JP2008268270A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a plane image or image data of high quality in the image forming apparatus which performs scanning exposure while irradiating an original with light, condenses reflected light of the original by a lens, forms an image on a sensor and forms the plane image. <P>SOLUTION: Prescanning is performed before scanning (image reading) and the shape of the original is automatically discriminated based on data obtained by the prescanning. A light source lighting mode according to the shape of the original is selected based on this discrimination result and emitted light quantities of a plurality of light sources are individually controlled, respectively. Then, the scanning is performed to form the plane image or the image data of high quality. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms high-quality image data by changing the amount of light emitted from a light source in accordance with various types of originals such as a solid and a plane.

  A conventional image forming apparatus uses a plurality of light sources to irradiate light on a document in order to increase the amount of light when reading.

  If the original is flat when multiple light sources are illuminated uniformly and the original is illuminated. Although it can be read without any problem, when a three-dimensional object is read, a shadow is not formed on the original and the three-dimensional read image cannot be seen.

Further, an image forming apparatus for three-dimensionally reading a three-dimensional object is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). This image forming apparatus can control the light amounts and incident angles of a plurality of light sources independently of each other in accordance with the unevenness and light reflectance of a three-dimensional object to be scanned and exposed.
JP-A-9-197569

  However, in the above-described conventional example, there is a problem in that it is not possible to automatically determine whether the document is a three-dimensional object or a plane on the image forming apparatus and to control the optimal irradiation light amount according to the shape of the document. is there.

The present invention provides a high-quality planar image or image in an image forming apparatus that scans and exposes a document while irradiating light, collects reflected light of the document with a lens, forms an image on a sensor, and forms a planar image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming data.

In the present invention, pre-scanning is performed before scanning (image reading), and the shape of the document is automatically determined based on data obtained by this pre-scanning. Based on the determination result, the light source lighting mode corresponding to the shape of the document is selected, and the irradiation light amounts of the plurality of light sources are individually controlled. Then, scanning can be performed to form a high-quality planar image or image data.

Since the image forming apparatus automatically determines the shape of the document and controls the light amount of the light source according to the shape to perform scanning, it is possible to form a high-quality flat image or image data.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image reading apparatus 100 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The image reading apparatus 100 is an example of an image forming apparatus, and includes light sources 1 and 2, a standard density member 3, an original glass plate 5, mirrors 6, 7 and 8, a lens 9, an optical sensor 10, and an optical sensor. A carriage 11 and a reference plate 12 are provided.

  A document 4 is placed between the standard density member 3 and the document glass table 5, and light is emitted from the two light sources 1 and 2, and reflected light reflected from the document 4 is reflected by mirrors 6, 7, and 8. Is reflected and led to the lens 9. The guided reflected light is imaged on the light receiving surface of the optical sensor 10 by the lens 9 to acquire data for one line in the main scanning direction.

  Next, the optical carriage 11 is moved in the sub-scanning direction, and one line of data is acquired in the same manner as described above. This is repeatedly executed to read the entire area of the document 4 and form one image data.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the image reading apparatus 100.

  When the user sets an original at a predetermined position and presses a scan start button or a scan command is instructed from the PC, the image reading apparatus 100 starts the scan command (S0).

  First, the image reading apparatus 100 enters a calibration (S1) operation. The light sources 1 and 2 are turned on, a reference plate provided outside the reading area is read, and white shading correction data is acquired. Subsequently, the light source is turned off, the reference plate is read, black shading correction data is acquired, and data correction during pre-scanning is performed using these two data.

  After the calibration, based on the white shading correction data and the black shading correction data, pre-scan (S2) is started, and simple image data is provided so that the user can visually grasp the entire document. Is generated. Then, it is output to a display means such as a display, and the shape of the document is automatically determined.

  In the automatic discrimination (S3), the density reading area B data obtained by the pre-scan is compared with the standard density data. Then, the distance between the document table glass and the standard density member, that is, the thickness of the document is detected, and it is automatically determined whether the document is a flat surface or a three-dimensional object.

  If it is determined from the result of automatic determination that the document is flat, the simultaneous lighting mode (S5) is selected. If it is determined that the document is three-dimensional, the single lighting mode (S4) is selected.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when a flat original is used and the flat original is irradiated in the simultaneous lighting mode.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the “simultaneous lighting mode” is a mode in which the light sources 1 and 2 are controlled to be simultaneously lit (S6) to increase the amount of light. With this simultaneous lighting mode, the time required for the photodiode of the optical sensor to accumulate charges can be shortened, and high-resolution and high-speed scanning can be performed to form a planar image or image data.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram when a solid object is used and the solid object is irradiated in the single lighting mode.

  The “single lighting mode” is a mode for independently controlling the light emission amounts of the plurality of light sources. In the above example, specifically, the light amounts of the light sources 1 and 2 are controlled independently (S6) so that the irradiation light amount of the light source 2 is smaller than the irradiation light amount of the light source 1.

  By this single lighting mode, a thin shadow SD1 and a dark shadow SD2 are intentionally created in the sub-scanning direction, and scanning is performed, whereby a planar image or image data that does not impair the texture of the three-dimensional object can be formed.

  After adjusting the irradiation light amount (S6), calibration is again performed (S7), white shading correction data and black shading correction data are acquired, and data correction during scanning is performed.

  Thereafter, scanning (S8) is performed, and a high-quality planar image or image data can be formed.

  That is, in the above embodiment, scanning exposure is performed while irradiating light on a document disposed between the standard density member and the platen glass, and reflected light from the document is condensed by the lens as scanning light. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on the top and forms a planar image. Further, the embodiment includes a plurality of light sources that illuminate the document. Further, the embodiment is located below the original placed on the original glass, and moves horizontally with respect to the original while using the light source and the reflected light from the original as scanning light to the lens. And an optical carriage carrying an optical mechanism for guiding and imaging on the sensor. The above-described embodiment includes a determining unit that performs pre-scanning before forming a flat image and automatically determines the shape of the document. In addition, the embodiment includes a simultaneous lighting mode in which the plurality of light sources are turned on simultaneously according to the shape of the document, and a single lighting mode in which the light amounts of each of the plurality of light sources are individually changed and turned on. It has a control means. This control means is a control means for controlling and operating the plurality of light sources according to one lighting mode of the simultaneous lighting mode and the single lighting mode.

  In this case, the control means is means for changing the light emission amounts of the plurality of light sources independently of each other. The determining means scans the standard density member portion during pre-scanning, compares the read density with a standard value, automatically determines the shape of the document, and according to the determined shape of the document. , Means for selecting each of the lighting modes.

Moreover, the said Example can be grasped | ascertained as invention of a method. That is, in the above embodiment, scanning exposure is performed while irradiating light on a document disposed between the standard density member and the platen glass, and reflected light from the document is condensed by the lens as scanning light. This is a method of controlling an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the top and forms a planar image. An optical carriage on which the light source and an optical mechanism for guiding the reflected light from the document as scanning light to the lens and forming an image on the sensor is mounted on the document glass. It has a moving step that is positioned below and horizontally moves with respect to the original. The embodiment includes a determination step of performing pre-scanning before forming a flat image and automatically determining the shape of the document. Further, the embodiment includes a simultaneous lighting mode in which the plurality of light sources are turned on simultaneously according to the shape of the document, and a single lighting mode in which the light amounts of each of the plurality of light sources are individually changed and turned on. It has a control process. This control process is a control process in which the plurality of light sources are controlled and operated by one of the simultaneous lighting mode and the single lighting mode.

1 is a diagram illustrating an image reading apparatus 100 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of the image reading apparatus 100. It is explanatory drawing in the case of using the flat original and irradiating the flat original in the simultaneous lighting mode. It is explanatory drawing in the case of using the solid object and irradiating the solid object in the single lighting mode.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 ... light source,
3 ... Standard concentration member,
4 ... The manuscript,
5 ... plate glass,
6, 7, 8 ... mirror,
9 ... Lens,
10: Optical sensor,
11: optical carriage,
12: Reference plate.

Claims (4)

Scanning exposure is performed while irradiating light on the original placed between the standard density member and the platen glass, and the reflected light from the original is condensed by the lens as scanning light, imaged on the sensor, and flat. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image,
A plurality of light sources for illuminating the original;
The light source and the reflected light from the original are guided to the lens as scanning light while being horizontally moved with respect to the original and positioned below the original placed on the original glass, and are connected to the sensor. An optical carriage carrying an optical mechanism for imaging;
Discriminating means for performing pre-scanning before forming a flat image and automatically discriminating the shape of the original;
According to the shape of the original, the simultaneous lighting mode for simultaneously lighting the plurality of light sources, and the single lighting mode for lighting the light of each of the plurality of light sources individually, the simultaneous lighting mode, Control means for controlling and operating the plurality of light sources according to one lighting mode of the single lighting mode;
An image forming apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means is means for independently changing light emission amounts of the plurality of light sources. In claim 1,
The discriminating means scans the standard density member portion during pre-scanning, compares the read density with a standard value, automatically discriminates the shape of the document, and determines the shape according to the determined shape of the document. An image forming apparatus, wherein each lighting mode is selected. Scanning exposure is performed while irradiating light on the original placed between the standard density member and the platen glass, and the reflected light from the original is condensed by the lens as scanning light, imaged on the sensor, and flat. In a control method of an image forming apparatus for forming an image,
An optical carriage that mounts the light source and an optical mechanism that guides reflected light from the document as scanning light to the lens and forms an image on the sensor is disposed below the document disposed on the document glass. A moving step that is positioned and moved horizontally with respect to the original;
A determination step of performing a pre-scan before forming a flat image and automatically determining the shape of the original;
According to the shape of the original, the simultaneous lighting mode for simultaneously lighting the plurality of light sources, and the single lighting mode for lighting each of the plurality of light sources by changing the amount of light independently, the simultaneous lighting mode, A control step of controlling and operating the plurality of light sources according to one lighting mode of the single lighting mode;
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising:

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