JP2003075943A - Flat bed scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely read and recover an original without scattering and slipping the original at the time of opening and closing a platen cover. SOLUTION: In an image reader provided with a housing 101 having a platen 104 on which the original is placed, a scanning body 103 movably installed at the inside of the housing and the platen cover 102 attached to the housing 101 so as to freely open and close, a sheet cover 106 covering the original on the platen is attached to the housing, so that the original is surely read and recovered without scattering and slipping the original by the opening and closing of the platen cover 102.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flatbed scanner for reading an image by setting a document on a platen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional flatbed scanner, a platen for setting an original, a scanning member for reading image information of the original while moving along the lower surface of the platen,
A mechanism for outputting this image information as a digital signal is provided.

In the flatbed scanner,
Image reading is performed in the following procedure. First, the operator sets the document surface toward the platen and presses the platen cover from above to bring the document surface into close contact with the platen to read the document. After the reading is completed, the platen cover is opened to collect the original document.

When the image information of the original is read, the platen cover is exposed to light from the outside and adversely affects the read image, or the light from the light source provided on the scanning body leaks to the outside to the operator's eyes. It is provided to prevent entry.

[0005]

In the above flatbed scanner, an operator places an original on the platen,
When scanning the original with the platen cover closed, if the platen cover is closed suddenly from the open state, air will be blown by the cover, causing airflow on the upper surface of the original and placing the original first. There was a problem that the position was shifted.

Further, if the operator suddenly opens the platen cover from the closed state at the end of reading the original, the atmospheric pressure on the upper surface of the original suddenly drops due to the opening of the cover, and airflow occurs. At this time, if the document placed on the platen is warped even slightly, air will enter from a small gap on the lower surface of the document and airflow will also occur on the lower surface of the document. Since the speed is high, a pressure difference is generated and the document is lifted. The lifted original falls again due to gravity, but the original falls irregularly, and the original may slip off the platen. Facsimile machines and copiers are often placed near walls because of space constraints, so it is sometimes the case that originals enter the gap between the main body and the wall from above the platen, and collect the dropped originals. There was a problem that it was very annoying.

Further, when many small documents such as business cards are arranged side by side and set on the platen, if the positions of the arranged documents are exchanged or the documents are dropped, it is assumed that a large number of documents will be collected. The problem was that it was annoying.

The present invention has been made to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems, and a platen cover prevents a document placed on the platen from being displaced,
An object of the present invention is to provide a flatbed scanner capable of reading images arranged in order and smoothly collecting read documents.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a housing of an upper opening box type, a platen arranged on an upper surface of the housing and having a document placing surface, What is claimed is: 1. A flatbed scanner comprising a scanning member movably installed in a housing, and a platen cover attached to one end of the housing so as to be openable and closable upward with respect to the platen, wherein the platen and the platen cover are provided. And a sheet cover that directly covers the document placed on the platen and prevents the document from moving.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the seat cover according to claim 1 is formed into a plurality of belt-shaped bodies and arranged in parallel.

The invention of claim 3 is the same as claim 1 or 2.
It is characterized in that a storage portion for storing the seat cover described in (1) is provided.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a stopper is attached to one end of the seat cover according to claim 3.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the seat cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is embossed.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flatbed scanner. Flatbed scanner 100 according to the embodiment
Is provided with a platen 104 arranged in the upper opening of the box-shaped housing 101 and a platen cover 102 attached to the housing 101.

The platen 104 has a document placing surface. Inside the housing 101, there is provided a scanning body 111 composed of a half-rate carriage 112 and a full-rate carriage 113, which is moved and scanned in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and can read the image of the document placed on the platen 104. Is configured.

One side end of the platen cover 102 is attached to the housing 101 via a hinge portion 105 so as to be openable and closable in the direction of arrow B in the figure. The original placed on the platen 104 with its image side facing down is pressed by the platen cover 102 from above so that the image side of the original can be brought into close contact with the platen 104 and read.

Inside the housing 101, a roll shaft 107 is fixed to the housing 101. A plurality of sheet covers 106 wound in a roll shape are provided independently of each other on a roller 115 having a hollow portion into which the roll shaft 107 is inserted. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and there may be a single unit in which a plurality of seat covers are wound around one roller.

Since the seat cover 106 can be wound into a roll in this embodiment, it is desirable that the seat cover 106 is a flexible material such as paper, cloth, vinyl, and resin film. Note that the material is not limited to this embodiment, and when the seat cover 106 is not housed as in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the material need not be flexible.

Further, the roller 1 is attached to the roll shaft 107.
15 is rotatably attached. An elastic member 121 wound in a coil shape is provided between the roll shaft 107 and the roller 115 so that torque is always applied to the roller 115 in the direction in which the seat cover 106 is wound (the arrow E direction in the drawing). The seat cover 106 is automatically wound into the housing 101. Therefore, when it is not necessary to use the seat cover 106, it can be easily stored inside the housing 101, and the seat cover 10
Since it is not necessary to remove 6 as well, it is not necessary to separately secure a space for storing the seat cover 106 when not in use, except for the housing 101. Therefore, the seat cover 106 is not lost and can be used immediately when used.

As described above, by applying the torque in the winding direction by the elastic body 121, the seat cover 1
One end of 06 is wound around the roller 115, and the other end is connected to the housing 101 as shown in the figure.
From the slit 108 provided on the upper surface to the housing 101
It is pulled out to the top. A stopper 103 is attached to the other end of the seat cover 106, and the seat cover 106 can be easily pulled out by pulling the stopper 103. For example, as shown in the figure, since the thickness of the stopper 103 is made larger than the width of the slit 108, the seat cover 1
Even when 06 is wound around the roller 115, the stopper 103
Engage on the upper surface of the slit 108, and the seat cover 106
Is completely wound into the housing 101, and the other end of the seat cover 106 does not enter the housing 101. As a result, when the seat cover 106 is pulled out again, it can be easily pulled out. Not limited to the embodiment, the slit 1 is provided for each seat cover 106.
08 is provided to make the length of the stopper 103 longer than the length of the slit, and the shape of the stopper 103 may be any one that can achieve the purpose of the stopper.

The sheet cover 106 is pulled out so as to directly cover the original placed on the upper surface of the platen 104, and the stopper 103 is provided with a pin 109 provided on the upper surface of the housing 101 opposite to the slit 108. Seat cover 1 when pulled out by hooking on
06 can be fixed. Even if the seat cover 106 is automatically wound into the housing 101,
Even if the hand is released from the seat cover 106, the housing 10
1 It can prevent being wound inside. It should be noted that the pin 109 is provided when the platen cover 102 is closed.
It is arranged at a position outside the platen cover 102.

By making the sheet cover 106 transparent, it is possible to easily confirm the positional deviation of the document while the document is covered. Further, even when the image is read without closing the platen cover 102,
By making it transparent, the image of the seat cover 106 itself is not read. Not limited to the present embodiment, the deviation of the document can be easily discriminated from the gap of the sheet cover 106, and when the platen cover 102 is always closed to read the image, the sheet cover 106 does not necessarily need to be transparent.

Further, in this embodiment, the seat cover 106 is provided.
Since multiple strip-shaped sheets were provided in parallel at intervals,
It is possible to correct the misalignment of the document by inserting a hand from the place where the gap is opened. At this time, if the seat cover 106 is made of an elastic material, it is easy to put a hand under the seat cover 106 during the correction. In addition,
The seat cover 106 includes the stopper 103 and the pin 10
It has such a length that it can be hooked on.

FIG. 3 is an internal side view of the flatbed scanner 100 when the original on the platen 104 is directly covered with the sheet cover 106 and the platen cover 102 is closed. In the flatbed scanner 100 of this example, a lamp 114 provided inside the housing 101.
Light is applied to the image surface of the original set on the platen 104 and reflected through the mirrors m1, m2 and m3 provided in the half rate carriage 112 and the full rate carriage 113, and the reflected light of the mirror m3 is reflected by the lens. 11
And an image is formed on the photoelectric conversion element (CCD) 119 via 8,
The optical information is converted into an electric signal, and the image information is transmitted to the recording section.

Next, the procedure for reading the original will be described. First, the operator opens the platen cover 102, and places the document D on the platen in order with the image surface facing down, as shown in FIG. Next, the seat cover 1 wound on one roll
Hold the stopper 103 of No. 06 and pull it out.
4 directly covers the document D placed on the stopper 4, and the stopper 103
Is engaged with the pin 109 to fix the sheet cover 106 and prevent the document D from moving when the platen cover 102 is closed. This is sequentially performed on the other seat covers 106, and if necessary, all seat covers 10 are
Directly cover the original with 6. The seat cover 106
However, only the sheet cover 106 necessary for the size of the original may be pulled out. When the document D is moved by directly covering the document D with the sheet cover 106, the documents moved from between the sheet covers are aligned. After that, the platen cover 10
2 is closed and the image is read. At this time, since the original document is directly covered by the sheet cover 106, the original document does not move due to this even when the platen cover 102 is closed, and the original document placed at a desired position can be reliably read.

After the image reading is completed, the platen cover 1 is again used.
Open 02. At this time, since the document D is directly covered by the sheet cover 106 and firmly fixed to the upper surface of the platen 104, even if an airflow occurs due to the opening of the platen cover 102, the document remains in the state when placed. . Further, even when a large number of small documents such as business cards are placed side by side, the position at the time of placing can be surely maintained. Finally, the sheet cover 10 covering the document D
Gently lift 6 to collect the original. To read another original continuously, lift the seat cover 106, insert the original between the sheet cover 106 and the platen 104,
The document is directly covered with the sheet cover 106, and the above-mentioned reading operation is performed. When the reading of the document is completed, the stopper 103 is removed from the pin 109, the sheet cover 106 is wound around the roller 115, and the sheet cover 106 is stored in the housing 101. At this time, the roller 115
The seat cover 106 is automatically wound around the roller 115 by the restoring force of the elastic body 121 between the roller shaft 107 and the roller shaft 107.

It should be noted that in the above description, the original is placed on the sheet cover 106.
Although the case where the original is placed on the platen 104 is described, the stopper 103 of the sheet cover 106 is disengaged from the pin 109 and the original is stored in the housing 101, and then the original is collected. It will be clear that there are also. In such a case, the seat cover 106
Of the document contact surface of the sheet cover 106 is uneven, for example, the sheet cover 106
If the original is embossed, the original contact surface of the sheet cover 106 is reduced and the original can be prevented from adhering, so the original can be easily moved. Also, the seat cover 10
Even if 6 is lifted, the document does not move and can be smoothly collected while maintaining the state at the time of image reading.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
An example in which the seat cover 106 is not housed will be described.
When reading a document, the document D is placed on the upper surface of the platen 104.
To place. In this state, the sheet cover 106 is expanded from one end of the housing 101 to the other end to cover the document D. At this time, the weights 122 are placed on both ends of the seat cover 106 so that the seat cover 106 does not move, and the seat cover 1
06 is fixed to the upper surface of the platen 104. by this,
The original is directly covered with the sheet cover 106 so as to be fixed.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the seat cover is stored in the housing as it is extended without being wound up. In this embodiment, one end of the elastic body 121 is attached to the housing 101. One end of a seat cover 106 is attached to the other end of the elastic body 121, and the seat cover 106 is a guide roller 110.
And the other end is pulled out from the slit 108. Further, the stopper 1 is provided on the other end of the seat cover 106.
03 is attached. The elastic body 121 urges the seat cover 106 in a direction to pull the seat cover 106 into the housing 101, and the seat cover 106 is automatically housed in the housing. At this time, the seat cover 106 is attached to the housing 1
In 01, the elastic body 121 is stored while being stretched.

Although a plurality of seat covers 106 are provided in parallel in the lateral direction of the housing 101 in the above embodiment, a plurality of seat covers 106 may be provided in parallel in the longitudinal direction.
Alternatively, one sheet cover 106 may be provided so as to cover the entire platen 104.

Further, in the above embodiment, the seat cover 10
6 is housed inside the housing 101, but the place where the seat cover 106 is installed is not limited to the inside of the housing 101, and can be installed as an option in the vicinity of the housing 101 such as the side surface and the bottom surface.

Further, in the above embodiment, the seat cover 106.
The seat cover 10
6, there is also a method in which a manual winding handle (not shown) is provided, for example, and it is possible to stop the seat cover 106 halfway without winding it up.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the matters shown in the above embodiments, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Is.

[0035]

As described above, according to the flatbed scanner of the present invention, the original is directly covered with the sheet cover, and when the operator closes the platen cover when reading the original, the original is placed. It is possible to prevent misalignment of originals and read images lined up in an orderly manner.Furthermore, at the end of original scanning, when the operator reopens the platen cover from the closed state and collects the originals, the change in atmospheric pressure may occur. The document can be prevented from floating, and the document can be smoothly collected without slipping off from the platen, which is an excellent effect. Especially when many small documents such as business cards are lined up and set on the platen,
The position of the arranged originals is not exchanged, and the originals are not dropped and a large number of originals are not collected, so that the effect is further enhanced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a document placed on a platen in a flat-pad scanner with a seat cover pulled out according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a sheet cover is stored and a document is collected from the state of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an internal side view of the flatbed scanner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a case where the seat cover of the flatbed scanner according to the second embodiment of the present invention is not housed.

FIG. 5 is an internal side view of the flatbed scanner according to the third embodiment of the present invention when the seat cover is not wound into a roll but is pulled and stored inside the housing while being stretched.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 flatbed scanner 101 housing 102 platen cover 103 stopper 104 Platen 105 Hinge part 106 seat cover 107 roll shaft 108 slits 109 pin 110 guide roller 111 scanning device 112 Half Rate Carriage 113 full rate carriage 114 lamp 115 Laura 118 lens 119 CCD 121 Elastic body 122 weight D manuscript

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A top opening box type housing, a platen disposed on an upper surface of the housing and having a document placement surface, and a scanning member movably installed in the housing.
A flatbed scanner having a platen cover attached to one end of the housing so as to be openable and closable upward with respect to a platen, wherein a document placed on the platen is placed between the platen and the platen cover. A flatbed scanner, which is provided with a sheet cover that directly covers and prevents movement of the document. 2. The seat cover is a plurality of strips,
2. A structure in which they are arranged in parallel.
Flatbed scanner described in. 3. The flatbed scanner according to claim 1, further comprising a storage portion for storing the seat cover. 4. The flatbed scanner according to claim 3, wherein a stopper is attached to one end of the seat cover. 5. The flatbed scanner according to claim 1, wherein the seat cover is embossed.