JP2006100927A - Transparent document carrier and image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transparent document carrier in which a film is not damaged even if a transparent document is carried toward the end on the opposite side to the first opening of a carrying passage due to some trouble when the transparent document is inserted and discharged from the first opening, and to provide an image reader employing it. <P>SOLUTION: The transparent document carrier carries a transparent document to the document reading region of an image reader for reading the document by moving an image sensor or a mirror for directing the optical image of the document to the image sensor in parallel with the board surface of a document table. The transparent document carrier comprises a carrying passage having a first opening being inserted with the transparent document at one end and a second opening for discharging the transparent document at the other end, and a carrying section for carrying the transparent document inserted from the first opening to the document reading region along the carrying passage and discharging the transparent document from the first opening along the carrying passage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a transparent original conveying apparatus and an image reading apparatus using the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a so-called flatbed type image reading apparatus that reads an original by moving an image sensor or a mirror that makes an optical image of the original incident on the image sensor in parallel with the surface of the original table.
In such flatbed type image reading devices, when a transparent original such as a photographic film is read, the film is held by a holder, and the film is positioned on the original reading area by placing the holder on the original table. .

In addition, some flatbed type image reading apparatuses include a transparent document conveying apparatus that does not hold a film with a holder and conveys a film inserted from an insertion port as it is.
In the case of the flat bed type image reading apparatus provided with the above-described transparent document conveying device, if the insertion port is provided in front of the transparent document conveying device and the discharge port is provided in the rear, it is difficult for the user to take out the discharged film. Is bad. Therefore, it is desirable to insert and discharge from the insertion port provided in the front.

However, if both insertion and ejection are performed from the insertion port, there is a problem that the user's film may be damaged due to a defect in the conveyance unit or a control device that gives an instruction to the conveyance unit.
Specifically, for example, when the film that has been read is discharged from the insertion port, the film should be transported along the transport path toward the insertion port if the transport unit operates normally. However, there is a problem in the transport unit or the control device, and it is conceivable that the film is transported toward the end opposite to the insertion port of the transport path. Alternatively, when the film is transported to the image reading area, it is conceivable that the rotation of the transparent document transport motor does not stop due to a problem, and the film is continuously fed toward the end opposite to the insertion port. When such a problem occurs, the film loses its place at the end opposite to the insertion port of the conveyance path, and is bent and clogged in a complicated manner. So-called jam occurs. If this happens, the film will be permanently damaged.

The film is the property of the user and should not be damaged. However, it is virtually impossible to guarantee that the transport unit is absolutely free from defects.
The present invention has been created in view of such a problem. When a transparent original is inserted and ejected from the first opening, the transparent original is referred to as the first opening of the conveyance path due to some trouble. An object of the present invention is to provide a transparent original conveying apparatus that does not damage a film even if it is conveyed toward the opposite end, and an image reading apparatus using the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, a transparent original conveying apparatus according to the present invention is an image reading apparatus that reads an original by moving an image sensor or a mirror that makes an optical image of the original incident on the image sensor in parallel with the surface of the original table. A transparent original conveying device for conveying a transparent original to an original reading area, having a first opening into which a transparent original is inserted at one end and capable of discharging the transparent original at the other end And a transparent original inserted from the first opening is conveyed along the conveyance path to the original reading area, and the transparent original is conveyed from the first opening along the conveyance path. A transport unit for discharging. According to this transparent original conveying apparatus, for example, even if the transparent original to be conveyed toward the insertion port is conveyed toward the other end of the conveying path due to some trouble, there is a second opening. The film is discharged from the second opening to the outside of the transparent document feeder. For this reason, the transparent original is not clogged at the other end of the conveyance path. Therefore, even if there is a problem, it is possible to prevent the film from being damaged.

Further, in the transparent original conveying apparatus according to the present invention, the conveying unit transfers the transparent original to the original so that the surface of the transparent original conveyed to the original reading area is parallel to the platen surface of the original table. Transport to the reading area.
In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a document table, the transparent document conveying device according to claim 1, an image sensor, or a mirror that causes an optical image of the document to enter the document. A reading unit that moves parallel to the surface of the table and reads the transparent original conveyed to the original reading area by the transparent original conveying device. According to this image reading apparatus, since the transparent document conveying apparatus according to the first aspect is provided, the film can be prevented from being damaged due to some trouble.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a document table, a transparent document conveying device according to claim 2, an image sensor, or a mirror that causes an optical image of a document to enter the image sensor. A reading unit that reads the transparent document by moving it in parallel with the surface of the transparent document conveyed to the document reading area by the transparent document conveying device. According to this image reading apparatus, since the transparent document conveying apparatus according to claim 2 is provided, the film can be prevented from being damaged due to some trouble.

  Further, in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the transparent document conveying device includes a detachable document mat that presses a reflective document placed on the document table, and is configured to cover and release the platen surface of the document table. It is connected to the image reading apparatus main body so as to be swingable. According to this image reading apparatus, the transparent original conveying apparatus can also be used as an original cover for reading a reflective original.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of an image scanner 1 as an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image scanner 1 is a so-called flatbed type that reads an original by moving the image sensor 38 parallel to the surface of the original table 24, and includes a transparent original conveying device 17.

The document table 24 is formed of a transparent plate such as a glass plate, and a document such as a printed document, a photo, or a book is placed on the surface of the platen.
The carriage 42 is slidably fitted to a guide rod 46 parallel to the surface of the document table 24. The carriage 42 carries the second light source 34. The carriage 42 includes a mirror 32, a lens 36, and an image sensor 38. The carriage 42 is pulled by a belt hung on a pulley driven by a carriage transport motor (not shown), and reciprocates in the directions of arrows X and Y in parallel with the surface of the document table 24. When the second light source 34, the mirror 32, the lens 36, and the image sensor 38 are conveyed by the carriage 42 in the directions of arrows X and Y parallel to the surface of the document table 24, a narrow main scanning range for reading the document is obtained. Move in the width direction.

The image reading device may be a mirror moving type in which the positions of the image sensor and the lens are fixed with respect to the document table, and the main scanning range is moved in the width direction by moving a plurality of mirrors in conjunction with each other. A contact image sensor using a rod lens array may be used instead of the reduction optical system.
The second light source 34 is provided on the back side of the document table 24, and is composed of, for example, a tube illumination device such as a fluorescent tube lamp in which rare gas such as xenon or neon or mercury is enclosed. The second light source 34 is mounted on the carriage 42 so that its longitudinal axis extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide rod 46 and parallel to the document table 24. The reflected light on the main scanning range of the document illuminated by the second light source 34 is reflected by the mirror 32 and enters the lens 36, and is collected by the lens 36 onto the light receiving surface of the image sensor 38. The lens 36 and the mirror 32 are disposed at a position where a document placed on the surface of the document table 24 is clearly imaged on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 38.

  The first light source unit 21 is provided in the housing 51 of the transmissive document conveying device 17, and includes the first light source 20, the reflector 18, and the diffusion plate 22. The first light source 20 is constituted by a tube illumination device such as a fluorescent tube lamp in which a rare gas such as xenon or neon or mercury is enclosed. The first light source 20 is provided such that its longitudinal axis extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide rod 46. It is set so that the center of the main scanning range is located directly under the first light source 20. The reflector 18 is provided on the opposite side of the document table 24 of the first light source 20. The diffusion plate 22 is provided on the same side as the document table 24 of the first light source 20. The light emitted from the first light source 20 is reflected by the reflector 18, diffused by the diffusion plate 22, and a first reading area SS (FIG. 8) in which a reading target frame of a 35 mm strip film as a transmission original is positioned at the time of reading. The second reading area SM (see FIG. 8) and the white reference reading area SW (see FIG. 8) where the mount film is positioned at the time of reading are illuminated with uniform illuminance.

  The image sensor 38 is a so-called linear image sensor in which a large number of photoelectric conversion elements (not shown) composed of photodiodes or the like are linearly arranged. The image sensor 38 is mounted on the carriage 42 so that a large number of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in parallel with the central axis of the tubular second light source 34. Electric charges corresponding to the amount of received light are accumulated in each photoelectric conversion element of the image sensor 38 by photoelectric conversion. The electric charge accumulated in each photoelectric conversion element is transferred to the output unit of the image sensor 38 by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like. The analog signal output from the image sensor 38 is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter (not shown) and output.

Next, the transparent document conveying device 17 will be described.
2 and 3 are perspective views showing the external appearance of the transparent document conveying device 17. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the insertion port cover 12 is in an open posture, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the insertion port cover 12 is in a closed posture. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 51 of the transparent document feeder 17 is provided with an insertion port 14 for inserting a film. The insertion port 14 corresponds to a first opening described in the claims. The insertion port cover 12 is for preventing dust and dirt from entering the housing 51 from the insertion port 14, and the housing 51 is swingable between a closed posture for closing the insertion port 14 and an open posture for opening. It is connected to. The insertion port cover 12 of this embodiment is provided with a support member 65 formed by bending a rod-shaped member. The support member 65 is for supporting the film inserted into the insertion port 14.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the periphery of the insertion slot 14 when the insertion slot cover 12 is in the open position. A paper discharge button 53 is provided around the insertion slot 14. The paper discharge button 53 is a push button that receives an instruction to discharge the film inserted from the insertion port 14. The insertion port cover 12 is formed larger than the insertion port 14, and when the insertion port cover 12 is in the closed position, the insertion port 14 and the paper discharge button 53 are covered with the insertion port cover 12, as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the insertion port 14 as viewed from the W direction shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the insertion opening 14 is formed in such a shape that the distance from the film surface is close in the vicinity of the end of the film M in the width direction and the distance from the film surface is increased near the center in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 6A or 6B, the film M may be inserted in a state where the central portion in the width direction is bent. In this case, if the central portion in the width direction of the insertion opening 14 is close to the film surface, the central portion in the width direction of the bent film may hit the central portion of the insertion opening 14 and the image recording area of the film M may be damaged. As shown in FIG. 5, when the shape of the insertion port 14 is a shape in which the central portion is swollen, the central portion of the film can be prevented from hitting the insertion port 14 and being damaged. The cross-sectional shape of the introduction portion of the conveyance path 87 described later is also the same shape.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the back side of the transparent document conveying device 17. The transparent document conveying device 17 is swingably connected to the main body of the image scanner 1 by a hinge 66. When the transparent document conveying device 17 is in the fully closed position, the document table 24 is covered with the transparent document conveying device 17. A document mat 52 is detachably provided at the bottom of the transparent document conveying device 17. The original mat 52 is mounted when reading a reflective original, and holds down the reflective original placed on the original table 24. The original mat 52 is removed when the film is read.

Next, the internal structure of the transparent document conveying device 17 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing only the transparent document conveying device 17 shown in FIG. The transparent document conveying device 17 includes the first light source unit 21, the first pressing member 25, the first rail member 49, the second rail member 26, the conveying mechanism 57 as a conveying unit, the second pressing member 27, and the third rail. The member 48 is included.

  A conveyance path 87 indicated by a broken line is formed by the first pressing member 25, the first rail member 49, the second rail member 26, the conveyance mechanism 57, the second pressing member 27, and the third rail member 48. The film inserted from the insertion port 14 is conveyed along the conveyance path 87 to the first reading area SS as the document reading area. As shown in the figure, a discharge port 90 as a second opening is provided at the end of the transport path 87 opposite to the insertion port 14. The discharge port 90 is formed to be large enough to discharge the film to the outside of the transparent original conveying device 17.

The first pressing member 25 forms an introduction portion of the conveyance path 87 by a gap with the first rail member 49. The film inserted from the insertion port 14 passes through the introduction portion and reaches the transport mechanism 57.
A first rail 84 and a second rail shown in FIG. 1 are formed on the first rail member 49. In FIG. 8, the second rail is formed in parallel with the first rail 84 on the back side of the page from the first rail 84.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view of the transparent document conveying device 17 with the document mat 52 removed, as viewed from below. The second rail member 26 is fastened to the transparent document conveying device 17 with screws. The second rail member 26 has an opening 67 corresponding to the first reading region SS. The opening 67 is located approximately at the center of the main scanning range of the image sensor 38. The light emitted from the first light source unit 21 passes through the film, passes through the opening 67, is reflected by the mirror 32, and enters the image sensor 38. The second rail member 26 is positioned on the extension line of the first rail 84 and extends in parallel with a virtual plane including the central axis of the guide rod 46 of the carriage 42, and the carriage 42 is positioned on the extension line of the second rail. And a fourth rail extending parallel to the virtual plane including the central axis of the guide rod 46. In FIG. 8, the opening 67 is located on the back side of the paper with respect to the third rail, and in FIG. 8, the fourth rail is located on the back side of the paper with respect to the opening 67. The distance between the third rail and the fourth rail is wider than the width of 24 mm of the image recording area of the film so as not to contact the image recording area of the film. The third rail and the fourth rail descend from the rear end portion toward the front end portion, and the front end portion is flat. When the original mat 52 is removed from the transparent original conveying device 17, the lower surface of the second rail member 26 is pressed against the surface of the original table 24 due to the weight of the transparent original conveying device 17.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the transport mechanism 57 as viewed from below. The transport mechanism 57 includes a pulley pair, a belt, a leaf spring, a plurality of position sensors, a not-shown transparent document transport motor, a not-shown transparent document transport motor drive circuit, and the like. The transparent document conveyance motor drive circuit receives a transparent document conveyance control signal transmitted from the control unit 1260 (see FIG. 13), and controls the rotation direction, rotation speed, and the like of the transparent document conveyance motor. The first belt 16 is stretched around a pulley 30 and a pulley 44 as a first pulley pair. The second belt 70 is stretched around a pulley 64 and a pulley 76 as a second pulley pair. A driving shaft 78 to which the pulley 44 and the pulley 76 are fixed, and a driven shaft 62 to which the pulley 30 and the pulley 64 are fixed are rotatably supported by the sheet metal frame 15. The transparent document conveying motor transmits torque to the driving shaft 78 by a gear train (not shown). A knob 60 for manually rotating the first belt 16 and the second belt 70 is fixed to one end of the driven shaft 62.

  FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are schematic views showing the transport mechanism 57. The first belt 16 is provided so as to crush the first leaf spring 28 on the third rail. The second belt 70 is provided on the fourth rail so as to crush the second leaf spring. When the first belt 16 and the second belt 70 are provided so as to crush the first leaf spring 28 and the second leaf spring, the end on the insertion port 14 side of the first leaf spring 28 and the insertion port of the second leaf spring As shown in FIG. 11 (B), the end on the 14th side is curved against the same line segment translation trajectory, and is in pressure contact with the end on the insertion port 14 side of the first belt 16 and the second belt 70, respectively. . Further, the end of the first leaf spring 28 on the side opposite to the insertion slot and the end of the second leaf spring on the side opposite to the insertion slot are curved along the same line segment parallel movement trajectory. The belt 70 is in pressure contact with the end of the second belt 70 on the side opposite to the insertion port. When the film is guided from the insertion opening 14 to the first rail member 49 and reaches the end of the first belt 16 and the second belt 70 on the insertion opening 14 side, one of the film tracks is caused by the elasticity of the first leaf spring 28. The other belt of the film is pressed against the second belt 70 by the elastic force of the second leaf spring. The first leaf spring 28 and the second leaf spring are plated, and a sliding sheet is attached to the surface opposite to the second rail member 26.

  FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of a part of the spring member 28a before plating, and FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the first leaf spring 28 after plating and further attaching a sliding sheet. . The spring member 28a of the first leaf spring 28 is manufactured by shearing and pressing a plate-shaped material. When shearing is performed, burrs as shown in FIG. 12A are generated, and the film is damaged by burrs as it is. It is possible to remove burrs by polishing, but if polishing is performed, the cost increases accordingly. Further, it is conceivable that the burrs are filled by increasing the thickness of the plating, but in this case, since the plating takes time, the cost also increases. For this reason, the first leaf spring 28 is plated to a height lower than the burr height to form a plated layer 28b, and a sliding sheet 28c is adhered thereon. This prevents the film from being damaged by burrs at a low cost. The same applies to the second leaf spring.

  The third rail member 48 shown in FIG. 8 is located on the extension line of the third rail and extends on the fifth rail extending parallel to the virtual plane including the central axis of the guide rod 46 of the carriage 42 and the extension line of the fourth rail. And a sixth rail extending parallel to a virtual plane including the central axis of the guide rod 46 of the carriage 42 and positioned so as to be separated from the surface of the document table 24. The third rail member 48 has an opening 484 (see FIG. 9) corresponding to the second reading region SM between the fifth rail and the sixth rail. The opening 484 is located approximately at the center of the main scanning range of the image sensor 38. A mount film can be placed in the second reading area SM on the surface of the document table 24 below the third rail member 48. The carriage 42 is conveyed below the second reading area SM when reading the mount film. The light emitted from the first light source unit 21 passes through the opening 484, passes through the mount film, is reflected by the mirror 32, and enters the image sensor 38.

As shown in FIG. 8, a white reference reading area SW is set between the second rail member 26 and the third rail member 48. Specifically, the white reference reading area SW is an opening for acquiring a white reference having a width necessary for shading correction of a document placed in the first reading area SS or the second reading area SM.
The first position sensor 102 is provided at a position that reacts when the front end of the film inserted from the insertion port 14 reaches the insertion detection position SP of the introduction portion of the transport path 87. Specifically, the first position sensor 102 includes a light source such as an LED, a reflecting plate 102a provided on the first pressing member 25, a photoelectric conversion element, and the like. The reflecting plate 102a is either a white plate having a very high reflectance or a black plate having a very low reflectance. Since both ends of the film are guided by the rail, the light source illuminates the center of the film. When the central portion is illuminated, an image is formed in the central portion. Therefore, the luminance value obtained by photoelectrically converting light incident on the photoelectric conversion element varies from film to film. However, usually, the variation often falls within a certain range. For this reason, if the light reflected from the reflecting plate 102a deviates from the certain range, the presence or absence of the film can be determined even when the central portion of the film is illuminated. For example, it is assumed that the luminance value when the central part of the film is illuminated often falls within the range of 30 to 225. Here, the range of the luminance value is 0-255. In this case, if the black reflector 102a having a very low reflectance so that the reflected light has a luminance value of 20 or less is set, the threshold is set to 25, and if the luminance value is 25 or more, a film is present. If it is determined that the film is less than 25, it can be determined whether or not the film exists by determining that the film does not exist. The same applies to the case of using a white reflector with an extremely high reflectance.

  The second position sensor 104 is provided at a position that reacts when the front end of the film transported to the first belt 16 and the second belt 70 reaches the transport origin OP in the rising section of the transport path 87. The second position sensor 104 is also composed of a light source such as an LED, a reflector 104a provided on the second rail member 26, a photoelectric conversion element, and the like. Similarly to the reflector 102a, the reflector 104a is either a white plate with an extremely high reflectance or a black plate with an extremely low reflectance.

Next, the hardware configuration of the image scanner 1 will be described.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image scanner 1. The image scanner 1 is connected to a personal computer (PC) 130 via an interface 128 via a communication line, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable.

  The image scanner 1 includes a control unit 1260, a scanner operation unit 120, a first illumination unit 110, a second illumination unit 112, an image sensor 38, a main scanning drive unit 114, a transparent document conveyance device 17, a carriage conveyance unit 118, and an analog front end. An (AFE) unit 122, a digital image processing unit 124, and an interface 128 are provided.

  The control unit 1260 includes a CPU 1262, a ROM 1260, and a RAM 1264. The CPU 1262 executes a program stored in the ROM 1260 and controls each unit of the image scanner 1. The ROM 1260 is a non-volatile memory that stores various programs and various data, and the RAM 1264 is a memory that temporarily stores various programs and various data.

  The scanner operation unit 120 receives a user operation on the image scanner 1 and transmits a predetermined request signal to the control unit 1260. For example, the scanner operation unit 120 includes a button for starting a scanner control program stored in the hard disk (HDD) of the PC 130, and when the user presses the button, a signal requesting the start of the application program is sent to the control unit. 1260.

The 1st illumination part 110 is comprised from the above-mentioned 1st light source 20, the inverter circuit for 1st light sources which is not shown in figure, the control circuit for 1st illumination parts. The first illumination unit control circuit receives the first illumination unit control signal transmitted from the control unit 1260 and controls turning on and off of the first light source 20.
The second illumination unit 112 includes the second light source 34, a second light source inverter circuit (not shown), a second illumination unit control circuit, and the like. The second illumination unit control circuit receives the second illumination unit control signal transmitted from the control unit 1260 and controls turning on and off of the second light source 34.

The main scanning drive unit 114 is a drive circuit that outputs drive pulses necessary for driving the image sensor 38 to the image sensor 38, and includes, for example, a synchronization signal generator, a drive timing generator, and the like.
The carriage transport unit 118 includes the above-described carriage transport motor (not shown), a carriage transport motor drive circuit, a carriage drive unit control circuit, and the like. The carriage drive unit control circuit receives the carriage conveyance control signal transmitted from the control unit 1260 and controls the rotation direction, rotation speed, and the like of the carriage conveyance motor.

  The AFE unit 122 includes an analog signal processing unit, an A / D converter, and the like. The analog signal processing unit performs amplification, noise reduction processing, and the like on the analog image signal output from the image sensor 38. The A / D converter quantizes the analog signal output from the analog signal processing unit, and outputs a pixel value of a digital representation having a predetermined bit length for each photoelectric conversion element of the image sensor 38.

The digital image processing unit 124 performs processing such as shading correction and gamma correction on the pixel value output from the AFE unit 122 to generate digital image data.
The control unit 1260, the first illumination unit 110, the image sensor 38, the main scanning drive unit 114, the carriage transport unit 118, the analog front end (AFE) unit, and the digital image processing unit 124 include a reading unit described in the claims. It corresponds to.

Next, an operation for loading the strip film by the image scanner 1 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the loading operation in the image scanner 1. The loading operation is a series of initial operations executed at the time of film insertion. In the following description, a plurality of image recording areas on the film are referred to as frames. In addition, when describing the traveling direction of the film, the direction in which the film advances (Y direction in FIG. 1) when the film is inserted from the insertion port 14 is referred to as the front, and the opposite direction (X direction in FIG. 1) is referred to as the rear. To do. In addition, an end portion on the front side of the film is referred to as a front end of the film, and an end portion on the rear side of the film is referred to as a rear end of the film. The frame closest to the rear edge of the film is called the last frame. In addition, an end portion near the film front end of each frame is referred to as a front end of the frame, and an end portion close to the film rear end is referred to as a rear end of each frame.

The film inserted from the insertion port 14 is guided by the first rail member 49 and reaches the insertion detection position SP. When the first position sensor 102 senses the front edge of the inserted film, the loading operation is started.
Receiving the request signal of step S12 from the first position sensor 102, the control unit 1260 instructs the transparent document conveying device 17 to convey the inserted film forward. Then, the transparent original conveying device 17 rotates the transparent original conveying motor. When the film reaches the end of the first belt 16 and the second belt 70 on the insertion port 14 side, the film is transported forward by the first belt 16 and the second belt 70 driven by a transparent document transport motor. Since the conveyance path 87 is curved at the end portions of the first leaf spring 28 and the second leaf spring on the insertion port 14 side, the warp in the width direction of the film is corrected at the end portions (S12). Since the first belt 16 and the second belt 70 are pulled in a straight line by the pulley pair, the film may be lifted at an intermediate portion between the first belt 16 and the second belt 70, or the corrected warpage may be restored. Absent.

When the front end of the film reaches OP and the second position sensor 104 detects the front end of the transparent original, the second position sensor 104 outputs a signal requesting step S14 to the control unit 1260 (S13).
In accordance with an instruction from the control unit 1260, the transparent original conveying device 17 reversely rotates the transparent original conveying motor to convey the film to a position where the front end of the film coincides with the home position HP on the insertion port 14 side from the first reading area SS. (S14). When the front end of the film reaches the home position HP, the transparent original conveying device 17 stops the transparent original conveying motor, and the loading operation ends.

Next, an operation in which the image scanner 1 reads the strip film will be described.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the reading operation in the main scan mode of the strip film. The image scanner 1 reads the film by moving the image sensor 38 in parallel to the surface of the film conveyed to the first reading area SS by the transparent document conveying device 17.

  When the control unit 1260 receives a main scan request from the user, the control unit 1260 gives an instruction to execute step S41 to the transparent original transport device 17, and the reading operation in the main scan mode is started. The main scan request is selected by, for example, selecting a plurality of main scan target frames from a list of low-resolution images of all frames displayed on the display as a result of executing the reading operation in the pre-scan mode. And accept by clicking the main scan start button displayed on the display.

In step S41, the transparent original conveying device 17 conveys the film to a position where the front end of the film coincides with the home position HP.
In step S42, the carriage conveyance unit 118 conveys the carriage 42 according to an instruction from the control unit 1260 until the main scanning range is located at the end of the white reference reading region SW on the insertion port 14 side.

In step S43, the white reference is obtained by repeating generation of image data of the main scanning range and movement of the carriage 42 until the main scanning range moves to the end of the white reference reading area SW on the side opposite to the insertion slot. Save to.
In step S44, the carriage conveyance unit 118 conveys the carriage 42 in the X direction until the main scanning range is located at the end of the first reading region SS on the side opposite to the insertion port.

  In step S45, the transparent original conveying device 17 conveys the film until the frame selected at the time of the main scan request is positioned in the first reading area. In the first reading area SS, the first belt 16, the second belt 70, the first leaf spring 28, and the second leaf spring are in a flat posture parallel to the surface of the plate at a predetermined distance from the surface of the platen 24. Is retained.

In step S46, generation of image data in the main scanning range and movement of the carriage 42 are repeated until the carriage 42 moves in the X direction and the main scanning range is positioned at the end of the first reading region SS on the insertion port 14 side. It is. The image data output from the digital image processing unit 124 is transmitted to the PC 130.
In step S47, the control unit 1260 determines whether the image data of all the frames selected at the time of the main scan request has been acquired. If there is a frame for which image data has not been acquired, the above processing is repeated, If frame image data has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S48. When step S45 is repeated, a frame from which image data has not been acquired is positioned in the first reading area.

In step S48, the carriage conveyance unit 118 conveys the carriage 42 to the carriage standby position CP.
In step S49, the transparent original conveying device 17 conveys the film to a position where the front end of the film coincides with the home position HP, and the reading operation in the main scan mode ends.

Next, the normal operation of film discharge will be described.
The film discharge is started when the paper discharge button 53 is pressed. When the paper discharge button 53 is pressed, the control unit 1260 instructs the transparent original transport device 17 to discharge the inserted film. The transparent original conveying device 17 reversely rotates the transparent original conveying motor in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 1260 to convey the film along the conveying path 87 to the insertion port 14 side. Thereby, the rear end side of the film is discharged from the insertion port 14. When the rear end side of the film is discharged from the insertion port 14, the user can take out the entire film from the insertion port 14 by pulling the rear end side by hand.

Next, an abnormal operation for discharging the film will be described.
When the paper discharge button 53 is pressed and the film is transported to the discharge port 90 side due to a problem with the transparent original transport device 17 or the control unit 1260, the film is in the section on the transport path 87 and is second. It passes through a section formed by the raised portion of the rail member 26 and the second pressing member 27 and further a section formed by the third rail member 48 and the second pressing member 27, reaches the discharge port 90, and is discharged. The paper is discharged from the exit 90 to the outside of the transparent document feeder 17.

  Note that, here, the problem of discharging the film has been described as an example. However, for example, when the film is transported to the first reading area SS, the rotation of the transparent document transport motor does not stop due to some problem, and the insertion slot 14 It may be possible to continue sending the other side. Even in the case of such a problem, the film is discharged from the discharge port 90 to the outside of the transparent original conveying device 17.

  According to the image scanner 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the conveyance path 87 has the discharge port 90 through which the film can be discharged at the end opposite to the insertion port 14. For this reason, even if the film is transported along the transport path 87 toward the end opposite to the insertion port 14 due to some trouble of the transparent document transport device 17 or the control unit 1260, the film is discharged from the discharge port 90. Since the film is discharged out of the transparent document feeder 17, the film can be prevented from being clogged and irreparably damaged.

  In the present embodiment, the image scanner 1 that reads the film by moving the image sensor 38 in parallel to the surface of the film conveyed to the first reading area SS has been described as an example. A mirror for entering the optical image is moved parallel to the surface of the document table 24 and positioned below the first reading area SS, and the film conveyed on the first reading area SS is read by the transparent document conveying device 17. May be. That is, the original may be read by moving the film with respect to the image sensor.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a transparent original conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a transparent original conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view around the 1st opening concerning one example of the present invention. The schematic diagram of the 1st opening concerning one example of the present invention. (A) And (B) is a perspective view which shows the bending of the transparent original based on one Example of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the back side of the transparent original conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent original conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the transparent document conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below. The perspective view which looked at the conveyance mechanism which concerns on one Example of this invention from the lower side. The schematic diagram which shows the conveyance mechanism and leaf | plate spring which concern on one Example of this invention. (A) And (B) is sectional drawing of the 1st leaf | plate spring which concerns on one Example of this invention. 1 is a block diagram of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which concerns on one Example of this invention. The flowchart which concerns on one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image scanner (image reading apparatus), 14 Insertion opening (1st opening), 17 Transparent original conveying apparatus, 24 Original stand, 38 Image sensor (reading part), 52 Original mat, 57 Conveying mechanism (conveying part), 87 Transport path, 90 discharge port (second opening), 110 first illumination section (reading section), 114 main scanning drive section (reading section), 118 carriage transport section (reading section), 122 analog front end section (reading section) ), 124 Digital image processing unit (reading unit), 1260 Control unit (reading unit), SS First reading area (original reading area)

Claims (5)

An image sensor or a transparent original conveying device for conveying a transparent original to an original reading area of an image reading apparatus that moves an image sensor or a mirror that makes an optical image of an original incident on the image sensor parallel to the surface of the original table. And
A transport path having a first opening into which a transparent original is inserted at one end and a second opening through which the transparent original can be discharged at the other end;
A transport unit that transports the transparent document inserted from the first opening to the document reading area along the transport path, and discharges the transparent document from the first opening along the transport path;
A transparent original conveying apparatus comprising:   The transporting unit transports the transparent document to the document reading region so that the surface of the transparent document transported to the document reading region is parallel to the platen surface of the document table and has a flat posture. Item 2. The transparent document conveying device according to Item 1. The document table,
A transparent document conveying device according to claim 1;
An image sensor, or a reading unit that reads a transparent original conveyed to the original reading area by the transparent original conveying device by moving a mirror that makes an optical image of the original incident on the image sensor parallel to the surface of the original table;
An image reading apparatus comprising: The document table,
A transparent document conveying device according to claim 2,
A reading unit that reads the transparent original by moving an image sensor or a mirror that makes the optical image of the original incident on the image sensor in parallel with the surface of the transparent original conveyed to the original reading area by the transparent original conveying device;
An image reading apparatus comprising:   The transparent document conveying device includes a detachable document mat that presses a reflective document placed on the document table, and the image reading device main body is swingable between a posture that covers a surface of the platen and a posture that opens. The image reading device according to claim 3, wherein the image reading device is connected to the image reading device.

Images