JP2007214982A - Original reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To read image information on an original sheet even when the original sheet is larger than the size of a platen. <P>SOLUTION: For the original sheet 9 of A3 size which user lays, approximately a half of it is paper fed until it is settled in a readable area on the platen 6 from one end side to the other end side in the horizontal direction of the platen 6 by an ADF. A reading head 3 is fixed at its home position. When it is recognized that the original sheet 9 is settled in the readable area, the reading head 3 executes a reading operation while moving to the X side on the platen 6. When it is recognized that the reading head 3 reaches the edge on the X side, approximately the remaining half of the original sheet 9 is paper fed until it is settled in the readable area. The reading head 3 executes the reading operation while moving to the X' side on the platen 6. A plurality of pieces of image information are synthesized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a document reading apparatus for reading image information from a document sheet, and more particularly to a technique for reading image information from a document sheet larger than a predetermined size.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing apparatus has been proposed that is easy to use, can be made compact as a whole, and can efficiently perform document reading, recording, and copying operations.

An image processing apparatus according to the proposal includes a scanner for reading image information on a document, and a printer that is rotatably connected to the scanner via a rotation shaft and prints the image information on a recording sheet. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-326423 A

  In the image processing apparatus, the image information of the document sheet placed on the document table is reciprocated along the longitudinal direction of the document table (provided in the image processing apparatus) below the document table. Was configured to read.

  Therefore, no problem occurs when the size of the document sheet is approximately equal to or smaller than the size of the document table.

  However, if the size of the original sheet is, for example, A3 size or larger (hereinafter referred to as “large plate size”), the entire original sheet cannot be placed on the original table. In order to read image information from a large-size document sheet, a document table corresponding to the size of the document sheet is required, and the image processing apparatus must be increased in size. .

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a document reading apparatus capable of reading image information on a document sheet which is larger than the size of the document table.

  The document reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a transport mechanism that transports a document sheet in a lateral direction of a document table having a substantially rectangular shape, and the document that is substantially orthogonal to the document sheet transport direction of the transport mechanism. A read head mechanism having a length substantially the same as the lateral direction of the document table, movable in the longitudinal direction of the table, and a control means for controlling the transport mechanism and the read head mechanism; A document reading mode that is alternatively set, a first mode that reads information on a document sheet having an area substantially the same as the size of the document table, and an area that is approximately twice the size of the document table And a third mode for reading information on a document sheet that is longer than the document sheet to be read in the second mode. However, Based on any one of the modes that are, so as to control the transport mechanism, or the reading head mechanism.

  In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the first mode is a mode for reading information on an A4 size original sheet, and the second mode is for reading information on an A3 size original sheet. The third mode is a mode for reading information on an original sheet that is longer than an A3-size original sheet.

  In an embodiment different from the above, when the first mode is set, the control unit controls at least the read head mechanism to move forward or backward, thereby controlling the document on the original sheet. I try to read information.

  In another embodiment different from the above, when the second and third modes are set, the control means controls the information on the area of the original sheet placed on the original table. And the movement of the transport mechanism and / or the read head mechanism are appropriately controlled so that information can be combined without any break between the read areas.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a document reading apparatus that can read image information on a document sheet that is larger than the size of the document table.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a configuration of a main part of a document reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the document reading apparatus 1 includes a controller 2, a reading head 3, a plurality of document sheet detection sensors 4, a document table 6, and an image sensor 7. In addition to the above-described configuration, the document reading device 1 also includes a document holding plate and a document sheet automatic feeding device (for example, “Auto Document Feeder” or “ADF”) (both not shown).

  The document table 6 has a glass surface on which a document sheet is placed, and is provided on the upper surface of the document reading apparatus 1. The document holding plate (not shown) is for fixing the document sheet 9 placed on the document table 6, and is provided on the upper surface of the document reading apparatus 1 as with the document table 6.

  An ADF (not shown) is also provided on the upper surface of the document reading apparatus 1 in the same manner as the document table 6 and the document holding plate (not shown). The ADF (not shown) can automatically and continuously convey the document sheet 9 in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 1, and is configured to be detachable from the document reading apparatus 1 main body. ing.

  Further, the document reading apparatus 1 includes a guide rail (not shown). The guide rails are arranged along one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the document table 6 (that is, the XX ′ direction in FIG. 1), respectively, in the XX ′ direction. It is configured to guide the reciprocating reading head 3.

  The reading head 3 has a guide rail (not shown) in the XX ′ direction with the position shown in FIG. 1, that is, one end side (X ′ side) in the XX ′ direction on the document table 6 as a home position. ), And is configured to reciprocate.

  The read head 3 reciprocates by a rotational driving force from a forward / reverse rotatable motor (not shown) via, for example, a conveyor belt mechanism (not shown) that is a power transmission mechanism. A light source (not shown) for irradiating light on the document sheet 9 on the document table 6 is provided on the upper surface of the reading head 3, and reflected light from the document sheet 9 is reflected inside the reading head 3. Image sensors 7 for receiving light are arranged in a line.

  For example, a charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) is employed for the image sensor 7.

  For example, an optical sensor (photocoupler) is employed as the document sheet detection sensor 4.

  The document sheet detection sensor 4 emits light from the LED, which is a light emitting element, toward the document sheet 9, and detects the presence or absence of the document sheet 9 based on an output signal from a phototransistor, which is a light receiving element. In other words, when the output signal from the light receiving element becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the passage of the start / end portion of the document sheet 9 is detected.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the controller 2 provided in the document reading apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 2 includes an I / O interface unit 21, a CPU 22, a ROM 23, an image memory 24, and a RAM 25.

  The I / O interface unit 21 outputs image information on the document sheet 9 output from the CCD 7, detection information regarding the presence or absence of the document sheet 9 output from the document sheet detection sensor 4, and output from the document sheet movement amount measurement unit 32. The movement amount information of the original sheet 9 and the movement amount information of the reading head 3 output from the reading head movement amount measuring unit 36 as necessary are input, and the CPU 22 is notified of the information. The I / O interface unit 21 also receives a read job command 26 transmitted from an external host computer (not shown) and transmits it to the CPU 22. The I / O interface unit 21 receives various command signals (ADF drive command signal, read head drive command signal, and CCD drive command signal) from the CPU 22, and sends these command signals to the ADF drive unit 30 and the read head drive unit. 31 and the CCD drive unit 34.

  The ROM 23 contains a control program that defines the arithmetic processing operation executed by the CPU 22.

  The image memory 24 stores an image for one line or a plurality of lines on the original sheet 9 read by the CCD 7 under the control of the CPU 22. The image memory 24 outputs the stored image data to the CPU 22 in response to a data read request from the CPU 22.

  The RAM 25 stores various statuses and various function settings in the document reading apparatus 1 under the control of the CPU 22. The RAM 25 outputs various stored data to the CPU 22 in response to a data write request from the CPU 22, and temporarily stores data sent through the CPU 22 in response to a data read request from the CPU 22.

  The CPU 22 uses the various information read through the I / O interface unit 21 while referring to the various data stored in the image memory 24 and the RAM 25 as needed based on the control program stored in the ROM 23. Then, a predetermined arithmetic processing operation is performed. Then, a control signal is output to the ADF drive unit 30, the read head drive unit 31, and the CCD drive unit 34 through the I / O interface unit 21. Note that the CPU 22 executes an arithmetic processing operation according to a flowchart as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a document image reading operation executed by the document reading apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the document reading apparatus 1 according to the present invention, the modes for reading image information on the document sheet 9 are “A4 document reading mode”, “A3 document reading mode”, and “long document reading mode” longer than A3 document. Any one of the three modes can be selectively set. In the processing operation in each document reading mode described below, processing for reading output information from the document sheet movement amount measuring unit 32 by the controller 2 is performed.

  FIG. 3 shows operations of the reading head 3 and the document sheet 9 on the document table 6 when the user selects the A4 document reading mode.

  In FIG. 3, when the user faces the back side of the A4 size original sheet 9 upward, the end on one side along the longitudinal direction of the original sheet 9 is the end on one side along one longitudinal direction of the original table 6. Then, the document sheet 9 starts to be conveyed in the direction of the thick arrow (Y direction) by the ADF (FIG. 3A).

  When the entire original sheet 9 is placed on the original table 6 by moving the original sheet 9 in the direction of the thick arrow (Y direction), a plurality of CCDs 7 arranged in a line form read the original image. Start operation.

  The document image reading operation by the plurality of CCDs 7 is performed while the reading head 3 carrying the CCDs 7 continues to move in the direction of the thick arrow (X direction) (FIG. 3B). When the reading head 3 reaches the end of the thick arrow direction (X direction), the reading head 3 moves to the home position (thick arrow direction (X ′ direction)), and the document sheet 9 is moved in the thick arrow direction by the ADF. It is moved in the (Y direction) (FIG. 3C) and discharged from the document reading apparatus 1 (FIG. 3D).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the controller 2 when the document image reading operation of the document reading device 1 is set to the A4 document reading mode by the user.

  In FIG. 4, when the user places a document sheet 9 on the ADF, a document image reading operation in the A4 document reading mode is started (step S1). When the controller 2 recognizes that the document image reading operation has been started, the controller 2 controls the reading head drive unit 31 to fix the reading head 3 at its home position (step S2).

  Next, the controller 2 outputs a control signal to the ADF drive unit 30 to drive the ADF (step S3), so that the paper (9) is placed until the entire original sheet 9 fits in a readable area on the original table 6. The original sheet 9) starts to be fed (step S4). When it is recognized by the output signal from the document sheet movement amount measurement unit 32 that the entire document sheet 9 is within the readable area on the document table 6 (Yes in step S5), the controller 2 drives the ADF drive unit 30. By outputting a stop command, the driving of the ADF is stopped (step S6).

  Next, the controller 2 outputs a control signal to the CCD drive unit 34 to drive the CCD 7 (step S7), and controls the read head drive unit 31 to drive the read head 3. As a result, the reading head 3 performs an image information reading operation while moving on the document table 6 toward one end side (that is, the X side) in the XX ′ direction (step S8).

  When the controller 2 recognizes that the read head 3 has reached the one end side based on the output signal from the read head moving amount measuring unit 36, the controller 2 moves the read head to the home position (step S9). As a result, the original sheet 9 from which image information has been read is discharged from the original reading apparatus 1 (step S10), and a series of processing operations is completed.

  By performing the document reading operation in the A4 document reading mode shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, it is possible to read the document image at a higher speed than the reading of the document image by the existing document reading device.

  5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of a document image reading operation executed by the document reading apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. 5 and 6 show operations of the reading head 3 and the document sheet 9 on the document table 6 when the user selects the A3 document reading mode. In FIG. 5, the description shown in FIG. 5 (A) is the same as the description shown in FIG. 3 (A), and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, when the original sheet 9 moves in the direction of the thick arrow (Y direction), and approximately half of the A3 size original sheet 9 is placed on the original table 6, it is arranged in a line. The plurality of CCDs 7 thus started the document image reading operation (FIG. 5B).

  The document image reading operation by the plurality of CCDs 7 is performed while the reading head 3 carrying the CCDs 7 continues to move in the direction of the thick arrow (X direction) (FIG. 5C). When the reading head 3 reaches the end of the thick arrow direction (X direction), the remaining half of the A3 size original sheet 9 is moved in the thick arrow direction (Y direction) by the ADF. When the movement of the original sheet 9 in the direction of the thick arrow (Y direction) by the ADF is completed, the reading head 3 starts moving in the direction of the thick arrow (X ′ direction) (FIG. 6A), and the plurality of CCDs 7 Then, the ADF starts the movement of the document sheet 9 in the direction of the thick arrow (Y direction) by the ADF, and is discharged from the document reader 1 (FIG. 6B).

  7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the processing operation of the controller 2 when the original image reading operation of the original reading apparatus 1 is set to the A3 original reading mode by the user. In FIG. 7, the contents shown in steps S21 to S23 are the same as the contents shown in steps S1 to S3 in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, paper feeding is started until substantially half of the A3 size original sheet 9 is within the readable area on the original table 6 (step S24). When it is recognized from the output signal from the document sheet movement amount measuring unit 32 that substantially half of the A3 size document sheet 9 has fallen within the readable area on the document table 6 (Yes in step S25), the controller 2 The driving of the ADF is stopped by outputting a driving stop command to the driving unit 30 (step S26).

  Next, the controller 2 drives the CCD 7 by outputting a control signal to the CCD drive unit 34 (step S27), and controls the read head drive unit 31 to drive the read head 3. Accordingly, the reading head 3 performs an image information reading operation while moving on the document table 6 toward one end side in the XX ′ direction (that is, the X side) (step S28).

  When the controller 2 recognizes that the read head 3 has reached the one end side from the output signal from the read head moving amount measuring unit 36, the controller 2 resumes driving of the ADF (step S29). Then, paper feeding is performed until the remaining half of the A3 size original sheet 9 is placed in a readable area (step S30).

  When the controller 2 recognizes from the output signal from the document sheet movement measuring unit 32 that the remaining half of the A3 size document sheet 9 is within the readable area on the document table 6 (Yes in step S31). By outputting a drive stop command to the ADF drive unit 30, the drive of the ADF is stopped (step S32), and the read head drive unit 31 is controlled to drive the read head 3. As a result, the reading head 3 performs an image information reading operation while moving on the document table 6 toward one end side in the XX ′ direction (that is, the X ′ side) (step S33). As a result, the document sheet 9 for which image information has been read is discharged from the document reading apparatus 1 (step S34), and after the plurality of read document image information is combined in steps S28 and S33 (step S35). ), A series of processing operations ends.

  By performing the document reading operation in the A3 document reading mode shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8, it is faster than the document image reading by the existing document reading apparatus and has a high quality without a break. A composite image can be obtained.

  FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are explanatory diagrams showing modifications of the A3 document reading mode shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. FIG. 9 shows operations of the reading head 3 and the document sheet 9 on the document table 6 when the user selects the long document reading mode. In FIG. 9, the description shown in FIG. 9 (A) is the same as the description shown in FIG. 5 (A), and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  9 and 10, the document sheet 9 moves in the direction of the thick arrow (Y direction), so that the long document sheet 9 is placed on the document table 6 by the length in the long direction of the reading head 3. When placed, the plurality of CCDs 7 arranged in a line form start a document image reading operation (FIG. 9B).

  The document image reading operation by the plurality of CCDs 7 is performed while the reading head 3 carrying the CCDs 7 continues to move in the direction of the thick arrow (X direction) (FIG. 9C). When the reading head 3 reaches the end in the thick arrow direction (X direction), the long document sheet 9 is moved in the thick arrow direction (Y direction) by the length of the reading head 3 in the long direction by the ADF. Moved. When the movement of the document sheet 9 by the ADF in the direction of the thick arrow (Y direction) is completed, the reading head 3 starts moving in the direction of the thick arrow (X ′ direction) (FIG. 10A), and the plurality of CCDs 7 A document image reading operation is performed (FIG. 10B).

  FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts showing the processing operation of the controller 2 in the modified example of the A3 document reading mode shown in FIGS. In FIG. 11, the contents shown in steps S41 to S43 and steps S46 to S48 are the same as the contents shown in steps S21 to S23 and steps S26 to S28 in FIG. The detailed description of is omitted.

  In FIG. 11, the paper feed of the long document sheet 9 is started by the length of the reading head described above (step S44). When it is recognized from the output signal from the document sheet movement amount measuring unit 32 that the long document sheet 9 has been fed by the above-mentioned length of the reading head (Yes in step S45), the controller 2 performs the step of FIG. The operations from S46 to S48 are performed.

  When the controller 2 recognizes that the reading head 3 has reached the one end side based on the output signal from the reading head moving amount measuring unit 36, the controller 2 detects the end side in the conveying direction of the original sheet 9 through the original sheet detection sensor 4. (Step S49). When it is recognized based on the control signal from the document sheet detection sensor 4 that the end side in the conveyance direction of the document sheet 9 has passed the installation position of the document sheet detection sensor 4 (Yes in step S49), the drive to the CCD drive unit 34 is stopped. The driving of the CCD 7 is stopped by outputting a command, and the driving of the ADF is stopped by outputting a driving stop command to the ADF driving unit 30. Thus, the long document sheet 9 for which the image information has been read is discharged from the document reading apparatus 1 (step S57), and a series of processing operations is completed.

  If the end of the long document sheet 9 in the conveyance direction does not recognize that it has passed the installation position of the document sheet detection sensor 4 (No in step S49), the controller 2 sends a control signal to the ADF drive unit 30. By outputting, the driving of the ADF is resumed (step S50). Then, the paper sheet 9 is fed by a length slightly smaller than the length of the horizontal axis of the reading head (step S51). When the output signal from the document sheet moving amount measuring unit 32 recognizes that the long document sheet 9 has been fed by a little less than the length of the horizontal axis of the reading head (Yes in step S52), the controller 2 Then, by outputting a drive stop command to the ADF drive unit 30, the drive of the ADF is stopped (step S53), the presence / absence of the document sheet 9 is detected through the document sheet detection sensor 4, and the detection result is stored in the RAM 25. (Step S54).

  Next, the controller 2 performs the reading operation of the document image information through the CCD 7 while moving the reading head 3 toward the home position direction through the reading head driving unit 31 (step S55).

  In this reading operation, part of the image information read in step S48 (a portion near the end in the conveyance direction of the read document image region) is read redundantly.

  When the controller 2 recognizes that the read head 3 has reached the above-mentioned end on the X ′ side based on an output signal from the read head movement amount measuring unit 36, the controller 2 refers to the contents stored in the RAM 25. Then, the detection information regarding the presence / absence of the document sheet 9 is checked (step S56).

  If the controller 2 recognizes that the detection information indicating the presence of the document sheet 9 is stored as a result of the check, the controller 2 continues the processing operations shown in steps S49 to S56.

  On the other hand, if it is recognized as a result of the check that the detection information indicating that there is no original sheet 9 is stored, the driving of the CCD 7 is stopped through the CCD driving unit 34 and the driving of the ADF is stopped through the ADF driving unit 30. As a result, the document sheet 9 whose image information has been read is discharged from the document reading apparatus 1 (step S58), and in step S48 and step S55, a plurality of read document image information is combined (step S59). A series of processing operations are completed.

  By performing the document reading operation in the long document reading mode shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12, information on a long document sheet 9 larger than A3 size can be transferred at high speed, and It is possible to read with high accuracy image quality.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this embodiment is only the illustration for description of this invention, and is not the meaning which limits the scope of the present invention only to this embodiment. The present invention can be implemented in various other modes without departing from the gist thereof.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the controller 2 executes a processing operation related to reading image information on the document sheet 9 based on a reading job command 26 transmitted from an external host computer (not shown). However, the controller 2 may execute the above processing operation based on a command given from the user through an operation unit (not shown) of the document reading apparatus 1.

1 is a schematic plan view showing a configuration of a main part of a document reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller provided in the document reading apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a document image reading operation performed by the document reading apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. 7 is a flowchart showing processing operations of the controller when the original image reading operation of the original reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is set to the A4 original reading mode by the user. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the original image reading operation which the original reading apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention performs. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the original image reading operation which the original reading apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention performs. 7 is a flowchart showing processing operations of the controller when the original image reading operation of the original reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is set to the A3 original reading mode by the user. 7 is a flowchart showing processing operations of the controller when the original image reading operation of the original reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is set to the A3 original reading mode by the user. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the A3 document reading mode shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the A3 document reading mode shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 9 is a flowchart showing processing operations of a controller in a modification of the A3 document reading mode shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 9 is a flowchart showing processing operations of a controller in a modification of the A3 document reading mode shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Document reading device, 2 ... Controller, 3 ... Reading head, 4 ... Document sheet detection sensor, 6 ... Document table, 7 ... CCD (image sensor), 9 ... Document sheet, 21 ... I / O interface unit, 22 ... CPU, 23 ... ROM, 24 ... Image memory, 25 ... RAM, 26 ... Reading job command, 30 ... ADF driving unit, 31 ... Reading head driving unit, 32 ... Original sheet movement amount measuring unit, 34 ... CCD driving unit, 36 ... Reading head movement amount measurement unit.

Claims (4)

A transport mechanism for transporting a document sheet in a forward / backward direction along a lateral direction of a document table having a substantially rectangular shape;
A read head mechanism having substantially the same length as the lateral direction of the original table, which is movable forward / backward along the longitudinal direction of the original table substantially orthogonal to the original sheet conveying direction of the conveyance mechanism;
Control means for controlling the transport mechanism and the read head mechanism;
A document reading mode that is alternatively set, a first mode for reading information on a document sheet having an area substantially the same as the size of the document table, and an area that is approximately twice the size of the document table And a third mode for reading information on a document sheet that is longer than the document sheet to be read in the second mode,
An original reading apparatus in which the control means controls the transport mechanism or the read head mechanism based on any one of the set modes. The document reading device according to claim 1,
The first mode is a mode for reading information on an A4 size original sheet,
The second mode is a mode for reading information on an A3 size original sheet,
An original reading apparatus in which the third mode is a mode for reading information on an original sheet longer than an A3 size original sheet. The document reading device according to claim 1,
When the first mode is set, the control means reads the information on the original sheet by controlling at least the read head mechanism to move forward or backward. The document reading device according to claim 1,
When the second and third modes are set, the control means reads information in an area placed on the original table in the original sheet, and covers a plurality of read areas. A document reading apparatus in which movement of the transport mechanism and / or the read head mechanism is appropriately controlled so that information can be combined without any break between each region.

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