JP2023163192A - Image reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

To accurately discriminate the front/back of read image data.SOLUTION: An image reading device includes: image reading means 70 that reads the image information of an original; and a front/back side determination section 74 that determines the front/rear side of the image data of the read original. The front/back side determination section 74 performs detection processing for first areas T, B in the image data, and when the first areas T, B cannot be detected, performs detection processing for second areas L, R on the image data on both sides of the original, and determines the front/back side of the original from the detection result.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an image reading device that reads an image on a document, and more specifically, a first image reading section that reads an image on one side of a document conveyed along a conveyance path, and a second image reading section that reads an image on the other side of the document conveyed along a conveyance path. The present invention relates to an image reading device including a reading section.

Generally, users who use postcards such as New Year's cards print or handwrite the recipient's address, sender's address, message, photo, etc. in the postcard format specified for government postcards, etc., and then send them.

In particular, users who receive New Year's cards often receive a large amount at the beginning of the year, making it difficult to organize and store them. There is a need to reduce storage space and improve the efficiency of sorting such large numbers of New Year's cards by converting them into electronic data through scanning. At this time, if the address side and vertical orientation of the postcards to be scanned are not aligned, the orientation of the images in the scan data will not be aligned, and the user will have to manually rotate or rearrange the image data after scanning. It takes time and effort. On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for determining the front and back sides of a set of multiple pages using predetermined characteristics and arranging the order.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-138377

The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 describes that the order of images is determined based on the presence or absence of a postal code frame or an area corresponding to a stamp in multiple pages of images, but it is determined that the postal code frame overlaps with printed or handwritten characters. If this is not possible, there is a risk that it may not be possible to accurately determine whether the image is front or back.

In view of the above, the image reading device according to the present invention includes:
an image reading means for reading image information of the document;
a front and back side determination unit that determines front and back sides of the image data read by the image reading means;
The front and back side determination unit performs a process of detecting a first area in the image data, and if the first area cannot be detected, detects a second area on the image data of both sides of the document. An image reading device that performs processing and determines the front and back sides of a document based on the detection results.

According to the image reading device of the present invention, it is possible to accurately determine the front and back sides of the image data of a read postcard, so when reading a large number of postcards, the postcards can be transferred to the image reading device without worrying about their orientation. It can be loaded and the operator's effort can be reduced.

1 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a document conveying device (image reading device) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of an image processing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a control flow diagram of a front and back side determination unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. An explanatory diagram of front and back side determination processing according to an embodiment of the present invention FIG. 3 is a control flow diagram of an image order changing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are examples for implementing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. The present invention should be modified or changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the device in which the present invention is used and various conditions without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[First embodiment]
First, a document conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a document conveying device (image reading device) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

<Device configuration>
The image reading device A is a device that transports one or more transport media S loaded on a mounting table 1 one by one through a path RT into the device, reads the images, and discharges the images onto a discharge tray 2 serving as a stacking member. It is. The conveyance medium S to be read is, for example, a sheet such as a postcard, OA paper, check, check, business card, cards, etc., and may be a thick sheet or a thin sheet. Examples of cards include an insurance card, driver's license, and credit card. The transport medium S also includes booklets such as passports. If the object is a booklet, a holder can be used. By accommodating a spread booklet in a transparent holder and placing it on the mounting table 1, the booklet is conveyed together with the holder, and its image can be read.

<Paper feed>
A first transport unit 10 is provided as a feeding mechanism that feeds the transport medium S along the route RT. In the case of the present embodiment, the first conveyance unit 10 includes a feed roller 11 and a separation roller 12 arranged opposite to the feed roller 11, and sequentially transfers the conveyed media S on the mounting table 1 one by one in the conveyance direction D1. transport. A driving force is transmitted to the feed roller 11 from a drive unit 3 such as a motor via a transmission unit 5, and the feed roller 11 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in the figure (the forward direction in which the conveyance medium S is conveyed along the path RT). The transmission unit 5 is, for example, an electromagnetic clutch, and connects and disconnects the driving force from the drive unit 3 to the feed roller 11.

<Drive section>
For example, in this embodiment, the transmission unit 5 that connects the drive unit 3 and the feed roller 11 is set in a state where driving force is transmitted in normal times, and when the conveyance medium S is reversely conveyed or stopped, the driving force is not transmitted. Cut off. When the transmission of the driving force is cut off by the transmission section 5, the feed roller 11 becomes in a state where it can freely rotate. Note that such a transmission section 5 may not be provided when the feed roller 11 is driven in only one direction.

<Separated structure>
A separation roller 12 arranged opposite to the feed roller 11 is a roller for separating the conveyed medium S one by one, and is pressed against the feed roller 11 with a constant pressure. In order to ensure this press-contact state, the separation roller 12 is provided so as to be swingable and is configured to be biased toward the feed roller 11. The separation roller 12 receives driving force from the drive unit 3 via the torque limiter 12a, and is rotationally driven in the direction of the solid arrow (the direction opposite to the forward direction of the feed roller 11).

Since the driving force transmission of the separation roller 12 is regulated by the torque limiter 12a, when it is in contact with the feed roller 11, it rotates in the direction of rotation with the feed roller 11 (in the direction of the broken line arrow). As a result, when a plurality of conveyed media S are conveyed to the pressure contact portion between the feed roller 11 and the separation roller 12, two or more of the conveyed media S except for one are blocked from being conveyed downstream. .

In this embodiment, the separation mechanism is configured by the separation roller 12 and the feed roller 11, but such a separation mechanism does not necessarily have to be provided. Any feeding mechanism may be used. Furthermore, when a separation mechanism is provided, instead of the separation roller 12, a separation pad that applies a frictional force to the conveyed medium S may be brought into pressure contact with the feed roller 11 to provide a similar separation effect. You can.

<Transport structure>
The second conveyance section 20 as a conveyance mechanism located on the downstream side of the first conveyance section 10 in the conveyance direction includes a drive roller 21 and a driven roller 22 that follows the drive roller 21. The conveyed medium S is conveyed to the downstream side thereof. A driving force is transmitted to the driving roller 21 from a driving unit 4 such as a motor, and the driving roller 21 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The driven roller 22 is pressed against the drive roller 21 with a constant pressure and rotates with the drive roller 21. The driven roller 22 may be biased against the drive roller 21 by a biasing unit (not shown) such as a spring.

The third conveyance section 30 located on the downstream side of the second conveyance section 20 in the conveyance direction includes a drive roller 31 and a driven roller 32 that follows the drive roller 31. The conveyed medium S is conveyed to the discharge tray 2. In other words, this third transport section 30 functions as a discharge mechanism.

A driving force is transmitted to the driving roller 31 from the driving unit 4 such as a motor, and the driving roller 31 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The driven roller 32 is pressed against the drive roller 31 with a constant pressure and rotates with the drive roller 31. The driven roller 32 may be biased against the drive roller 31 by a biasing unit (not shown) such as a spring.

The ejection tray 2 on which documents are stacked is pivotally supported via a first hinge 101 provided below the image reading device A so as to be rotatable relative to the image reading device A. Further, it is composed of a first ejection tray 2a on the first hinge 101 side, and a first extension tray 2b, a second extension tray 2c, and a third extension tray 2d connected to the distal end side of the first ejection tray 2a. The first extension tray 2b is supported so as to be slidable and stored relative to the first ejection tray 2a, and the second extension tray 2c is supported so as to be slidable and stored relative to the first extension tray 2b. The third extension tray 2d is supported so as to be able to slide and be stored in the second extension tray 2c.

<Image reading structure, control>
Here, in the image reading device A of the present embodiment, since the image reading unit 70 disposed between the second transport unit 20 and the third transport unit 30 reads the image, the second transport unit 20 and the third transport unit 30 3 transport unit 30 transports the transport medium S at a constant speed. By always setting the conveyance speed to be equal to or higher than the conveyance speed of the first conveyance unit 10, it is possible to reliably avoid a situation in which the subsequent conveyance medium S catches up with the preceding conveyance medium S. For example, in the present embodiment, the speed at which the transport medium S is transported by the second transport unit 20 and the third transport unit 30 is controlled to be faster than the transport speed of the transport medium S by the first transport unit 10. did.

Note that even if the transport speed of the transport medium S by the second transport unit 20 and the third transport unit 30 and the transport speed of the transport medium S by the first transport unit 10 are set to be the same, the drive unit 3 may not be controlled. It is also possible to form a minimum distance between the preceding conveying medium S and the succeeding conveying medium S by intermittently shifting the feeding start timing of the succeeding conveying medium S.

<Double feed detection>
A double feed detection sensor 40 disposed between the first conveyance section 10 and the second conveyance section 20 detects when conveyance media S such as paper come into close contact with each other due to static electricity or the like and pass through the first conveyance section 10 ( In other words, this is an example of a detection sensor (a sensor that detects the behavior and state of sheets) for detecting this (in the case of a double feeding state in which sheets are conveyed in an overlapping manner). Various types of double feed detection sensor 40 can be used, but in the case of this embodiment, it is an ultrasonic sensor, which is equipped with an ultrasonic transmitting section 41 and an ultrasonic receiving section 42, and is capable of detecting a conveyance medium such as paper. Double feeding is detected based on the principle that the amount of attenuation of the ultrasonic waves passing through the conveyance medium S is different depending on whether S is conveyed in duplicate or conveyed one by one.

<Registration sensor>
The medium detection sensor 50 disposed downstream of the double feed detection sensor 40 in the conveyance direction is connected to the conveyance path RT disposed upstream of the second conveyance section 20 and downstream of the first conveyance section 10. This is an example of an upstream detection sensor (a sensor that detects the behavior and state of the sheet), and is used to detect the position of the conveyance medium S conveyed by the first conveyance unit 10, specifically, to the detection position of the medium detection sensor 50. It is detected whether the end of the medium S has reached or passed. Various types of medium detection sensor 50 can be used, but in the case of this embodiment, it is an optical sensor, which is equipped with a light emitting section 51 and a light receiving section 52, and receives light when the conveyed medium S reaches or passes through it. The conveyance medium S is detected based on the principle that the intensity (amount of received light) changes.

In the case of the present embodiment, the above-mentioned procedure is performed so that the conveyance medium S reaches a position where the double feed can be detected by the double feed detection sensor 40 at the time when the leading edge of the conveyance medium S is detected by the medium detection sensor 50. The medium detection sensor 50 is provided near the double feed detection sensor 40 on the downstream side thereof. Note that the medium detection sensor 50 is not limited to the above-mentioned optical sensor, and for example, a sensor (such as an image sensor) capable of detecting the end of the conveyed medium S may be used, or a lever-shaped sensor that protrudes into the path RT may be used. It can also be a sensor. Alternatively, a plurality of sensors may be provided in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction to detect that the medium is traveling obliquely with respect to the transport path.

A medium detection sensor 60 different from the medium detection sensor 50 is arranged upstream of the image reading section 70. This is an example of a downstream detection sensor disposed downstream of the second conveyance section 20, and detects the position of the conveyance medium S conveyed by the second conveyance section 20. Various types of medium detection sensor 60 can be used, but in the case of the present embodiment, it is an optical sensor like the medium detection sensor 50, and includes a light emitting section 61 and a light receiving section 62, and detects the conveyance medium S. The conveyed medium S is detected based on the principle that the received light intensity (the amount of received light) changes depending on the arrival or passage of the medium. In the present embodiment, the medium detection sensors 50 and 60 are disposed on the upstream and downstream sides of the second conveyance section 20 in the conveyance direction, but only one of them may be used.

<CIS arrangement>
The image reading unit 70 located downstream of the medium detection sensor 60 is, for example, one that optically scans, converts it into an electrical signal, and reads it as image data, and includes a light source such as an LED, an image sensor, and a lens array. etc. The image reading section 70 is a contact image sensor (CIS) unit. Although the image reading section 70 is a CIS unit here, it may be a unit using a CCD as an image sensor, for example, and the type of image sensor is not limited. In the case of this embodiment, the image reading units 70 (hereinafter, synonymous with CIS) are arranged one on each side of the route RT (70a, 70b), and read the front and back sides of the conveyance medium S. However, a configuration may also be adopted in which one is disposed only on one side of the route RT and only one side of the conveyance medium S is read. Further, in the present embodiment, the image reading units 70 are arranged facing each other on both sides of the route RT, but they may be arranged at intervals in the direction of the route RT, for example.

<Explanation of block diagram>
The basic configuration of the present image reading apparatus will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control section of the image reading apparatus A.

The basic configuration of the image reading device A includes an image reading section (front) 70a and an image reading section (back) 70b as an example of the image reading section 70, an image control section 71, an image processing section 78, a control section 80, and a transport section 86. , and a detection sensor section 87. The image reading section (front) 70a and the image reading section (back) 70b turn on the light emitting elements at the timing instructed by the image control section 71 to scan one line. The image control section 71 performs processing such as A/D conversion and shading correction on the image signals output from the image reading section (front) 70a and the image reading section (back) 70b according to instructions from the control section 80, and processes the image signals output from the image reading section (front) 70a and the image reading section (back) 70b. It is sent to the buffer memory 72.

The buffer memory 72 has a capacity to temporarily store at least several lines of image data, and the image data sent from the image control section 71 is sent to the sending section 73 within the area of the buffer memory 72. is written to free space where there is no data to be sent to. In other words, the area where the image data sent to the sending unit 73 was written becomes a free area (free capacity) in which the image data newly output from the image control unit 71 is written.

The image control section 71 monitors the free space of the buffer memory 72, and when the free space of the buffer memory 72 falls below a predetermined value, it notifies the control section 80 to that effect. The sending unit 73 has a function of communicating with an external device 200 such as a host PC outside the image reading apparatus A, and sends image data in response to a request from the external device 200. The image data sent to the external device 200 is processed by the image processing unit 78 inside the external device 200, and then stored in the image data storage unit 79 using a storage device such as a hard disk drive. Settings such as the image storage destination can be input using operating means of the external device 200 such as the operating section 201 in a setting menu displayed on the display section 202. Further, transmission and reception between the external device 200 and the control section 80 is performed through the sending section 73.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details inside the image processing section 78. The image processing section 78 receives the image data transmitted from the sending section 73, and determines whether the received image data is front or back in an image front/back surface determination section 74, which will be described later. Based on the results of the image front and back side determining section 74, an image order changing section 75, which will be described later, determines the order of the image data. After the order of the image data is determined, the image data is stored in the image data storage unit 79 with the order changed.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 2, the control unit 80 is a control device including a CPU or the like that centrally controls the operation of the image reading apparatus A as a whole. The conveyance section 86 includes a plurality of drive sections, transmission sections, etc. shown in FIG. 1, and is driven and controlled by instructions from the control section 80. The detection sensor section 87 includes sensors such as the medium detection sensors 50 and 60 and the double feed detection sensor 40 shown in FIG. Based on the information from these sensors, the control unit 80 grasps the current state and position of the document.

Details of the control of the image front/back side determining unit 74 of this embodiment will be explained using the control flow of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

The image data of the postcard read by the image reading device A according to the embodiment of the present invention is sent to the image processing unit 78 of the external device 200 via the sending unit 73. Here, two image data obtained by reading both sides of one postcard will be described as image data 1 and image data 2.

The image front and back side determination unit 74 checks whether there is a frame for writing a postal code in a predetermined area in the image data 1 (S101). For example, the postal code frame can be determined by checking whether a pattern that matches the pattern information of a 5-digit or 7-digit postal code frame prepared in advance exists within a predetermined area in the image data. good. This allows the postal code frame to be detected. Detection of postal code frames can be realized using known techniques such as pattern matching.

Here, the predetermined area refers to the upper area T of the image data, which is the postal code frame printing area of a typical postcard, as shown in FIG. 5(a). If it is determined that there is a postal code frame in this upper region T (Y in S101), it is determined that the confirmed image (image data 1) is the front surface (S108). Here, if the image data is in the opposite direction as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 5(b), there is no postal code frame in the upper area T, so if the image data is rotated 180 degrees, Check a certain lower area B. If it is determined that there is a postal code frame in the lower area B (Y in S101), it is determined that the confirmed image (image data 1) is the front side (S108). Note that when checking the lower area B, the image data may not be rotated, and only the target area of the postal code frame detection process may be made to correspond to the lower area B, and if it is determined that there is a postal code frame. The image data may also be rotated.

If it is determined that there is no postal code frame (N in S101), the next image data 2, which is the opposite side of the postcard, is checked (S102). Similarly to S101, image data 2 is checked to see if there is a postal code frame (S103), and if it is determined that there is a postal code frame (Y in S103), it is determined that the confirmed image (image data 2) is the front side. Confirm (S108).

If it is determined in S103 that there is no postal code frame (N in S103), the process is changed from the determination based on the postal code frame to the determination based on the presence or absence of a stamp area (rate stamp side) (S104).

The stamp area may be determined, for example, by checking whether a pattern that matches a plurality of previously prepared shape pattern information exists within a predetermined area in the image data. Stamps come in a variety of designs, but by preparing multiple pieces of pattern data for matching, the stamp area can be reliably determined. Since the stamp area has a simple shape, it is difficult to determine it by checking only one side of the image data.

Therefore, predetermined areas on both sides of the image data are examined to improve the determination accuracy. Here, the predetermined area refers to the upper area L of the image data to which a typical postcard stamp is pasted, as shown in FIG. 5(a). At this time, the determination procedure specifically includes a stamp area in the upper area L and lower area R in image data 1 and in the upper area L and lower area R in image data 2 shown in FIG. 5(b). It is determined whether or not it is possible (S105).

If the result of the determination process is that the stamp area is on only one side (Y in S106), it is determined that the image in which it has been determined that there is a stamp area is the front side (S111). If it is determined that there is a stamp area on both sides or that there is no stamp area on both sides (N in S106), the front and back sides of the image data cannot be determined, so the user is notified of this (S107).

Furthermore, the image reading device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can rearrange the image data whose front and back surfaces have been determined by the image order rearranging unit 75 in a predetermined order and store the same. This process will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. The image data storage order (order replacement condition) is set in the image order replacement section 75 in advance. For example, if the image data is set to be stored sequentially in the order of front, back, front, back, etc. starting from the first page, the image order changing unit 75 sets the order information (S201).

The first read image data is checked (S202), and it is determined whether it matches the condition set for the storage order of the image data (S203).

As a result of the determination, if the conditions match (Y in S203), the image data is saved (S205), and the next image data is confirmed (S206).

If the conditions do not match (N in S203), the next image data is checked (S204), and it is determined whether it matches the condition set as the order change condition (S208). If the conditions match (Y in S208), the order of the previous image data is changed and both image data are saved (S211). If the conditions do not match (N at S208), it is determined that the image data is unexpected, and the user is notified (S210).

Further, if the image data match in S103 and the image data is saved in S205, the next image data is checked (S206) and it is determined whether it matches the condition set as the order replacement condition ( S207).

If the conditions match (Y in S207), the image data is saved (S209). If the conditions do not match (N in S207), it is determined that the image data is unexpected, and the user is notified (S210).

In S212, it is confirmed whether the image data processed in the previous series of steps is the final image data, and if it is not the final image data (N in S212), the next image data is confirmed (S213). ). If it is the final image data (Y in S212), the image data replacement and data storage processing are completed (S214).

By performing the processing described above, image data can be efficiently saved with less effort on the part of the operator.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, in S105 of the flow described in FIG. Privately made postcards pasted on postcards may also be eligible. In this case, since there is a jagged perforation on the edge of the stamp, it may be determined that the area is a stamp area if a pattern corresponding to the perforation is detected in the image data.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which, when the front and back sides of image data cannot be determined by detecting a postal code, the front and back sides are determined using a stamp area. The present invention is not limited to this, and instead of the stamp area, other characteristic areas preprinted on the postcard may be used. For example, the front and back sides may be determined based on the lottery number printed at the bottom of a "New Year's postcard" or a specific character string such as "New Year's card."

In this embodiment, the image processing section and the image data storage section are provided outside the image reading device, but they may be provided inside the image reading device.

Furthermore, the image data read in this embodiment may be applied not only to postcards such as New Year's cards, but also to message cards, Christmas cards, and the like.

A Image reading device S Transport medium 1 Placing table 2 Ejection trays 3, 4 Drive section 5 Transmission section 11 Feed roller 12 Separation rollers 21, 31 Drive rollers 22, 22 Driven roller 40 Double feed detection sensor 50, 60 Medium detection sensor 70, 70a, 70b Image reading section 71 Image control section 72 Buffer memory 73 Sending section 74 Image front/back side determining section 75 Image order switching section 76 Image orientation determining section 77 Image orientation switching section 78 Image processing section 79 Image data storage section 80 Control section 81 CPU
82 Storage section 83 Operation section 84 Communication section 85 Interface section 86 Actuator 87 Sensor 201 Operation section 202 Display section

Claims (5)

an image reading means for reading image information of the document;
a front and back side determination unit that determines front and back sides of the image data read by the image reading means;
Equipped with
The front and back side determination unit performs a process of detecting a first area in the image data, and if the first area cannot be detected, performs a process of detecting a second area on the image data of both sides of the document. , an image reading device that determines the front and back sides of a document based on the detection results. In the first area detection process, a first area is detected in a predetermined area of image data on the first side of the original, and if there is no first area, the image on the second side of the original is detected. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device performs similar detection on data. In the second area detection process, if the second area is detected only on one side as a result of detecting the second area of image data on both sides of the document, the side having the second area is determined to be the front side. The image reading device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In the second area detection process, as a result of detecting the second area of image data on both sides of the document, if the second area is detected on both sides or the second area is not detected, an operation to that effect is performed. The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image reading device notifies a person. an image order changing unit that changes the images into a predetermined order based on the determination result of the front and back side determining unit;
5. The image reading device according to claim 1, further comprising an image data storage unit that stores image data in the order changed by the image order changing unit.

Images