JP2018174365A - Image input device and image input method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate air to be sucked from an air hole of a document table by a simple method and to keep the cost related to wrinkle reduction low.SOLUTION: An image input device 100 that reads a document P placed on a document placement surface 2 by shooting includes a suction hole 1 formed in the document placing surface 2 and a suction bag 4 in which the internal space 3 communicates with the suction hole 1, and the suction bag 4 is formed to be elastically deformable so as to store a predetermined amount of air in the internal space 3, and the suction bag 4 is provided with a check valve 6 for preventing the inflow of air into the internal space 3 in a state in which the surface is pressed from the outside and elastically deformed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image input apparatus and an image input method that can be used in a financial institution such as a bank.

As a device for indirectly reading a document on a table, a stand type scanner device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.
In this patent document 1, a scanner head disposed above a document table on which a document is placed, an image sensor that is disposed in the scanner head and converts an optical image of a subject into an electrical signal, And a lens group that forms an optical image on the imaging surface of the imaging device.

By the way, in the stand-type scanner device disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a case where a document containing a non-straight wrinkle is placed on the document table.
For example, at a financial institution's window, a slipped paper that is held in the palm of the customer's own hand may be submitted. Such a form has irregularities due to wrinkles, and a problem has occurred when the photographed image is shaded or distorted due to the unevenness.

And in order to solve such a malfunction, the non-contact scanner shown by patent document 2 is provided.
This non-contact scanner operates an air hole formed on the surface of the document table, an air suction unit that sucks air from the air hole, and operates the air suction unit when a document is placed on the surface of the document table. And control means for bringing the document into close contact with the surface of the document table.

JP 2010-109784 A JP 2009-206901 A

  However, in the non-contact scanner shown in Patent Document 2, the air sucked from the air hole of the document table is generated by an electric suction pump. Due to the presence of such a suction pump, the apparatus becomes large and the number of parts increases. There is a problem of increasing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and is capable of generating air to be sucked from the air hole of the platen by a simple method, and image input capable of keeping the cost for stretching the sheet low. An apparatus and an image input method are provided.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input device for reading a document placed on a document placement surface by photographing, and a suction hole formed in the document placement surface and an internal space communicating with the suction hole. The suction bag is elastically deformable in a steady state having a space for storing a predetermined amount of air therein, and the suction bag receives an external force. A check valve is provided for restricting the inflow of air from the outside to the space when the space is smaller than the steady state by elastic deformation.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input method for reading a document placed on a document placement surface by photographing, a step of forming a suction hole in the document placement surface, and a predetermined amount of air inside. A step of communicating a stored suction bag that is elastically deformable in a steady state with the suction hole; And stopping the application of external force to the suction bag, thereby elastically restoring the suction bag, thereby sucking external air through the suction hole of the document placement surface, and the document on the document placement surface And a step of photographing a document on the document placement surface in this state.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of the configuration related to the heel stretching with a simple configuration that does not use a suction pump.

1 is a perspective view showing an image input apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the suction bag of FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure which concerns on the suction bag of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the image input device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the suction bag of FIG.

The minimum configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2A to 2C.
The image input apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a suction bag 4 including a document placement surface 2 in which a suction hole 1 is formed, and an internal space 3 communicating with the suction hole 1.
An image input unit 10 having an image sensor (not shown) for reading an image of the document is provided above the document placement surface 2. In this image sensor, a document image on the document placement surface 2 is read through a visual field region R formed on the document placement surface 2.

  In this example, an example in which the suction hole 1 is formed in the sheet material 5 to be the suction bag 4 is shown. However, the suction hole 1 is formed in the hard placement plate of the document placement table, A sheet material 5 serving as a suction bag 4 may be installed so as to have an internal space 3 between the lower surface of the document table.

The suction bag 4 shown in FIG. 1 has an internal space 3 surrounded by a sheet material 5, and a document placement surface 2 on which a document P is placed is formed on the upper surface.
Further, the sheet material 5 of the suction bag 4 has a shape in which a predetermined amount of air is stored in the internal space 3 in a steady state (in a state where it is not deformed by an external force), and is formed of an elastically deformable material.
In addition, the suction bag 4 is elastically deformed by receiving an external force such as pressing the suction bag 4, so that the internal space 3 becomes smaller than the steady state from the outside to the internal space 3. A check valve 6 is provided for restricting the inflow of air (in the process of elastic deformation in which the internal space 3 becomes smaller than the steady state, the air in the internal space 3 is discharged out of the bag).

  In the image input device 100 described above, when the surface of the suction bag 4 is pressed from the outside by an operator, for example, as shown by arrows (A) in FIGS. Through the check valve 6 installed in the suction bag 4 (through the check valve 6 in the open state), the air in the suction bag 4 is discharged to the outside (discharged as shown by the arrow a), and the suction bag 4 shrinks.

After that, as shown in FIG. 2C, when the operator stops pressing the suction bag 4, the air in the suction bag 4 is not discharged to the outside through the check valve 6, and the check valve 6 is automatically closed, and at the same time, due to the elastic restoring force of the suction bag 4, the suction bag 4 expands (indicated by an arrow (b)), and outside air is sucked into the suction bag 4 (arrow) (suctioned as shown by b).
External air sucked into the suction bag 4 is introduced through the suction hole 1 formed in the document placing surface 2 when the check valve 6 is in a closed state.

As a result, the document P placed on the document placement surface 2 is in close contact with the suction hole 1 of the document placement surface 2 into which external air is sucked, and there is no wrinkle or float on the document placement surface 2. It will be fixed in the state. Then, the image input unit 10 photographs the original P that is attracted to the original placement surface 2 from above.
That is, in the image input device 100 of the present invention, the suction hole 1 formed on the document placement surface 2 and the inner space 3 are formed so as to be elastically deformable so as to store a predetermined amount of air, and the inner space 3 is sucked. With a simple configuration having the suction bag 4 communicated with the hole 1, it is possible to perform air suction from the suction hole 1 of the document placing surface 2, and it is possible to reduce the cost of the apparatus for stretching the folds. .

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the image input apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a suction bag 14 including a document placement surface 12 in which a plurality of suction holes 11 are formed in a matrix shape and an internal space 13 communicated with the suction holes 11 is provided. Have.
In the first embodiment, as in FIG. 1, an example in which the suction hole 11 is formed in the sheet material 15 that becomes the suction bag 14 is shown, but the suction hole 11 is a hard material that serves as a document placement table. A sheet material 15 that is formed in the placement plate and serves as the suction bag 14 may be provided so as to have an internal space 13 between the lower surface of the document placement table.

An image input unit 20 for reading an image of the document P is provided above the document placement surface 12 as shown in FIG.
The image input unit 20 is installed on a stand-type arm 21, and an image sensor is built in the tip of the arm 21.
In this image sensor, a document image on the document placement surface 12 is read through a visual field region R formed on the document placement surface 12.

  The suction bag 14 according to the first embodiment has an internal space 13 surrounded by a sheet material 15, on which an original placement surface 12 on which an original P is placed is formed. The sheet material 15 of the suction bag 14 is made of a material that can be elastically deformed so as to store a predetermined amount of air in the internal space 13.

Furthermore, the suction bag 14 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of placement areas 12A to 12C (first placement area 12A, second placement area) partitioned by the document placement surface 12 as shown in detail in FIG. There are suction bags 14A to 14C corresponding to the placement area 12B and the third placement area 12C).
The first placement area 12A is a quadrangular area that includes a reference point L for document alignment at the corner, and is provided on the suction bag 14A.
The second placement region 12B is an L-shaped region formed in the periphery of the first region located on the side opposite to the reference point L, and is provided on the suction bag 14B.
The third placement region 12C is an L-shaped region formed in the periphery of the second region located on the side opposite to the reference point L, and is provided on the suction bag 14C.

The first placement area 12A reads a relatively small document P, the first and second placement areas 12A and 12B read a medium size document P, and the first to first placement areas 12A and 12B. In the third placement areas 12A to 12C, a relatively large document P is read.
When reading the document, the document P is placed on the document placement surface 12 with the corners aligned with the reference point L regardless of the size.
In this example, the second and third placement regions 12B and 12C are provided outside the first placement region 12A. However, a larger number of suction bags are provided to divide the placement region. Also good.

Further, the suction bags 14 (14A to 14C) corresponding to the placement areas 12A to 12C of the document placement surface 12 are opened when the pressure of the internal air 13 becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure by being pressed from the outside. Thus, a check valve 16 for discharging the air in the internal space 13 to the outside of the bag is provided.
The check valve 16 includes three first to third check valves 16A to 16C corresponding to the suction bags 14 (14A to 14C).
Further, the check valves 16A and 16B and the suction bags 14A and 14B located away from the check valves 16A and 16B are connected by air circulation pipes 17 (17A and 17B), respectively.

In the image input device 101 described above, when the surface of the suction bag 14 is pressed from the outside by an operator, for example, through the check valve 16 installed in the suction bag 14 (the check state in the open state). Through the valve 16), the air in the suction bag 14 is discharged to the outside (discharged as indicated by an arrow a), and the suction bag 14 is reduced.
At this time, since the pressing location of the suction bag 14 (14A to 14C) differs depending on the size of the document P placed on the placement areas 12A to 12C of the document placement surface 12, the placement that has been pressed. Air is discharged only from the check valves 16 (16A to 16C) connected to the regions 12A to 12C.

Specifically, when a small-size document P is placed on the placement area 12A of the document placement surface 12 and then the placement area 12A is pressed by the operator, only in the suction bag 14A. The air is discharged to the outside through the check valve 16A (discharged as indicated by arrow a), and the suction bag 14A is reduced.
Further, when the placement area 12A, 12B is pressed by the operator after the medium size document P is placed on the placement areas 12A and 12B of the document placement surface 12, the suction bags 14A, The air in 14B is discharged to the outside through the check valves 16A and 16B (discharged as indicated by arrow a), and the suction bags 14A and 14B are reduced.
Further, when the placement area 12A to 12C is pressed by the operator after the large-size document P is placed on the placement areas 12A to 12C of the document placement surface 12, the suction bags 14A to 14A. The air in 14C is discharged to the outside through the check valves 16A to 16C (discharged as indicated by arrow a), and the suction bags 14A to 14C are reduced.

Thereafter, when the operator stops pressing the suction bag 14, the air in the suction bag 14 is not discharged to the outside through the check valve 16, and the check valve 16 automatically closes. Due to the elastic restoring force of the suction bag 14, the suction bag 14 swells and external air is sucked into the suction bag 14 (suctioned as indicated by an arrow b).
External air sucked into the suction bag 14 is introduced through the suction hole 11 formed in the document placement surface 12 when the check valve 16 is in a closed state.

As a result, the document P placed on the document placement surface 12 is in close contact with the suction hole 11 of the document placement surface 12 into which external air is sucked, and there is no wrinkle or float on the document placement surface 12. It will be fixed in the state.
That is, in the image input apparatus 101 of the present invention, the suction hole 11 formed on the document placement surface 12 and the inner space 13 are formed so as to be elastically deformable so as to store a predetermined amount of air, and the inner space 13 is sucked. With a simple configuration having the suction bag 14 communicated with the hole 11, air suction from the suction hole 11 of the document placement surface 12 can be performed. be able to.
Further, in the present embodiment, the suction bag 14 (14A to 14C) can be selectively used according to the size of the document P. Therefore, useless operation is suppressed, and as a result, the document is placed on the document placement surface 12. It is possible to efficiently prevent the document P placed thereon from being curled / lifted.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The image input device 102 shown in the second embodiment differs from the image input device 101 shown in the first embodiment in the configuration relating to the suction bag 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, the suction bag 30 is disposed outside the document placing table 40 having the document placing surface 40 </ b> A, and is formed of an elastically deformable material for storing a predetermined amount of air in the internal space 31. Therefore, the internal space 31 can be reduced by the pressing force applied by the operator.
A hard placement plate 41 is used as the document placement table 40 used here, and a plurality of suctions are provided on the placement plate 41 so as to form a matrix like the suction holes 11 of the first embodiment. A hole 42 is disposed.
Between the plurality of suction holes 42 and the internal space 31 of the suction bag 30, an air circulation pipe 32 serving as an air circulation path is installed.

The suction bag 30 is provided with a pair of check valves 33 and 34 as shown in FIG.
When the check valve 33 is pressed from the outside and the pressure of the internal air 31 becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure, the check valve 33 opens and discharges the air in the internal space 31 out of the bag.
The check valve 34 is provided in the middle of the air circulation pipe 32 that communicates with the suction hole 42, and after the suction bag 30 is pressed, the suction bag 30 bulges due to the elastic restoring force, and the internal space 31. When the pressure becomes negative, the air is opened and air is sucked through the suction hole 42.

The operation of the image input apparatus 102 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as shown by an arrow (A), when the surface of the suction bag 30 is pressed from the outside by an operator's hand, for example, the suction bag 30 is opened by pressing as shown by an arrow a. Through the check valve 33, the air in the internal space 31 is discharged to the outside and the suction bag 30 is reduced (see FIGS. 6A to 6B).
At that time, in the suction bag 30, since the pressure on the inner space 31 side is high, the check valve 34 in the middle of the air circulation pipe 32 leading to the suction hole 42 is closed.

After that, when the operator stops pressing the suction bag 30, the air in the suction bag 30 is not discharged to the outside through the check valve 33, and the check valve 33 is automatically closed. The suction bag 30 expands due to the elastic restoring force of the suction bag 30 (see FIGS. 6B to 6C).
Then, due to the swelling of the suction bag 30 due to the elastic restoring force, the pressure in the internal space 31 becomes negative, and the check valve 34 in the middle of the air circulation pipe 32 leading to the suction hole 42 is opened.
That is, when the check valve 33 is closed and the check valve 34 is opened, the outside air enters the suction bag 30 through the suction hole 42 formed in the document placement surface 40A as indicated by the arrow c. Will be introduced (see FIGS. 6C to 6D).

As a result, the document placed on the document placement surface 40A is in close contact with the suction hole 42 of the document placement surface 40A into which the external air is sucked, and there is no wrinkle or floating on the document placement surface 40A. It is fixed with.
In other words, in the image input apparatus 102 of the present embodiment, the suction hole 42 formed in the document table 40 and the inner space 31 are formed so as to be elastically deformable so as to store a predetermined amount of air, and the inner space 31 is sucked. With a simple configuration including the suction bag 30 communicated with the hole 42, air suction from the suction hole 42 of the document table 40 can be performed, so that it is possible to reduce the cost of the apparatus for stretching the folds.

  In the second embodiment, the check valve 34 is provided in the middle of the air circulation pipe 32 communicating with the suction hole 42, but may be omitted as appropriate.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the concrete structure is not restricted to this embodiment, The design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included.

  The present invention relates to an image input apparatus and an image input method that can be used in a financial institution such as a bank.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Suction hole 2 Original placement surface 3 Internal space 4 Suction bag 5 Sheet material 6 Check valve 10 Image input part 11 Suction hole 12 Original placement surface 12A Placement area 12B Placement area 12C Placement area 13 Internal space 14 ( 14A to 14C) Suction bag 15 Sheet material 16 (16A to 16C) Check valve 20 Image input unit 30 Suction bag 31 Internal space 33 Check valve 40 Document placement table 40A Document placement surface 41 Placement plate 42 Suction hole 100 Image Input device 101 Image input device 101 Image input device P Document R Field of view

Claims (9)

An image input device that reads a document placed on a document placement surface by photographing,
A suction hole formed in the document placement surface;
A suction bag having an internal space communicating with the suction hole,
The suction bag is formed by being elastically deformable in a steady state having a space for storing a predetermined amount of air therein,
The suction bag is provided with a check valve that restricts inflow of air from the outside to the space when the suction bag is elastically deformed by an external force and the space is smaller than the steady state. An image input device.   The image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of suction holes are provided on the document placement surface and arranged in a matrix when viewed in plan.   3. The suction bag according to claim 1, wherein the suction bag is disposed at a lower portion of the document placement surface, and an internal space is reduced by an external force when placing the document on the document placement surface. The image input device according to item 1.   The image input device according to claim 3, wherein the document placement surface is divided into a plurality of placement areas, and the suction bag is installed corresponding to each placement area.   The plurality of placement areas include a first area that includes a reference point for document alignment at a corner, and a second area that is formed in the periphery of the first area that is located on the opposite side of the reference point. The image input device according to claim 4, further comprising:   The image input apparatus according to claim 5, wherein one or more placement areas are further provided in the periphery of the second area located on the opposite side of the reference point.   3. The suction bag according to claim 1, wherein the suction bag is disposed outside a placement table having the document placement surface, and the internal space is reduced by a pressing force applied by an operator. The image input device described in 1.   The image input device according to claim 7, wherein an air circulation pipe for circulating air is connected between the suction bag and the suction hole of the document placement surface. An image input method for reading a document placed on a document placement surface by photographing,
Forming a suction hole in the document placement surface;
A step of communicating a suction bag elastically deformable in a steady state in which a predetermined amount of air is stored in the suction hole;
Discharging the air in the suction bag while elastically deforming it by applying an external force to the suction bag to reduce the suction bag;
By stopping the application of external force to the suction bag, the suction bag is elastically restored, whereby external air is sucked through the suction holes of the document placement surface, and the document is brought into close contact with the document placement surface. And an image input method comprising: photographing a document on the document placement surface in this state.

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