JP2010200291A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve an image reader that has improved portability and can easily align the positions of an imaging section and an original. <P>SOLUTION: The image reader includes: an image reading means that reads an image from the original without changing the relative position from the original; a support means that rotatably supports the image reading means; and a pair of legs that are connected to the support means in openable and foldable manners and keep the support means in erected position such that the image reading means is disposed at a predetermined reading position above the original in the opened state. A pair of the legs specifies a original layout region corresponding to the predetermined reading position in the opened state, and has a positioning section that positions the original relative to the image reading means by making contact with the original. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an assembly-type portable image reading apparatus that reads an image formed on a document or the like by an image sensor such as a CCD or C-MOS.

  Conventionally, an image reading apparatus that conveys a document using a line image sensor and reads an image, a so-called document camera that reads an image by placing a document on a document table using an area image sensor, etc. There is an image reading device.

  An image reading apparatus using a line image sensor is excellent in reading a plurality of originals continuously at a high speed and high image quality, but uses an area image sensor which does not require conveyance of originals and has recently been increased in the number of pixels. Many image reading apparatuses have also been proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which the attachment 11 having the fall prevention legs 13 and 14 can be attached to the document camera unit 31. The fall prevention legs 13 and 14 can be pulled out and stored from the bottom surface of the mounting base 12 (see paragraph 0038). Patent Document 2 describes a camera stand in which two stand legs are opened when in use, and the stand body and the two stand legs are folded in parallel with each other when not in use.

JP 2001-211350 A JP 2006-058663 A

  By the way, an image reading apparatus using a line image sensor requires a conveying means for conveying paper and a scanning means for scanning the line image sensor, or the line image sensor cannot be made smaller than the paper size. There was a limit to conversion.

  In addition, in an image reading apparatus using an area image sensor, a leg portion and holding means for holding the camera at a predetermined height with respect to the document are required. Even if the holding means can be folded, the attachment or the document Since there is a stand, there was a limit to increasing the size and portability. On the other hand, in an apparatus that does not have a document table, it is necessary to adjust the position of the camera serving as the imaging unit and the document every time the document is exchanged in a use state in which the legs are opened and the device is erected.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize an image reading apparatus that improves portability and allows easy adjustment of the positions of the imaging unit and the document.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, an image reading apparatus of the present invention rotates an image reading unit that reads an image from the original without changing a relative position with the original, and the image reading unit. A support means that supports the support means, and is connected to the support means so as to be openable and foldable, and the image reading means is disposed at a predetermined reading position on the upper side of the document in the opened state. A pair of legs that hold the support means in an upright state, and the pair of legs defines a document placement region corresponding to the predetermined reading position in the opened state. In addition, a positioning unit is provided for positioning the document with respect to the image reading unit by abutting against the document.

  According to the present invention, it becomes suitable for carrying by improving portability, and by reducing the size and weight, the degree of freedom of installation place is widened and can be used as a desktop type. In addition, since the position of the imaging unit and the original can be easily adjusted, the reading accuracy of the original can be stabilized.

1 is an external perspective view of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side view of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an aspect when the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment is used. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view in a state where the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment is housed. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for changing the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment from a stored state to a used state. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a leg portion in an open leg state of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a leg portion in a storage state of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a leg portion of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view of the image reading apparatus of Embodiment 2 which concerns on this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for changing the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment from a use state to a storage state. It is an external appearance perspective view of the image reading apparatus of Embodiment 3 which concerns on this invention.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this invention with reference to an accompanying drawing is demonstrated in detail. The following embodiments are examples for realizing the present invention, and should be appropriately modified or changed depending on the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

  [Embodiment 1] First, an image reading apparatus according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The image reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an imaging unit 10 as an image reading unit, arm units 11 and 12 as support units that rotatably support the imaging unit 10, and a state where the arm units 11 and 12 stand up. And a pair of leg portions 13 and 14 as holding means for holding. The imaging unit 10, the arm units 11 and 12, and the leg units 13 and 14 are all made of a material such as ABS resin to reduce the weight, and the imaging unit 10 has a box shape, the arm unit 11, No. 12 is provided with reinforcing ribs on both sides in the longitudinal direction to increase the strength.

  The imaging unit 10 has an L-shaped outer shape, and includes a camera unit 10a in a bent portion. The camera unit 10a amplifies and outputs an area image sensor such as a CCD or C-MOS as a photoelectric conversion element that converts light incident through the lens 5 into an electric signal, and the electric signal converted by the area image sensor. Built-in amplifier and so on. Note that the angle of view that can be imaged by the imaging unit 10 is preset according to the size of the document (for example, A4). If the document size is equal to or smaller than the maximum size of the document that can be imaged by the imaging unit 10, the document image can be read.

  Each of the arm parts 11 and 12 includes a first arm part (hereinafter referred to as an upper arm part) 11 located at the upper part and a second arm part (hereinafter referred to as a lower arm part) 12 located below the upper arm part 11. . The arm portions 11 and 12 are connected to the hinge portion 7 so as to be rotatable in an angle range of approximately 0 ° (folded position) to 180 ° (open position). Further, the upper arm portion 11 and the lower arm portion 12 maintain the posture at an angle of about 180 ° when in use (when reading a document) and are folded at an angle of about 0 ° when in a stored state (when not in use or when being carried). Maintain the state. For example, a mechanism that does not move unless a predetermined force is applied by engaging a claw portion formed at each angular position of 0 ° and 180 ° with an engaging portion may be provided. The imaging unit 10 is connected to the upper arm unit 11 by a hinge unit 6 so as to be rotatable in an angle range of about 180 ° to 120 °, and a predetermined angle (the imaging unit 10 is connected to the upper arm unit 11 in use). It can be locked so as to maintain its posture at an angle parallel to the document surface. Note that the imaging unit 10 is integrally configured in a manner that it cannot be removed from the upper arm 11.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the length of the imaging unit 10 and the upper arm unit 11 except for the camera unit 10a bent in an L shape of the imaging unit 10 in a state in which the imaging unit 10 and the upper arm unit 11 are rotated approximately 180 ° and straightened. The length of the lower arm 12 is set to be substantially the same as the length of the lower arm 12. Thereby, when the upper arm part 11 and the lower arm part 12 to which the imaging part 10 is connected are folded, the leg parts 13 and 14 accommodated in the accommodating part 12a to be described later are sandwiched so that they cannot be seen from the outside, and in the retracted state. It becomes a rectangular parallelepiped and has excellent portability.

  The pair of leg portions 13 and 14 are rotatably supported by the lower end portion of the lower arm portion 12 in conjunction with the mutually engaged bevel gears 13 a and 14 a that are pivotally supported by the lower end portion of the lower arm portion 12. As a result, the leg portions 13 and 14 are pulled out from the storage position stored in parallel in the concave storage portion 12a formed on the inner surface side of the lower arm portion 12, and the lower end portion of the lower arm portion 12 is rotated. It is movable between a use position where the leg is opened at an angle of approximately 90 ° as the center of movement.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a convex portion 15 that protrudes inward in an opened state is formed at the end portion of the one leg portion 13 opposite to the lower arm portion 12. Further, convex portions 16a and 16b projecting inward in the opened state are provided at a position of about 1/3 from the lower arm portion 12 side of the other leg portion 14 and at an end opposite to the lower arm portion 12. Is formed. The projections 15, 16 a, and 16 b place the document G in an arrangement region defined by an angle formed by the leg portions 13 and 14 that are opened at approximately 90 °, and simultaneously abut against the mutually orthogonal sides of the document G. Thus, the document G is positioned at an appropriate position with respect to the image reading area of the imaging unit 10. This facilitates the adjustment of the positions of the imaging unit 10 and the document G. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the appropriate position is, for example, for an A4 size document, the optical axis 9 of the lens 5 of the imaging unit 10 is the center position of the document G and is perpendicular to the document G. It is the position. Therefore, the area image sensor in the imaging unit 10 and the image forming surface of the original G are in a parallel positional relationship, and the image information of the original G is imaged through the lens 5 without being inclined to the area image sensor.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7, the leg portions 13 and 14 are opened at approximately 90 ° with respect to the lower arm portion 12 by a pair of link portions 17 and 18, respectively. Define the document placement area. One end portions 17a and 18a of the link portions 17 and 18 are pivotally supported at a position about 1/3 from the end on the lower arm portion 12 side in the longitudinal direction of each leg portion 13 and 14, and the other end portion ( 17b and 18b are also formed in a spherical shape. Both spherical portions 17b and 18b are connected to each other by a joint 20 and slide into a long hole 19a formed in a rib portion 19 standing in the longitudinal direction at the central portion in the width direction of the storage portion 12a of the lower arm portion 12. Engaged as possible.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the lower hole portion of the long hole 19a protrudes in the direction of reducing the hole diameter, and the spherical portions 17b and 18b of the link portions 17 and 18 extend from the lower edge portion of the long hole 19a to the upper edge portion. A locking portion 21 is formed in a shape that cannot be easily overcome when moving. On the other hand, when the spherical portions 17b and 18b move from the upper edge portion to the lower edge portion, they have a smooth shape that can be overcome relatively easily. As shown in FIG. 9 (b), when the pair of leg portions 13 and 14 are opened to about 90 °, the spherical portions 17b and 18b of the link portions 17 and 18 are locked to the locking portion 21, and the link The parts 17 and 18 are held upright with respect to the leg parts 13 and 14. On the contrary, when the user lifts the spherical portions 17b and 18b of the link portions 17 and 18 by hand to get over the locking portion 21 to release the locked state, the spherical portions 17b and 18b of the link portions 17 and 18 are released. Can slide along the long hole 19a. Here, by sliding the spherical portions 17b and 18b to the upper edge portion, the link portions 17 and 18 become parallel to the leg portions 13 and 14 as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. It is stored in the storage part 12 a of the part 12.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the length of the leg portion 13 is shorter than the leg portion 14 by the length of the convex portion 16b, and interferes with the convex portion 15 of the leg portion 13 in the illustrated storage state. It is configured not to. The lengths of the link portions 17 and 18 are set in advance so that the lower arm portion 12 stands at an appropriate angle with respect to the leg portions 13 and 14 in the use state.

  When assembling the apparatus from the housed state shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A to use it for reading a document, first, the lower arm portion 12 is rotated about 180 ° with respect to the upper arm portion 11 by the hinge portion 7. It is moved and expanded (FIG. 6B). Here, the upper arm portion 11 and the lower arm portion 12 are fixed by the hinge portion 7 so as to maintain an angle of about 180 °.

  Next, the imaging unit 10 rotates around the hinge unit 6 by its own weight, and stops at a position that forms a predetermined angle with respect to the upper arm unit 11 (FIG. 6C). Here, the predetermined angle is an angle at which the optical axis 9 of the lens 5 of the imaging unit 10 is perpendicular to the document G and the imaging unit 10 is parallel to the document surface, as shown in FIG. The predetermined angle may be set, for example, by providing an abutting portion between the imaging unit 10 and the upper arm unit 11, and setting the angle when the abutting portion hits.

  Finally, the leg portions 13 and 14 are pulled out from the storage portion 12a of the lower arm portion 12 to be opened, so that the link portions 17 and 18 are rotated opposite to the leg portions 13 and 14. At the same time, the spherical portions 17b, 18b of the link portions 17, 18 slide from the upper edge portion toward the lower edge portion along the long hole 19a, and the spherical portions 17b, 18b are long when opened at approximately 90 °. Over the locking portion 21 of the hole 19a, the locked state is reached (FIGS. 6D and 7).

  On the other hand, when the device is put into the storage state, it can be realized by performing the above-described procedure (FIG. 6 (a) → (d)) in reverse. As described above, it can be developed from the stored state to the used state by two operations, and at the same time, the image pickup unit 10 can be always arranged parallel and at the same height with respect to the document G, so that stable document reading can be easily performed. Become.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the image reading apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a connector for electrically connecting a personal computer (PC) 3 as an external device via an interface cable 2 such as a USB. . In addition, the image reading apparatus 1 includes an indicator 4 that is turned on during connection with the PC 3 to notify the user. Further, the image reading apparatus 1 executes or stops reading of an image according to an operation command from a user who operates according to an application program executed on the PC 3. The PC 3 performs various processes on the image information transferred from the image reading apparatus 1. As described above, the image reading apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is reduced in weight by not mounting electronic components such as an image processing circuit.

  According to the above configuration, the document table that has caused the apparatus to be bulky can be eliminated, and the imaging unit 10, the arm unit 11, and the like can be obtained by a simple configuration with a pair of legs 13 and 14 that open at approximately 90 °. 12 can stand up in a stable posture. At the same time, a document G positioning function is added to the legs 13 and 14 so that the document G can be easily positioned. Therefore, the user can carry it in a bag or the like, and can easily assemble and start reading a document at the time of use.

  In addition, you may comprise so that the largest leg angle of the leg parts 13 and 14 can be set to the value exceeding 90 degrees, or it can hold | maintain at arbitrary angles. In this case, the document may be positioned by providing projections, scales, and the like for indicating the optimum document position on the legs 13 and 14 opened at a preset angle. In addition, you may comprise so that it can expand and contract and fold so that the length of the leg parts 13 and 14 can be adjusted.

  Further, since the imaging unit 10 is connected to the upper arm unit 11 so as to be parallel to the area formed by the legs 13 and 14 that have been opened, the legs 13 and 14 are opened and placed on the table. Only the image pickup unit 10 and the original G can be positioned. Accordingly, it is possible to easily and quickly position the document without the need for fine adjustment or the like when positioning the imaging unit 10 and the document G. However, the position of the imaging unit 10 when the legs 13 and 14 are opened is not limited to one. For example, the angle between the imaging unit 10 and the upper arm unit 11 or the upper arm unit 11 using an adjusting means such as a screw. By making the angle of the lower arm part 12 variable, it can be set at various positions. As a result, when only reading a document of a specific size is performed, the operation becomes very simple, while other sizes of documents can be handled as necessary, and convenience is further improved.

  [Embodiment 2] Next, an image reading apparatus according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, members having substantially the same functions and configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The image reading apparatus of the present embodiment is provided with a storage portion 22 a for storing the leg portions 23 and 24 on the outer surface side (back surface) of the lower arm portion 22. The pair of leg portions 23 and 24 are coupled so as to be reversible up to approximately 360 ° as an angle range from the use state (angle with the lower arm portion 22 at the time of standing) to the storage portion 22a of the lower arm portion 22. Other functions are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  When the device is in the stowed state, first, the opened leg portions 23 and 24 are closed to be in a parallel state, and are reversed in the direction of arrow S1 toward the outside of the lower arm portion 12, and the imaging portion 10 is moved to the upper arm portion 11. And rotate so as to be in a straight line (FIG. 11A). Thereby, the leg parts 23 and 24 can be accommodated in the accommodating part 22a of the back surface of the lower arm part 22 (FIG.11 (b)).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, the upper arm portion 11 and the lower arm portion 22 are rotated by approximately 180 ° in the direction of the arrow S2 by the hinge portion 7. Thereby, as shown in FIG.11 (c), an image reading apparatus can be folded compactly. Here, the lens 5 is protected by being fitted into a fitting hole 25 formed by the fitting hole 22b formed in the lower arm portion 22 and the leg portions 23 and 24 in a closed state.

  [Third Embodiment] Next, an image reading apparatus according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, members having substantially the same functions and configurations as those of the above-described second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured such that the upper arm portion 31 is extendable and retractable with respect to the lower arm portion 32. The upper arm unit 31 can be pulled out and pushed in from the lower arm unit 12. The upper arm unit 31 is fixed in a state where the upper arm unit 31 is pulled out to an arbitrary position, and the height of the imaging unit 10 with respect to the document G can be adjusted.

  According to each of the embodiments described above, image information can be collectively read from the original G without changing the relative position with respect to the original G. Therefore, the original G is scanned relative to the imaging unit 10. This eliminates the need for a conveying means for the purpose, and can greatly reduce the size of the apparatus. In addition, since the reading start instruction and the image processing after reading are performed by the PC 3, the number of electric circuit components mounted on the apparatus can be reduced and the weight can be reduced. Further, the apparatus can be folded and stored, and the imaging unit 10 and the document G are always positioned at the same position by the pair of legs that are opened, so that the operation becomes very simple.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reader 4 Indicator 5 Lens 10 Image pick-up part 11,12 Arm part 13,14,23,24 Leg part 15,16a, 16b Convex part 17,18 Link part G Original

Claims (7)

Image reading means for reading an image from the original without changing a relative position with respect to the original;
Support means for rotatably supporting the image reading means;
The support means is connected to the support means so as to be openable and foldable, and the support means is erected so that the image reading means is disposed at a predetermined reading position above the document in the opened state. A pair of legs to hold
The pair of leg portions define an arrangement area of the original corresponding to the predetermined reading position in the opened state, and positions the original with respect to the image reading means by abutting against the original. An image reading apparatus having a positioning unit. The support means includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion that are coupled so as to be relatively rotatable in a range of approximately 0 ° to 180 °,
The image reading means is rotatably supported by the first arm portion within a range of 180 ° from a predetermined angle, and the pair of leg portions are foldably connected to the second arm portion. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: One end portion is slidably connected to the second arm portion, and the other end portion has a pair of link portions rotatably connected to the leg portion,
The pair of link portions hold the second arm portion upright at a predetermined angle with respect to the leg portions with the pair of leg portions opened.
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pair of legs are stored in the second arm together with the pair of legs in a folded state.   The pair of leg portions are rotatably supported by the lower end portion of the second arm portion in conjunction with the mutually engaged bevel gears pivotally supported by the lower end portion of the second arm portion, Movable between a storage position stored in a storage part formed on the inner surface side of the second arm part and a use position where the leg is pulled out from the storage position and opened at an angle of about 90 °. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: In the storage portion formed in the second arm portion, a long hole is formed for slidably engaging one end portion of the pair of link portions,
The elongated hole is formed with a locking portion for locking so that one end of the link portion does not slide.
The second arm portion is held upright at a predetermined angle with respect to the leg portion while one end portion of the link portion is locked to the locking portion. 5. The image reading apparatus according to 4.   In a state where the pair of leg portions are stored in the storage portion, the first arm portion is rotated to approximately 0 ° with respect to the second arm portion, and the image reading means is connected to the first arm portion. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the storage unit is closed to form a storage state of the image reading apparatus by folding one arm part. Having an interface means for electrical connection with an external device;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading unit operates in accordance with a command from an external device connected via the interface unit.