JP2003134311A - Image reading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To read an image of a document conveyed by an automatic document feeding device arranged on a setting base by means of a reading optical system, in an image reading apparatus provided with a structure for reading the document, which is placed with the image surface thereof facing upward on the setting base. SOLUTION: This image reading apparatus comprising a document glass 1 provided with a setting surface 2 for setting the document with the image surface thereof facing upward, and automatic document feeding device 3 which is located on the top of the setting surface and feeds the document to the reading position, and the reading optical system 5 located between the setting surface and the automatic document feeding device. The reading optical system comprises a light source and a plurality of mirrors 11, 12, 13 which scan a static document while moving along the static document, a fixed lens, and a CCD. In reading a moving document, the image reader reads the moving document while stopping at a reading stopping position thereof. One of the mirrors changes an angle thereof to switch, and reflects the document reflection light from the static document and the moving document into optical paths toward the lens and the CCD.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus equipped in a device such as a copying machine or a scanner, and particularly, an original set with an image surface to be read facing upward is arranged above the original. The present invention relates to an improvement of an image reading apparatus having a structure for reading by the reading optical system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers and facsimiles, and in scanners, a document image is scanned by a moving reading optical system that moves a stationary document on a document table such as contact glass. An image reading device for reading a document image is provided in the process of reading a document or feeding the document to a stopped reading optical system. A conventional image reading apparatus has a configuration for reading an image of a document having an image surface set downward on the contact glass by arranging a reading optical system immediately below the contact glass or the like. For this reason, the operator needs to set the original with the image surface facing downward, which makes the operation complicated. Especially in the case of a book manuscript, when reading multiple pages in succession, the book manuscript is picked up and turned over to open the next relevant page each time one reading is completed, and the read page is turned downward. Therefore, it is necessary to repeatedly turn over the book manuscript and set it at the set position so that the workability is poor. Therefore, an image reading apparatus has been proposed in which a reading optical system is provided above a set surface that supports a document so that the image surface faces upward, and the image surface facing upward can be read.
In this type of image reading device, sheet originals can be set with the original surface facing upward while the original surface is being confirmed, and for book originals, the page surface to be read can be set upward. It is also possible to turn pages, with the book original set. However, in this type of image reading device,
There is only a stationary document that can be read, and a type that can read a document conveyed by an automatic document feeder has not been proposed so far, so there is a problem in terms of operability and reading workability. there were. Incidentally, JP-A-8-03
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2772 discloses an apparatus for reading a book document opened and set on a document table by a scanning unit located above and automatically turning a page. There is no disclosure of the function of reading the image of the document conveyed by.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is provided with a structure in which a document set on a set table with the image surface facing upward is read by a reading optical system located above. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading device capable of reading an image of a moving document conveyed by an automatic document feeding device arranged above a set table by the same reading optical system.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a document table having a setting surface for setting the image surface of the document upward, and a position above the document setting surface. And an automatic document feeder that conveys the document to the reading position, and a reading optical system that is located between the set surface and the automatic document feeder. The reading optical system is provided with a light source and a plurality of mirrors for scanning while moving along a stationary document, and a fixed lens and a CCD, and the reading optical system reads the document conveyed by the automatic document feeder. Is
An image reading apparatus which reads at a reading stop position, wherein at least one of the plurality of mirrors comprises:
By changing the angle, the reflected light of the original from the stationary original on the set surface and the reflected light of the original from the original conveyed by the automatic original feeder are switched and reflected to the optical paths toward the lens and the CCD, respectively. It is characterized by being able to. According to this, since it is possible to read a stationary document and a moving document by using one reading optical system, it is possible to provide an unprecedented function while avoiding a complicated structure and high cost. It will be possible. According to the invention of claim 2, the light source comprises a first light source for irradiating a stationary document on the setting surface, and a second light source for irradiating a document conveyed by the automatic document feeder. It is characterized by
In this way, light sources for irradiating the stationary document and the moving document may be separately provided. According to the invention of claim 3, the light source is movable between a first position for irradiating a stationary document on the setting surface and a second position for reading a document conveyed by the automatic document feeder. It consists of a single light source. According to this, the stationary document and the moving document can be selectively illuminated by using one movable light source, so that the number of parts can be reduced. Further, by linking the operation of the light source with the operation of the movable mirror, the accuracy of the operation can be improved.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image reading apparatus is installed in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and reads a document image. On the upper surface of the image reading apparatus main body (document table) 1, there is a set surface 2 for setting the read image surface of the original document upward, and on the upper surface of the set surface 2 is an automatic document feeder 3 for conveying the original document to the reading position. One end edge is supported by a hinge (not shown) so as to be vertically openable and closable. A reading optical system 5 is provided between the setting surface 2 and the automatic document feeder 3.
Are arranged. The reading optical system 5 includes a light source 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for scanning while moving in a direction indicated by an arrow A along an original set on the setting surface 2 in a stationary state, and a plurality of mirrors 11, 12. 13 and a fixed lens 20 and CCD 21. The light source 10 and the first mirror 11 are supported by the first traveling body 15 and move integrally, and the second and third mirrors 12 and 13 are supported by the second traveling body 16 and move integrally. To do. In the illustrated state, the first and second traveling bodies 15 and 16 are stopped at the home position (reading stop position), and in this state, the original document (moving original document) conveyed by the automatic document feeder 3 is Can be read. A plurality of mirrors 11, 12,
At least one of 13, specifically the first mirror 1
1, the angle of the reflecting surface can be alternately changed between a state in which the reflecting surface is painted in black and a state shown in white. By changing the angle, the direction of the reflecting surface of the first mirror 11 can be changed. , And can be selectively switched so as to face a stationary document located on the lower side or a moving document passing on the upper side. That is, when the first mirror 11 is at the angle shown in black, the original reflected light emitted from the first light source 10a shown in FIG. 2 and reflected by the image surface of the stationary original on the setting surface 2 is reflected. , C on the reflecting surface of the first mirror 11, passes through the second and third mirrors 12 and 13, and the lens 20 and C.
It is guided to the optical path toward CD21. Further, when the first mirror 11 is at the angle shown in white, the original reflected light emitted from the second light source 10b shown in FIG. 2 and reflected by the image surface of the stationary original on the setting surface 2 is reflected. , The second and third mirrors 12, 1 which are reflected by the reflecting surface of the first mirror 11.
The light is guided to the lens 20 and the optical path toward the CCD 21 via 3.

The automatic document feeder 3 includes a document setting table 3
0, a paper feed roller 31 that separates and sends out the originals on the original set table one by one, a conveyance path 33 that goes from the paper feed roller 31 to a paper ejection unit 32 through a predetermined path, and is arranged along the conveyance path 33 Transport roller 34, discharge roller 35, transport path 33
Appropriate place (both traveling bodies 15, 16 stopped at the reading stop position)
And a guide plate 36 arranged at a reading position for receiving the light emitted from the light source included in. When the originals that are taken out one by one from the original setting table 30 by the paper feed rollers 31 and are conveyed in the conveying path 33, when passing the lower side of the guide plate 36 arranged at the reading position located at the bottom of the conveying path. In addition, the image surface is illuminated by the light source 10 supported by the first traveling body 15 stopped immediately below, and the reflected light is reflected from the first mirror 11 to the second and third mirrors 12,
An image is formed on the lens 20 and the CCD 21 via 13. When reading an image of a moving document fed from the document setting table 30, the reflection surface of the first mirror 11 supported by the first traveling body 15 faces the white direction (moving document side). Therefore, the reflected light from the moving document is guided to the optical path after the second mirror. Further, when reading a still original image on the setting surface 2, the reflecting surface of the first mirror 11 is oriented in a black-painted direction (still original side), and the original reflected light from the still original is reflected by the second surface. Guide to the optical path after the mirror. In this way, by changing the angle of the first mirror 11 in accordance with the respective reading directions, the above-mentioned function can be achieved by utilizing the same configuration for the other mechanism, and the structure becomes complicated and large. There is no. As described above, the image reading apparatus can set the image surface of the original document upward, and is excellent in operability when reading the original image from the original document on the setting surface 2 and can improve the read operability. Since it has an automatic document feeding function, it does not deteriorate its functionality.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1, and includes a first light source 10a for a stationary document and a second light source 1 for a moving document.
The configuration in which 0b is arranged side by side is characteristic. That is, the first light source 10a is attached to the first traveling body 15, and when the first mirror 11 faces the black coating direction, the setting surface 2
Reflected light from the stationary document above is reflected by the reflecting surface 11 of the first mirror.
It is arranged obliquely below the first mirror 11 so as to be guided to a. Further, the second light source 10b is arranged near the guide plate 36, and when the first mirror 11 faces the outline direction, the reflected light from the moving document is reflected on the reflecting surface 11a of the first mirror. So that we can guide you
It is arranged obliquely below the guide plate 36. The positions of the respective light sources 10a and 10b shown in the figure are merely examples, and different light sources may be arranged at predetermined positions according to the reading method.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part of a reading optical system of an image reading apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. The reading optical system 5 of this embodiment is movable between a first position for irradiating a stationary document on the setting surface 2 and a second position for reading a moving document conveyed by the automatic document feeder. The configuration provided with a single light source 10 is characteristic. The light source 10 is attached to the first traveling body 15 and is configured to be able to move back and forth between a first position shown by a solid line and a second position shown by a dotted line. When reading the image of the original document on the setting surface 2, the moving original document is stopped at the first position indicated by the solid line, moves with the first traveling member 15, and is moved by the automatic original document feeder on the conveying path 33. When reading an image, it is moved to a second position indicated by a dotted line and stopped, and used for irradiation of a moving original. Although not shown in the figure, this light source 10
Is configured to move in conjunction with the rotational movement of the first mirror 11, so that the first mirror 11 is moved at the same time when the angle is changed, the configuration is simplified. A solenoid, a motor or the like is used as a drive source for rotating the movable mirror.

[0009]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the image reading apparatus having the structure in which the document set on the setting table with the image surface facing upward is read by the reading optical system located above. An image of a document conveyed by the automatic document feeder arranged above can be read by the same reading optical system. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a reading optical system is provided in order to realize the reading of a static original set with the image surface facing upward and the reading of the original conveyed by the automatic original feeding device by one reading optical system. Since the direction of the reflecting surface of at least one of the mirrors can be selectively switched to the lower stationary document and the upper moving document respectively, it has a function not existed in the past and becomes large and complicated. It has become possible to provide an image reading device without a problem. In the image reading device of the second aspect, the light source is individually provided according to the reading direction, so that the function can be improved. The image reading device according to claim 3 is provided with a single light source that moves in accordance with the reading direction.
The function can be improved. Further, as compared with the device according to the second aspect, simplification in the device and cost reduction can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a main part configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image reader main body (original table), 2 set faces, 3
Automatic document feeder, 5 reading optical system, 10 light sources, 1
1, 12, 13 Mirror, 15 First traveling body, 16
2nd running body, 20 lens, 21 CCD, 30 original setting stand, 31 paper feed roller, 31 paper feed section, 33 paper feed path, 34 paper feed roller, 35 paper feed roller, 36 guide plate.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 1/107 F term (reference) 2H076 AA58 BA01 BA24 BA35 BA36 BA51 BA95 2H108 AA05 AA14 AA19 AA26 DA06 EA11 5B047 AA01 BA01 BA02 BB02 BC09 BC12 BC14 BC18 CA17 CB06 5C072 AA01 BA05 CA02 DA04 DA21 DA23 EA05 LA11 LA17 MB04 NA04 RA01 VA06 XA01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A document table having a setting surface for setting the image surface of the document upward, and an automatic document feeding device which is located above the setting surface and conveys the document to a reading position.
A reading optical system located between the setting surface and the automatic document feeder; the reading optical system includes a light source and a plurality of mirrors for scanning while moving along a document stationary on the setting surface. And a fixed lens and a CCD, the reading optical system is an image reading device that stops at a reading stop position and reads when reading a document conveyed by the automatic document feeder. By changing the angle of at least one of the plurality of mirrors, the reflected light from the stationary original on the setting surface and the original reflection from the moving original conveyed by the automatic original feeding device are reflected. An image reading device capable of switching and reflecting light to an optical path toward the lens and the CCD, respectively. 2. The light source comprises a first light source for irradiating a stationary document on the setting surface and a second light source for irradiating a moving document conveyed by an automatic document feeding device. The image reading device according to claim 1. 3. The single light source is movable between a first position for irradiating a stationary document on a setting surface and a second position for reading a moving document conveyed by an automatic document feeder. The image reading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image reading device comprises a light source.