JP2003307798A - Reading means and reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To always provide a stable image without being affected by external light. <P>SOLUTION: A surface treatment is applied to the surface (possibly back surface) of original platen glass excluding the vicinity of a reading position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading device and a device having an image reading function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, with the development of information processing systems,
Various information processing devices have been developed. Among these devices, information processing devices such as an image reading device and a facsimile device having an image reading function are widely used not only in offices but also in general households.

The reading unit used in these information processing devices is a reduction optical system for reducing an original image and guiding it to a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and a CCD for bringing the original image into proximity with the CCD.
The optical system can be roughly divided into two types, that is, an optical system of the same size that leads to the same size.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a document reading apparatus using the same-magnification optical system as a conventional example.

Electric board (control board 201, main power supply 20)
2), the reading unit 203, the operation unit 204, and the like.

The reading unit 203 includes a document tray 205 for setting and stacking documents 211, an upper document guide 206 for guiding the document transport path, a lower document guide 207, a document separating unit 208 for sequentially feeding a plurality of documents, and a photoelectric converter. A contact sensor 209 using a conversion element, and a reading reference plate 210 which is the background color (background color) of the document are attached to the upper surface of the contact sensor 209 facing the contact sensor 209. Manuscript 2
As the conveyance path of 11, the document separation roller 212 is first
The original sandwiched between the auxiliary transport leaf spring 213 and the auxiliary transport leaf spring 213 has a friction piece 21.
By 4, the sheets are conveyed one by one. The original 211 is
The sheet is passed between the contact sensor 209 and the reading reference plate 210 by the feeding roller 215 and the opposed roller 216, and is ejected in the arrow direction shown in the drawing by the paper ejection roller 217 and the opposed roller 218.

The contact sensor 209 is held by the body frame 219, and the contact sensor 20 is held by the weight of the reading reference plate 210 or by a spring (not shown).
It is biased to the 9 side.

[0008]

The reading device is used in a bright environment such as indoor lighting or sunlight entering from the window of an office. In an ordinary room,
Brightness of about 1000lux, about 3 in direct sunlight
The brightness is about 70,000 lux.

When the reading device is used in such an environment, the reading unit 20 is directly exposed to indoor illumination or sunlight from the document discharge direction or reflected on the discharged document.
Light may enter up to 3. Such light is usually called external light or stray light.

In this case, before the reading of the original, the white reference output waveform of the reading reference plate is fetched, and the white output is taken as absolute white.
When the light enters the reading unit 203, the output becomes much larger than the read white output.
This is because the reading unit 203 normally uses a photoelectric conversion element,
Since the original is irradiated and the reflected light is taken in, it reacts to external light and stray light.

FIG. 9 shows output waveforms of the contact sensor 209 when the white reference of the reading reference plate which is not affected by external light and stray light is read and when it is read by being affected by external light and stray light.
Shown in (a) and (b).

In FIG. 9 (b), c is the output component which has been raised by the external light.

As shown in FIG. 9B, when the absolute white output becomes high, the white color of the document is apparently low, resulting in a dark image. There is a problem that the scanned image becomes an image with a different color tone from the original, which is different from the original.

If the external light is affected during the reading of the original, the external light component is added to the reflected light of the original from the light source, and the output of the contact sensor 209 is determined. The brightness and darkness of the image changed significantly, resulting in a completely different image from the original.

Further, especially in the case of performing color reading, the difference in the tint of the image becomes clear. There is a problem that a normal image cannot be read unless the user moves the environment in which the device is used to a place not affected by outside light.

Further, the outside light is contact sensor 209.
The place to enter is the end surface 209 of the platen glass 209a of the contact sensor 209 shown in FIGS.
The external light entering from a1 has a great influence. For this reason, conventionally, there is also a corresponding device in which the end surface 209a1 of the platen glass is painted.

However, since the coating is not a step of forming the glass, the coating is performed as a secondary process after the glass is finished, which causes a cost increase.

There is also a problem that outside light enters from the flat portion 209a2 of the platen glass through the gap from the reading reference plate 210.

[0019]

The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is an original reading device characterized by the following constitution.

(1) At least a light source for illuminating a document,
A reading means having a photoelectric conversion element for reading an optical image obtained from a document, and a colorless and transparent plate member disposed between the document and the light source and the remaining photoelectric conversion element and near the document reading position. A reading manual throw, characterized in that a surface treatment is applied to a plane portion of the plate material and a surface of the reading means excluding the vicinity of the reading position.

(2) The document conveying means, at least a light source for illuminating the document, a photoelectric conversion element for reading an optical image obtained from the document, the document, the light source and the remaining photoelectric conversion element, and the document. In a reading means having a colorless and transparent plate material arranged near the reading position, in a flat portion of the plate material,
Further, the reading device is characterized in that the surface of the reading means excluding the vicinity of the reading position is subjected to a surface treatment.

(3) The reading means and the reading device according to (1) or (2), wherein the flat surface portion of the plate material is the same surface as the original conveying surface.

(4) The reading means and the reading device according to (1) or (2), wherein the plate material flat surface portion is a side surface opposite to a document conveying surface.

(5) The plate material is a glass plate (1)
(4) The reading device and the reading device described in (4).

(6) The reader according to (1) to (5), wherein the end surface treatment is painting.

(7) The reading means and the reading device according to (1) to (5), wherein the end surface treatment is metal vapor deposition.

[0027]

With the above-mentioned means, an image with a stable color tone is always provided to the user without being affected by outside light in an office, a house illuminated by indoor lighting, or a normal use environment in which sunlight is incident. it can.

Further, the quality can be improved without increasing the size of the device.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of a document reading apparatus to which the above means is applied will be described.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the overall structure of a document reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a main body chassis 1 of the original image reading apparatus, a control board 2 for controlling the apparatus, a power supply unit 3 for supplying electric power to the apparatus, and an operation panel 4 for operating the apparatus. , The control board 5 of the operation panel 4 and the original 6
A document table 7 for stacking sheets is arranged.

The original document 6 is stacked on the original document table 7 and the original document auxiliary table 8 and is guided in the width direction by a width regulating plate 9 which regulates the width direction of the original document. For the plurality of originals 6, the separation roller 10 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive motor (not shown), and the preliminary transport plate 11 is urged toward the separation roller 10 side, so that the wedge between the friction piece 12 and the separation roller 10 is pushed. It is transported to the shape place. Then, the plurality of originals 6 are separated one by one by the friction piece 12, and the feeding roller 13a is rotated by a drive motor (not shown) in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and is conveyed with the urging force of the opposing auxiliary roller 13b. The document transport lower guide 14a guides the document 6 from the separation roller 10 to the contact sensor 15 described later.

Above the contact sensor 15 mounted on the contact sensor mounting plate 15a, a reading reference plate 16 serving as a background color of the original and serving as a white reference for reading is provided over the entire reading width of the contact sensor 15. The width is set to cover.

The contact sensor 1 which is the most characteristic of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3 (a) and 3 (b).
5 will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the contact sensor 15, and FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are external perspective views.

The sensor glass 15b is provided on the upper surface of the housing 15c1.
Is provided on the paper passing surface, and the photoelectric conversion element 15 is provided on the lowermost surface.
A sensor board 15c4, on which c2 and an LED 15c3 for illuminating the original are mounted, is attached.

In this embodiment, LEDs of three colors of RGB are used and arranged in parallel so that a sufficient amount of light can be obtained alternately in RGB.

When the LED 15c3 emits light, the light guide tube 15c5 irradiates the original 8 (not shown) passing through the upper surface of the sensor glass 15b1, and the light is emitted from the SELFOC lens 15.
An image is read by passing through (passing through) c6 and being received by the photoelectric conversion element 15c4. “A” described in the drawing represents the vicinity of the reading position.

The plane 15b1 of the sensor glass 15b, which is the most characteristic feature of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, is shown in FIG.
The surface treatment 15b3 (painting is performed in this embodiment) is applied to the.

At this time, the surface treatment 1 except for the vicinity of the reading position 1
5b3 is done.

Therefore, the coated surface 15 is protected against external light entering through the gap between the reading reference plate 16 and the contact sensor 15.
Since b3 prevents, external light does not enter the photoelectric conversion element 15c2.

Then, the document 6 read by the contact sensor 15 is rotated by the drive roller (not shown) in the direction of the arrow indicated by the sheet discharge roller 17a, so that the auxiliary roller 17 is opposed thereto.
Outside the image reading device, the arrow b shown in the figure
Discharge in the direction.

By performing the surface treatment of the sensor glass end face 15b1 in this way, even in an office illuminated by indoor lighting, in a house, or in a normal use environment where sunlight is incident, the read output due to the entry of outside light. It is possible to provide the user with an image with stable color tone without being affected by the image.

Further, without increasing the size of the apparatus, the construction can be made significantly cheaper than the painting process, and the quality can be further improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the same effect can be obtained by subjecting the sensor glass back surface 15b2 to the surface treatment 15b3.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the overall structure of a composite apparatus having a facsimile function and a scanner function that can be incorporated into an external PC according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG.

As a recording system of the composite apparatus according to each of the following embodiments, what is generally called an ink jet recording apparatus is adopted.

First, the overall structure of the composite apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 4, this multi-function apparatus includes a sheet feeding system A for feeding recording sheets, a recording system B as a recording apparatus, and a reading system C for reading an image written on a document.
And the operation unit D, and the main body upper cover 101
And a control board 1 for controlling the lower body cover 102 and the apparatus
02a and a power supply unit 102b for supplying electric power to the apparatus.

First, the reading system C, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described.

The reading system C irradiates the original 103 with light, converts the reflected light into an electric signal, and transmits this signal to another device according to the operation mode or to its own recording system B. is there.

More specifically, the original 103 is stacked on the original table 104 and the original auxiliary tray 105, and the original width restricting plates 106a and 106b prevent skewing in the width direction during conveyance.

A plurality of originals 103 are separated by the separating roller 10.
7 is rotated by a drive motor (not shown) in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and the preliminary conveying plate 108 is urged toward the separating roller 107, so that the friction piece 109 is conveyed to a wedge-shaped place with the separating roller 107. Then, the plurality of originals 103 are separated one by one by the friction piece 109, and the feeding roller 11
0a is rotated by a drive motor (not shown) in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and is conveyed with the biasing force of the opposing auxiliary roller 110b. The document conveyance lower guide 111 is separated by the separation roller 107.
To the contact sensor 112 described later, the document 103 is guided.

Above the contact sensor 112 mounted on the contact sensor mounting plate 112a, a reading reference plate 113, which serves as the background color of the document and which is an absolute white color in reading, is spread over the entire reading width of the contact sensor 112. The width is set to cover.

Inside the contact sensor 112,
A light source (not shown) that illuminates the original 103 (LEDs are used in this embodiment) and a photoelectric conversion element (not shown) are arranged.

The flat surface 112 of the sensor glass 112b of the contact sensor 112, which is a feature of the present invention,
The b1 is subjected to a surface treatment such as painting. Therefore, the flat surface 112 on the downstream side of the sensor glass 112b in the document conveying direction
Even when external light is applied to b1, the external light does not pass therethrough, so the external light does not enter the photoelectric conversion element (not shown) of the contact sensor 112.

Then, the document 103 read by the contact sensor 112 is rotated by the drive motor (not shown) in the direction indicated by the arrow by the discharge roller 114a, and the urging force of the auxiliary roller 114b facing the sheet is obtained to obtain the outside of the image reading apparatus. The sheet is discharged in the direction of arrow b shown. Then, the document discharge tray 1
It is loaded on 15. Further, the document discharge tray 115 is constructed so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5, so that it can be housed inside the machine at times other than the reading operation.

Next, the operation section D will be described.

The operation section D is for performing operations such as copy operation, transmission operation, and scanner operation. The operation cover 116 is provided with keys such as a dial key 116a corresponding to various operations and a display unit 116b. This operation part D
Is provided in the upper part of the document feeding mechanism in the reading system C, and is configured to be rotatable in the arrow d direction shown in FIG. By this operation, it is possible to clean the surface of the sensor glass 112b and the dirt on the paper passing surface side of the reading reference plate 113 due to the passing of the document.

A telephone line-like modular 102c1 for transmitting and receiving data is provided at one end of the operation section D.

Next, the paper feed system A will be described.

As the recording sheet 120, it is possible to use plain paper, a plastic sheet or the like and other materials that can transfer ink. In the present embodiment, plain paper cut into B4 size or A4 size is used as the recording sheet 120. And recording sheet 1
20 (hereinafter referred to as recording paper) is limited to the recording paper tray 121 and the recording paper auxiliary tray 122 that can be pulled out in the arrow direction by the recording paper height regulating plate 101a provided on the back surface of the main body upper cover 101. The number of sheets is stored and loaded. The recording paper side guide 123 regulates the width of the recording paper 120. Further, in FIG. 4, a pressure plate 124 formed at the bottom of the recording paper 120 is rotatably supported around a rotation shaft (not shown), controlled one rotation by a drive system (not shown), and recorded by a pressure plate spring 124a. The paper 120 is configured to have a spring property so as to come into contact with the paper feed roller 125 and be conveyed. The recording paper 125 conveyed by the paper feed roller 125 being driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow is separated by the claw separation and conveyed to the recording unit B one by one.

Next, the recording system B will be described.

As the recording system of this facsimile apparatus, a system generally called an ink jet recording apparatus is adopted.

In FIG. 4, the recording system B is on the recording paper 120 supplied from the paper supply system A in response to an image signal transmitted from another machine or an image signal transmitted from a reading system C described later. It records an image.

More specifically, the recording paper retainer 126
Is an upper guide of the recording sheet 120 that is pressed toward the LF roller 127 side and is conveyed from the sheet feeding system A,
The pinch roller 126a is opposed to the LF roller 127. The recording cartridge 128 and the platen plate 12
The recording sheet 120 is conveyed between the recording sheets 9 and 9, and the recording operation is performed by the recording cartridge 128. In the present embodiment, the recording cartridge 128 is configured to perform serial printing while moving in the width direction of the recording sheet 120 by a motor and a drive system (not shown). The recording sheet 120 after printing and recording is conveyed outside the apparatus in the direction of arrow e so that the printing surface is not contaminated by the spur roller 130b facing the sheet ejection roller 130a, and the sheet ejection cover 131 and FIG. The sheet is stacked on the sheet discharge auxiliary tray 132 which is movable in the direction of the arrow shown.

Further, in FIG. 6, a document stacking table 104 is supported by a rotation center (not shown) of the upper cover 101 of the main body so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow f. The recording cartridge 128 is removable in the direction of arrow g.

Next, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the control system of the apparatus of this embodiment.

In FIG. 7, a control unit 102a for controlling the composite apparatus, a power supply unit 102b for supplying electric power to the entire composite apparatus, and a modem board unit 102al.
A communication board unit 102c for connecting a telephone, a display unit 116b for displaying contents input from the operation unit D, and the like are arranged.

The control unit 102a includes a CPU 102a2 for controlling the entire apparatus, a ROM 102a3 storing various programs and various data, and the CPU 102.
The RAM 102a4 is used as a work area of a2 and temporarily stores various data such as the number of recorded sheets, and has a RAM 102a4 for storing and registering various data, an input / output switching interface 102a8, and the like.

Reference numeral 102a5 is a line memory for storing an image of each line of the image data. In the case of transmitting or copying an original, the image data for one line from the original reading system C is stored, and the image data is stored. In the case of receiving, the decoded data for one line is stored. Then, the image data stored in the line memory 102a5 passes through the CPU 102a2 and the recording system control code is added, and is output from the input / output switching interface 102a8 to the CPU Bl of the recording system B, and the CPU Bl decodes the recording system control code. As a result, image recording is performed.

Reference numeral 102a6 designates image information to be transmitted as M
An encoding / decoding unit that performs encoding by H-coding or the like, or decodes the received encoded image data into image data. Reference numeral 102a7 is a buffer memory for storing transmitted and received encoded image data.

Then, the peripheral computer E can output image data and text data to the recording system B via the printer interface 102a9, and the image data read by the reading system C can be taken into the peripheral computer E.

(Third Embodiment) Next, another embodiment of each part in the above-described composite apparatus will be described.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the flat surface portion of the sensor glass is subjected to the surface treatment by painting, but it is also effective to form it by a diffused reflection surface such as an injury.

Further, metal vapor deposition or the like also has excellent durability with respect to document transportation, and the same effect can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the ink jet recording system is used as the recording means. However, the electrophotographic recording system using a toner (laser beam printer) or the thermal transfer recording system using an ink sheet and a thermal head is used. Of course, it is okay.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the contact sensor is used as the reading means, but it goes without saying that it may be constituted by a reduction optical system using a light source and a CCD.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the mechanism of the paper feeding system uses the claw separation method, but it goes without saying that it may be constituted by another separation method such as friction separation or retard separation.

[0080]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects.

(1) At least a light source for illuminating a document,
A reading means having a photoelectric conversion element for reading an optical image obtained from a document, and a colorless and transparent plate member disposed between the document and the light source and the remaining photoelectric conversion element and near the document reading position. By performing the surface treatment on the flat surface of the plate material and on the surface of the reading means excluding the vicinity of the reading position, the influence of external light on the reading portion is removed, and stable reading operation can always be performed.

(2) The document conveying means, at least the light source for illuminating the document, the photoelectric conversion element for reading an optical image obtained from the document, the document, the light source and the remaining photoelectric conversion element, and the document. In a manual reading throw having a colorless and transparent plate member arranged near the reading position, in the flat portion of the plate member,
In addition, since the surface of the reading means other than the vicinity of the reading position is subjected to the surface treatment, the influence of external light on the reading unit is removed, and stable reading operation can be always performed.

(3) Since the flat surface of the plate member is flush with the original transport surface, it can be made compact and easy.

(4) By making the flat surface of the plate material the side opposite to the original conveying surface, it is possible to improve the durability to the surface treatment associated with the original conveyance.

(5) By using a glass plate as the plate material, it is possible to construct a device of low cost and stable image quality.

(6) By applying the end surface treatment as a coating, it is possible to construct a device of low cost and stable image quality.

(7) Since the end surface treatment is metal vapor deposition, it is possible to construct an apparatus having a stable image quality that is low in cost and durable by passing a document.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall structure of a document reading apparatus according to a first embodiment that best illustrates the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a contact sensor 15.

FIG. 3 (a) is a perspective view showing a coated surface of the contact sensor 15. 7B is a perspective view of the contact sensor 15 showing a coated surface. FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an overall structure of a compound device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view explanatory diagram of a composite device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram 2 of the overall structure of the compound device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating recording control of a multifunction device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the overall structure of a conventional document reading apparatus.

FIG. 9A is a reading output waveform in a conventional document reading apparatus that is not affected by outside light. (B) This is a read output waveform in a conventional document reading apparatus that is affected by external light.

FIG. 10A is an enlarged perspective view of a conventional contact sensor. (B) It is an expanded sectional view of a conventional contact sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 body chassis 2 control board 3 power supply units 4 Operation panel 5 Operation panel control board 6 manuscript 7 Platen 8 Document support table 9 width regulation plate 10 Separation roller 11 Preliminary transport plate 12 Friction pieces 13a feeding roller 13b Auxiliary roller 14 Document transport guide 15 Contact sensor 15a Sensor mounting plate 15b sensor glass 15b1 Sensor glass plane (upper surface) 15b2 Sensor glass plane (back side) 15b3 painted surface 15c1 housing 15c2 photoelectric conversion element 15c3 LED 15c4 sensor board 15c5 light guide tube 15c6 SELFOC lens 16 Reading reference plate 17a Paper ejection roller 17b Auxiliary roller A paper feed system B recording system C reading system D operation system E peripheral computer 101 main body cover 102 body bottom cover 102a control unit 102a1 modem board unit 102a2 CPU 102a3 ROM 102a4 RAM 102a5 line memory 102a6 encoding / decoding unit 102a7 buffer memory 102a8 I / O switching interface 102a9 printer interface 102b power supply unit 102c Communication board unit 102c1 modular 103 manuscript 104 platen 105 Document auxiliary tray 106a Document width regulating plate 106b Document width regulating plate 107 Separation roller 108 Preliminary transport plate 109 friction piece 110a feeding roller 110b auxiliary roller 111 Document transport guide 112 Contact sensor 112a Wire mounting plate 112b Sensor glass 112b1 Sensor glass end face 113 reading reference plate 114a Paper ejection roller 114b Auxiliary roller 115 Document output tray 116 Operation cover 116a dial key 116b display 117a Transport roller 117b Auxiliary roller 118a discharge roller 118b Auxiliary roller 120 recording sheets 121 Recording paper tray 122 Recording paper auxiliary tray 123 Recording paper side guide 124 Pressure plate 125 paper feed rollers 126 Recording paper presser 127 LF roller 128 recording cartridge 129 Platen board 130a Paper ejection roller 130b spur roller 131 Paper ejection cover 132 Paper ejection auxiliary tray

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H012 CA27                 2H108 AA14 CB01 JA11                 5C051 AA01 BA04 DB01 DB05 DB22                       DB29 DC07                 5C072 AA01 BA20 CA05 DA02 DA15                       DA21 DA25

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A light source that illuminates an original, a photoelectric conversion element that reads an optical image obtained from the original, and a photoelectric conversion element that is provided between the original and the light source and the remaining photoelectric conversion element, and near the original reading position. In the reading means having the colorless and transparent plate material, the reading means is characterized in that a surface treatment is applied to a flat surface portion of the plate material except for the vicinity of the reading position of the reading means. 2. An original document reading unit, a light source for illuminating at least an original document, a photoelectric conversion element for reading an optical image obtained from the original document, the original document, the light source, and the remaining photoelectric conversion element, and an original reading unit. A reading device having a colorless and transparent plate disposed near the position, wherein the flat surface of the plate and a surface of the reading unit other than the reading position are subjected to surface treatment. . 3. The reading device and the reading device according to claim 1, wherein the flat surface portion of the plate member is flush with a document transport surface. 4. The reading device and the reading device according to claim 1, wherein the flat surface portion of the plate member is on the opposite side of the document conveying surface. 5. The plate material is a glass plate.
4. The reading means and the reading device described in 4. 6. The reading device and the reading device according to claim 1, wherein the end surface treatment is painting. 7. The reading device and the reading device according to claim 1, wherein the end surface treatment is metal vapor deposition.