JP2010212858A - Image reader, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to easily specify an original reading area while an operator looks at the original, save energy by illuminating only the specified original reading area, and efficiently perform image reading at a high speed. <P>SOLUTION: If the operator touches a point A on an original surface while the operator looks at the original, a touch panel unit 23 recognizes coordinates of the point A from the original point of the touch panel unit 23. If the operator confirms that the indicated point is right, the operator pushes a position decision button. After the determination of the contact position of the point A, if the operator touches a point B on the original surface, the same operation is performed. If the operator confirms the designation that an original designation area is a part surrounded by an area making a line from the point A and the point B as a diagonal line, the operator pushes an area decision button. By the way, a reading area decision means decides the area as an original reading area, and the original reading area is specified. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus capable of reading only a document reading region visually designated by an operator from a document surface to be read.

  Conventionally, in a general image reading apparatus, even when a partial image copy of a document to be read is desired, the image information is read and scanned for all areas of a specified document size (paper size). ing.

  For this reason, since the read information is generated as one read file including a necessary image, if it is desired to be used as a document, an operation of cutting and pasting only a necessary portion eventually occurs.

  Further, it can be said that energy is wasted because all areas of the designated paper size are illuminated during the reading scan.

  For this reason, in an image reading apparatus, a technique for reading an image by arbitrarily specifying a document reading area for a document, a technique for illuminating only the reading area at the time of reading, and the like have been proposed.

  Patent Document 1 describes an image processing apparatus that designates an arbitrary reading area in a document. In this apparatus, in order to designate a reading area from the back side of the original reading surface, a video means for indicating the reading area is separately required.

  Patent Document 2 describes an image reading apparatus that turns on a light emitting diode so that only a reading range designated by a reading range designation means is illuminated. Although there is a description that the reading range designating unit sets the reading range after fixing the document with a pressing plate, there is no description about a specific configuration relating to the reading range unit.

  Patent Document 3 describes an image reading apparatus that detects a document size as a reading area. In this case, the reading area cannot be arbitrarily designated by an operator.

  As described above, in some conventional techniques, an arbitrary reading area can be specified for a document to be read. However, as a method for specifying the reading area, the operator can directly read the reading area while looking at the document. Therefore, in order to designate the reading area as intended, the operability and workability are poor.

  Further, if only the original image in the reading area designated by the operator can be scanned and read, and a read file only for the scan area can be generated, the efficiency and speed of image reading can be improved. Further, if only the designated area is illuminated, energy saving can be achieved.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, enable an operator to easily specify a document reading area while looking at a document, illuminate only the specified document reading area, and save energy, An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of reading an image efficiently and at high speed.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided on a document placing table and detects a position of a document surface that is directly or indirectly touched by an operator by visually recognizing the document surface. A reading area determining means for specifying a document reading area from a plurality of positions in contact with the operator detected by the contact position detecting means, and a plurality of light emission capable of partially illuminating only the specified document reading area A document surface illuminating unit comprising elements, and a document reading unit that illuminates only the document reading area specified by the reading area determining unit with the document surface illuminating unit and reads only the document image in the document reading area. With this configuration, the operator can arbitrarily designate an area by touching the original surface while looking at the original, and the original reading area is specified by the designation. And improving the operability of a range, further, since it is possible to save energy by illuminating only the specified document reading area, efficiency image reading can be performed in the well at high speed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the operator touched the contact position detecting means having light transparency and covering the original placed on the original placing table. The document surface position can be detected. With this configuration, even when the contact position detection unit covers the document, the operator can arbitrarily specify the area by touching the document surface while viewing the document. be able to.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the contact position detecting means is arranged on the reading back side of the document.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the second aspect, the contact position detecting means is disposed on the reading surface side of the document.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the detection sensitivity of the contact position detecting means can be corrected according to the operating environment and the type of the read original. As a feature, this configuration makes it possible to always specify an appropriate and reliable area.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the original reading unit can read a plurality of original reading areas specified by contact with the operator by a single reading operation. This configuration makes the reading operation more efficient.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a sounding means for notifying that the reading area determining means has detected and recognized the position in contact with the operator is provided. As a feature, this configuration makes it possible to recognize that the designation has been made well, and to improve the operability and reliability of the area designation by the operator.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the sound generation means has directivity so as to emit a notification sound in a specific direction. It is possible to prevent a person from having trouble with pronunciation.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the original reading unit and an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium based on the original information read by the original reading unit, the original reading unit includes the first to eighth aspects. The image reading apparatus according to any one of the above items is mounted, and image formation that cuts out an image in a document desired by an operator can be easily performed.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the operator can arbitrarily specify an area by touching the original surface while looking at the original, and can easily specify an area that matches the operator's intention. Since the document reading area is automatically specified by the designation, the operability and workability of area designation are improved. Furthermore, since it is possible to save energy by illuminating only the designated document reading area, the image can be read efficiently and at high speed.

  Further, according to the image forming apparatus equipped with the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to form an image by cutting out a part of an image in a document desired by an operator.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus provided with a document reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view of Embodiment 1 of a document reading apparatus according to the present invention. Explanatory diagram of the operating principle of the capacitive touch panel used in this embodiment The block diagram which shows the structure of the reading control system in this embodiment. The top view which shows the principal part of the operation / display panel part in this embodiment The figure which looked at the touch panel part in this embodiment from the upper surface A flowchart showing a basic procedure for setting a document reading area in the present embodiment. Explanatory drawing of lighting control of the LED array in this embodiment FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of Embodiment 2 of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of Embodiment 3 of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of Embodiment 4 of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention. Explanatory drawing about the sound generation means in this embodiment Explanatory drawing of the document placed on the touch panel unit in the present embodiment Explanatory drawing of the reading area for the document shown in FIG.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus provided with a document reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A document reading apparatus 2 is installed on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper feed cassette 3 and a known electrophotographic image forming unit 4. The image forming unit 4 is mainly composed of a drum-shaped photoconductor 5 and includes a charging unit 6, an exposure unit 7, a toner developing unit 8, a transfer unit 9, and the like around it.

  During image formation, sheets are fed and conveyed one by one by the sheet feeding roller 10 and the separating and conveying unit 11 from the sheet feeding cassette 3. The sheet is further conveyed to the registration roller 13 via the intermediate conveyance roller 12, and the leading edge of the toner image formed on the photosensitive member 5 with respect to the nip N between the photosensitive member 5 and the transfer unit 9 by the registration roller 13. The paper is fed at the same timing.

  The paper on which the image has been transferred by the transfer unit 9 is sent to the heat and pressure fixing unit 14 and subjected to image fixing, and then discharged to the external tray 16 by the paper discharge roller 15.

  The document reading device 2 includes a document table unit 20 provided on the image forming apparatus 1 and a document cover unit 21 provided rotatably on one side of the document table unit 20.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of Embodiment 1 of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention.

  The document table unit 20 of the document reading apparatus has a document control unit (to be described later) including an operation / display panel unit 22, a touch panel unit 23 as a contact position detection unit, a reading area determination unit, a control unit, and the like. 20 is built in.

  The document cover unit 21 is provided with a document surface reading window 24. The document cover unit 21 includes a reading unit composed of a CCD head, which will be described later, and a document surface illumination unit composed of an LED array.

  The touch panel unit 23 which is a contact position detecting means provided on the upper surface side of the document table unit 20 has a capacitance type structure in this example. The capacitive touch panel basically includes a conductive member provided on a glass plate, and detects finger contact positions by detecting currents generated at the four corners of the glass plate.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of operation of the capacitive touch panel. When the finger F touches the surface of the glass plate 25 where a uniform electric field is generated on the surface, the finger F that functions electrically as a capacitor is removed. As a result, an electric field changes on the surface of the glass plate 25, and weak currents are generated at the four corners of the glass plate 25. By calculating the ratio of each current, the position touched by the finger F can be detected.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reading control system in the present embodiment. Data is exchanged with the operation / display panel unit 22 mainly by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 26 which is a control means. Read area determination means 27 is provided for receiving position detection data of the touch panel unit 23 in which a plurality of fingers touched and calculating a contact area.

  Further, the CPU 26 outputs a control signal to the LED drive unit 29 that controls the lighting of the LED array 28, and illuminates the document surface by the LED array 28 as will be described later. Further, the CCD driving unit 30 is activated, and the original surface illuminated by the LED array 28 is read by the CCD head 31.

  The image data read by the CCD head 31 is data-converted and output to the exposure driving unit 32 of the exposure unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 1, and the exposure unit 7 exposes the photoconductor 5 corresponding to the image data, A latent image is formed on the photoreceptor 5. The latent image is developed as a toner image by the toner developing unit 8, and the toner image is transferred to a sheet as described above.

  Normal document reading according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, the document is placed on the touch panel unit 23 with the reading surface facing upward. When the operator closes the document cover 21 as it is and performs a copy star with the start switch of the operation / display panel unit 22, the entire document surface is displayed based on the automatically recognized paper size or the paper size set in the operation / display panel unit 22. Illumination scanning is performed by the LED array 28 and a known reading operation is performed by the CCD head 31.

  Next, a reading operation that specifies a document reading area, which is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the main part of the operation / display panel section in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 5, a reading area (area) designation button 35, a contact (setting) position confirmation button 36, a cancel (cancel) button 37, an area determination button 38, and a recognition lamp 39 are provided on the operation / display panel unit 22. Is provided.

  In FIG. 2, when an original is placed on the touch panel unit 23 with the reading surface facing upward and the operator presses the area designation button 35 of the operation / display panel unit 22, the area designation mode is entered. In this state, the operator touches the touch panel unit 23 with his / her finger through the document reading surface while looking at the document, and reading is started as a reading area.

  Operations relating to the area designation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a view of the touch panel unit 23 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above, and here, a case where a circular figure in a document is to be read will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a basic procedure for setting a document reading area in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 6, when the operator touches a point A on the document reading surface while looking at the document, the touch panel unit 23 recognizes the coordinates (Xa, Ya) of the point A from the origin of the touch panel unit 23 (step S1). When the coordinates are recognized, the recognition lamp 39 of the operation / display panel 22 blinks to indicate that the coordinates are recognized, and at the same time, the coordinates are displayed on the display unit 40 (in this example, X: 12.3 cm, Y: 10). 0.0 cm, step S2).

  If the position touched and instructed by the operator can be confirmed, the operator presses the position confirmation button 36 (step S3). The coordinate data is stored in the memory of the CPU 26 (step S4). However, when there is an erroneous detection of the position due to contact with the document set or the like, the operator presses the cancel button 37 after confirming the coordinates.

  After the contact position of the point A is determined, when the operator touches the point B (coordinates Xb, Yb) on the document surface, the operation / display panel 22 indicates that the touch panel unit 23 has recognized the point B as described above. Is displayed on the recognition lamp 39. If the touched position is correct, the operator presses the position confirmation button 36. The coordinate data is stored in the memory of the CPU 26 (steps S1 to S4).

  Then, the operator presses the region determination button 38 if the document designation region is a portion surrounded by a region having the points A and B as diagonal lines and is designated OK (step S5).

  When the area determination button 38 is pressed, the reading area determination unit 27 determines the area (dotted line portion in FIG. 4) having the points A and B as diagonal lines as the original reading area, and specifies the original reading area (step S6). ).

  Further, when the document reading area is set by a plurality of other contact points, each part operates in the same manner as described above, and the document reading area is specified by performing the necessary number of operations continuously.

  When the determination / identification is completed and the operator presses the copy start button on the operation / display panel unit 22, the CPU 36 as the control unit sends a drive output to each unit of the image forming unit 4 according to the determination result to perform the reading operation. Let it begin.

  The CPU 36 outputs a control signal to the LED drive unit 29 corresponding to the document reading area determined by the reading area determination unit 27 and turns on the LED array 28 to illuminate the document surface. Further, the CPU 36 activates the CCD driving unit 30 and causes the CCD head 31 to read the illuminated original surface. The CCD head 31 is driven and controlled in the sub-scanning direction so as to move at high speed to the vicinity of the document reading area.

  In the present embodiment, the LED array 28 serving as a document surface illuminating means is composed of white LEDs arranged in a line in the short side direction (main scanning direction) of the document reading direction, and is arranged in the main scanning direction (line direction). Only the LEDs necessary for reading the image data in the document reading area are controlled to be lit.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the width in the main scanning direction, which is the document reading area, is Xo, not all the LEDs in the main scanning width direction in the LED array 28 are lit, but sufficient to read the Xo width. Only the LED corresponding to the lighting width Xl is turned on.

  It is necessary to set in advance a lighting width (in this case, Xl) in which an illumination area that does not deteriorate the read image quality is obtained for the document reading area in the main scanning direction. Also, the illumination area (lighting timing) in the sub-scanning direction is set in the same manner as described above in consideration of acceleration / deceleration when the CCD head 31 is moved.

  The image data of the document reading area read as described above is stored as a file in a designated storage device, or is output as an image on a sheet by the image forming apparatus 1.

  As a touch panel which is a contact position detecting means used in the present embodiment, a well-known resistive film type or electrostatic system that forms a film on the document table surface can be used. Further, in the present embodiment, the contact position detecting means is provided on the reading back surface of the document, so that the reading optical characteristics are not affected. As described above, since the reading area can be designated directly from the document surface, the operator can easily set the image reading area.

  FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of Embodiment 2 of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention. In the following description, members corresponding to those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The second embodiment has a configuration in which a touch panel unit serving as a contact position detecting unit is disposed on the back side of the document placed on the document surface reading window 24.

  In the present embodiment, document reading means (LED array 28, CCD head 31, etc.) is provided on the document table 20, and the document surface to be read is set downward. A sheet-like touch panel unit 23 (hatched portion) is attached to one side of the document table unit 20 provided with the document surface reading window 24 so as to cover the touch panel unit 23 on the document back surface (the surface opposite to the reading target surface). Used.

  In this case, the touch panel unit 23 has a light-transmitting configuration, and the document is read in the same manner as described above by the touch panel unit 23 that covers the document surface to be read that can be seen through the touch panel unit 23 from the back side of the document. The reading area is specified and specified. After the area is designated, the document cover unit 21 is closed so as to cover the touch panel unit 23 and the document is read.

  FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of Embodiment 3 of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, document reading means (LED array 28, CCD head 31, etc.) is provided in the document table section 20, and the document table section 20 is provided with a document surface reading window 24 in which a touch panel section 23 is installed. Is a member having a function of simply pressing a document.

  In this embodiment, the document reading area is designated from the back side of the document. The procedure of the reading operation is the same as described above. The difference is that the document reading area is set from the back side of the document and reading is performed by the document surface reading window 24 provided with the touch panel unit 23.

  For this reason, the reading quality is relatively deteriorated due to the optical (light transmission) characteristics of the touch panel unit 23 using a film such as a resistance film type or a capacitance type. Therefore, as a configuration of the touch panel unit 23, it is preferable to use a configuration that does not require an electric field film and detects a position using vibration of the glass surface with sound waves or the like. In this case, by enabling filtering of sound wave detection, it is possible to discriminate between finger contact at the time of specifying a document reading region and other contacts (for example, simultaneous contact at a plurality of points at the time of document setting).

  FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of Embodiment 4 of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, document reading means (LED array 28, CCD head 31, etc.) is provided in the document cover portion 21 where the document surface reading window 24 is installed, and a sheet-like touch panel portion 23 is attached to one side of the document table portion 20. ing.

  In the present embodiment, a document is set on the document table 20 with the document surface to be read facing upward, the touch panel unit 23 is closed so as to cover the document, and the setting of the document reading area is set via the touch panel unit 23. Do as you did.

  After the area is designated, the touch panel unit 23 is rotated outward from the document and retracted, and the document surface reading window 24 is placed on the document table unit 20 and then reading is performed.

  At this time, by setting the document in accordance with the position designation of the document table unit 20, it is possible to prevent the designated area from greatly differing even when the document position is deviated from the area designation when the touch panel unit 23 is removed.

  Here, at the time of specifying a document reading area, the operator's line of sight is concentrated on the document, and in many cases, attention cannot be paid to the operation / display panel unit 22. For this reason, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, sounding means 41 such as a buzzer and a speaker is provided in the vicinity of the operation / display panel unit 22, and the detection / recognition and cancellation of the contact position and the reading area are determined. Along with the display on the operation / display panel unit 22 by the display panel, the operator O is notified by sound or voice.

  In addition, the notification recognition and operability of the operator can be improved by changing the timbre or voice each time the contact position is confirmed, canceled, or the area is confirmed.

  By the way, the timbre or voice emitted by the sound generation means 41 needs a certain volume so that the operator can recognize it. In that case, not only the operator but also the person in the vicinity can hear the voice of the notification notification, etc., and there is a possibility that it is recognized as noise for those who are doing other work.

  In order to prevent such inconvenience, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a sounding means (speaker) 41 having directivity is provided in the vicinity of the operation / display panel unit 22 so that only the operator O can hear it. A field (shaded area) is created, and a tone color or voice for notification notification is emitted only to the operator O.

  In this case, directivity can be obtained by radiating a modulated wave amplitude-modulated with sound into the air with a large amplitude that causes nonlinearity using ultrasonic waves as a carrier wave. A highly directional sound field is formed by the distortion caused by the non-linearity of the air in the process in which the modulated wave propagates through the air.

  Note that the capacitance method, which is a type of the touch panel unit 23, detects a contact position by measuring current values due to electric field changes at four corners of a panel made of a glass plate or the like generated by touching a finger. Even if the same contact pressure is applied due to the change, it may not be detected.

  Even in the same environment, the detection level may change depending on the operator (how to contact). For this reason, the touch pressure unit 23 is provided with a contact pressure adjusting unit so that the operator can control the detection sensitivity. For example, a sensitivity setting unit is provided in the operation / display panel unit 22 so that + is increased in sensitivity and − is low in sensitivity so that detection sensitivity suitable for the operator can be set.

  In the present embodiment, when the document reading area is determined as described above, the lighting control of the LED array 28 by the CPU 36 is performed as shown in FIG. This lighting control will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a document placed on the touch panel unit. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the reading area of the document shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 13, the document D includes a donut image K, an airplane image H, and the like, and the donut image K is designated from the document D in an area having two points, A and B, as diagonal lines. Suppose that an airplane image H is designated by a region surrounded by freehand.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 14, the LED array 28 in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged in the main scanning direction stands by at the left end of the document D in the drawing before starting the document illumination, It is assumed that illumination scanning is performed in the sub-scanning direction.

  As shown in FIG. 13, in the LED array 28, all the LEDs are in the off state from the start of scanning until before the designated point A (distance Ya) in the donut image K. When the designated point A is reached, the LED array 28 From the position, the LED corresponding to the distance Xa to the LED corresponding to the distance Xb are turned on. This lighting is continued until the designated point B (distance Yb). When the designated point B is passed, all LEDs are turned off.

  When the scanning is continued and the designated position (distance Y1) of the airplane image H is reached, the LED at the position corresponding to the area designated by freehand is lit up thereafter. When the scanning position of the LED array 28 reaches the distance Y2, the LED corresponding to the distance X1 to the LED corresponding to the distance X2 from the origin position of the LED array 28 is turned on. Then, the LEDs continue to be turned on while changing the lighting range of the LED array 28 according to the designated area up to the distance Y3, and all the LEDs are turned off when the distance Y3 is exceeded.

  A portion illuminated by the LED array 28 by the illumination scanning becomes a hatched portion shown in FIG. The CCD head 31 reads an image with respect to the inclined portion (illuminated portion).

  Note that the lighting region and the designated region are not necessarily the same. For this reason, it is necessary to adjust the lighting location (lighting area) according to the optical characteristics of the optical system in the CCD head 31 by looking at the reading result.

  The present invention is effective as a document reading device in an image forming apparatus having a document reading unit such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, but is also applied to a single document reading device such as a scanner.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Original reading apparatus 4 Original forming part 20 Original stand part 21 Original cover part 22 Operation / display panel part 23 Touch panel part 24 Original surface reading window 26 CPU
27 Reading area determination means 28 LED array 29 LED driving section 30 CCD driving section 31 CCD head 35 reading area designation button 36 contact position confirmation button 37 cancel button 38 area determination button 39 recognition lamp 40 display section 41 sounding means

JP 2007-53415 A JP-A-8-317192 JP 2008-177664 A

Claims (9)

A contact position detecting means provided on a document placing table for detecting a document surface position which is directly or indirectly touched by an operator while visually checking the document surface;
A reading area determination means for specifying a document reading area from a plurality of positions in contact with the operator detected by the contact position detection means;
Document surface illumination means comprising a plurality of light emitting elements capable of partially illuminating only the specified document reading area,
Document reading means for illuminating only the document reading area specified by the reading area determining means with the document surface illuminating means and reading only the document image in the document reading area;
An image reading apparatus comprising:   2. The document surface position touched by an operator can be detected in a state where the contact position detecting means is light transmissive and covers a document placed on the document placing table. Image reading apparatus.   2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact position detecting means is arranged on the reading back side of the document.   3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contact position detecting means is disposed on the reading surface side of the document.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection sensitivity of the contact position detection unit can be corrected according to an operating environment and a type of a read document.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document reading unit is capable of reading a plurality of document reading areas specified by contact with the operator by a single reading operation.   6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sound generation unit that notifies that the reading area determination unit has detected and recognized the position where the operator is in contact.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sounding unit has directivity so that the sounding unit emits the notification sound in a specific direction. An original reading unit and an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium using original information read by the original reading unit.
An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 1 mounted on the original reading unit.

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