 51 and the support frame 52 are made of metal, and the case 30 is made of plastic.
As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 10 has an image sensor 12 such as a CCD image sensor or a CMOS sensor, a mirror 15 for imaging an original on the image sensor, an optical system such as a condenser lens 14, and a lamp for irradiating the original. 16 and A /
AFE (Analog Front En) with D converter, amplifier, etc.
d) 13 are accommodated. As shown in FIG.
E13 is a flexible flat cable (FFC) 57
Is electrically connected to a substrate 56 having an image processing circuit. Note that the present invention can be applied to a mirror-movable scanner in which an image sensor is not mounted on the carriage 10. Further, the present invention can be applied to a scanner in which an image processing circuit is mounted on the carriage 10.

The motor 55 rotates the drive belt 53 to reciprocate the carriage 10 in the sub-scanning direction in parallel with the document surface. The drive belt 53 is stretched around a pulley (not shown) that is supported by the support frame 52. A part of the drive belt 53 is locked on the carriage 10.

The substrate 56 is provided with an image processing ASIC, a power supply circuit, a CPU, a control circuit, an interface circuit, and the like. Image processing ASIC is from AFE13 to FFC5
7, the white reference data obtained by reading the white reference before the reading is started and the black reference data stored in advance are compared, and the sensitivity of each element of the image sensor 12 is determined. Various conversions such as shading correction, gamma correction, and color correction for correcting variations and variations in the amount of light in the main scanning direction of the lamp 16 are performed. The power supply circuit is a circuit that converts an AC power supply into a DC power supply. CPU is R
Image processing A based on firmware recorded in OM
It controls the SIC, control circuit, interface circuit, and the like.
The control circuit controls the motor 55 and the lamp 1 according to the output of the CPU.
6 and so on. The interface circuit establishes communication between the scanner 1 and a host computer.

The push button switch 44 turns on and off the power supply circuit by an alternate operation. The push button switch 44 is screwed to the case 30. The operation unit 43 is supported by the switch case 45 so as to be reciprocally movable, and has an end protruding outside the case 30. The switch section 41 is provided with a not-shown movable section, fixed section, spring, lock mechanism, and the like. Pin 42 protruding from operation unit 43
Is pushed inwardly of the case 30 together with the operation unit 43, so that the pin 42 is restrained by the lock mechanism.
The switch unit 41 turns on the power supply circuit. When the operation unit 43 is pressed again in a state where the operation unit 43 is pushed in, the locking mechanism of the pin 42 is released, and the pin 42 is pushed back together with the operation unit 43 to the outside of the case 30 by the urging force of the spring, and the switch unit 41 turns off the power supply circuit.

The rod 40 rotates the lock member 20 in conjunction with the alternate operation of the push button switch 44.
The rod 40 is slidably supported by a plurality of guides 32 provided on the inner wall of the case 30. The guide 32 has a substantially C-shaped cross section and is formed integrally with the case 30. The shape of the guide 32 is set such that the rod 40 can be fitted into the guide 32 by elastically deforming the guide 32.

The rod 40 is made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel. One end of the rod 40 is bent in a hook shape, and one end of the rod 40 is inserted into the long hole 23a of the lock member 20, as shown in FIG. The other end of the rod 40 is fixed to the operation unit 43 of the push button switch 44. Therefore, the rod 40
Moves in the same direction as the direction in which the operation unit 43 moves, and rotates the lock member 20 bidirectionally within a predetermined angle range.
In this embodiment, in order to improve the operability, the push button switches 44 are provided so that the home position of the carriage 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the push button switches 44 are located at both ends in the sub-scanning direction of the case. But the carriage 10
The push button switch 44 may be provided such that the home position and the push button switch 44 are located on one side of the case in the sub-scanning direction. When the push button switch 44 is provided so that the home position of the carriage 10 and the push button switch 44 are located on one side of the case in the sub-scanning direction,
Since the rod 40 can be shortened, an interlocking mechanism between the push button switch 44 and the lock member 20 can be simplified.

The shaft 21 of the lock member 20 is rotatably supported by a bearing 31 provided on the side wall of the case 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the lock member 20 has a rod-shaped arm 22 projecting radially outward from a disk-shaped base.
23 is provided integrally with the base. The arm 22 has a notch 22a through which the pin 11 can enter and exit. The arm 23 has a long hole 23a into which one end of the rod 40 on the side of the hook is inserted. The lengths of the arms 22 and 23, the angular intervals between the arms 22 and 23, the positions of the notches 22a and the slots 23a, and the diameters of the slots 23a in the longitudinal direction are cut when the push button switch 44 is on and locked. The pin 11 is released from the notch 22a, and the pin 11 is restrained by the notch 22a in a state where the push button switch 44 is off and locked.

The configuration of the scanner 1 has been described above. Hereinafter, the release and restraint operation of the carriage 10 will be described with reference to FIG. (Carriage restraint) Scanner 1 for the period of transportation from the production factory to the consumer, the period of transportation from the consumer to the repair shop, etc.
If vibration is expected to be applied to the
The carriage 10 must be restrained so that 0 does not move in the case 30. The carriage 10 is restrained as follows.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the push button switch 44 is off and locked, the operation section 43 is in a state of being moved outside the case 30 and the scanner 1 is in a power off state. . At this time, the arm 23 to which the rod 40 is hooked is at the most advanced position in the swing range. Note that, for convenience of description, the advance angle and the retard angle refer to clockwise on the paper surface of FIG. Arm 2
Since the arm 3 and the arm 22 swing about the shaft 21 integrally with the disk-shaped base, when the arm 23 is at the most advanced position, the arm 22 is also at the most advanced position, and the arm 23 is at the most retarded angle. When in the position, the arm 22 is also at the most retarded position. When the arm 22 is at the most advanced position, the pin 11 protruding from the carriage 10 fits into the notch 22a of the arm 22. Therefore, the movement of the carriage 10 in the sub-scanning direction is prohibited by the arm 22 via the pin 11. That is, when the push button switch 44 is off and locked, the carriage 10 is restrained by the lock member 20.

(Release of Carriage) Since the carriage 10 must be able to move in the sub-scanning direction while the power is on, the carriage 10 must be released so that the carriage 10 can move in the sub-scanning direction. The released state of the carriage 10 is as follows.

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the push button switch 44 is turned on and locked, the operation unit 43 is in a state of moving inside the case 30 and the scanner 1 is in a power-on state. . At this time, the arm 23 to which the rod 40 is hooked is at the most retarded position in the swing range. When the arm 23 is at the most retarded position, the arm 22
Is also at the most retarded position. At this time, since the pin 11 protruding from the carriage 10 has come out of the notch 22 a of the arm 22, the carriage 10 is released from the arm 22. That is, the carriage 10 is released from the lock member 20 when the push button switch 44 is on and locked.

(Switching between Release and Restraint) When the first push operation from the OFF state is performed, the push button switch 44 is switched to the ON state by the mechanical lock mechanism provided in the switch unit 41, that is, the ON state. Will be maintained. When the second pushing operation is performed, the lock mechanism is released, and returns to the off state by the urging force of the spring. Therefore, each time the push button switch 44 is pressed, the state where the carriage is released when the power is turned on and the state where the carriage is restrained when the power is turned off are switched.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the ON / OFF state of the push button switch 44 as the power switch is determined.
Since the release / restriction operation of the carriage is performed in conjunction with the OFF operation, the user does not forget to release and restrict the carriage unintentionally, and the restriction and release of the carriage are reliably performed in a timely manner.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a scanner 2 according to a second embodiment. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, a rotary switch 60 that operates in conjunction with the lock member 70 is employed instead of the push button switch.

Since the operation portion 62 of the rotary switch 60 and the lock member 70 are fixed to the shaft portion 21, the lock member 70 rotates together with the operation portion 62. Therefore,
The arm 22 of the lock member 70 swings in conjunction with the rotation of the operation unit 62. The lock member 70 does not have a portion corresponding to the arm 23 of the first embodiment. The operation part 62 has a protrusion corresponding to a knob protruding from a disk-shaped base part, and is formed in a pot lid shape.

The switch section 61 of the rotary switch 60 is screwed to the case 30. The switch section 61 includes a movable section, a fixed section, and the like (not shown), rotatably supports the shaft section 21, and mechanically controls the rotation of the shaft section 21 at a predetermined most advanced position and a most retarded position. It has a lock mechanism. The switch unit 61 turns off the power supply circuit when the operation unit 62 is locked at the most advanced position, and turns on the power supply circuit when the operation unit 62 is locked at the most advanced position.

According to the second embodiment, when the power is turned on or off by rotating the operation unit 62, the carriage 10 is released or restrained in conjunction therewith, so that the user unintentionally releases and restrains the carriage. Remember that the carriage is restrained and released in a timely and reliable manner. Also, according to the second embodiment, the rotary switch 60
Since the distance from to the lock member 70 is short, the mechanism for linking the power switch and the lock member of the carriage can be simplified.

Although only the flatbed type scanner has been described in the above embodiments, the present invention can be applied to various flatbed type image reading apparatuses such as a scanner in which a carriage moves in the sub-scanning direction, a copy machine, and a facsimile machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a scanner according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a document surface side.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the carriage according to the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from a main scanning direction.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic views of the scanner according to the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from the main scanning direction, wherein FIG. 3A shows a restrained state of the carriage, and FIG. 3B shows a released state of the carriage.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a scanner according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a document surface side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Scanner 10 Carriage 11 Pin 12 Image Sensor 15 Mirror (Optical System) 16 Lamp 14 Condensing Lens (Optical System) 20 Lock Member 21 Shaft 22, 23 Arm 30 Case 32 Guide 40 Rod (Power Switch) 41 Switch Section (power switch section) 42 pin (power switch section) 43 operation section (power switch section) 44 push button switch (power switch section) 45 switch case (power switch section) 53 drive belt 54 guide rod 55 motor 56 substrate

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image sensor for generating an image signal corresponding to optical density information of a document, a carriage for conveying an optical system for forming a document on the image sensor in parallel to a document surface, and a power supply circuit. A flatbed type image reading device, comprising: a power switch unit that turns off and restrains the carriage, turns on the power circuit, and releases the carriage. 2. The power switch section comprises: a push button switch for turning on and off the power circuit; and an arm for restraining and releasing the carriage by swinging in conjunction with an operation section of the push button switch. The flat-bed image reading apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: 3. The power switch section includes a rotary switch for turning on and off the power circuit, and an arm for restraining and releasing the carriage by swinging in conjunction with an operation section of the rotary switch. The flatbed type image reading device according to claim 1, wherein: