JP2786032B2 - Double-sided scanning image scanner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inexpensive and compact double-sided reading image scanner capable of reading images from both sides of a document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional double-sided image scanners are:
Two optical reading units, one for reading the front side of the document and the other for reading the back side of the document, are provided above and below the document feed path, and the front and back images are read by the respective optical reading units during the feeding of the document. Most of them are of the mobile type, and the one that is also used as the fixed original type is common.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of an example of such a conventional double-sided reading image scanner. In FIG. 6 , reference numeral 1 denotes an original loaded on a hopper. Reference numeral 2 denotes a pick roller that pulls out originals one by one to a feeding path. Reference numerals 3 and 4 denote feeding rollers. Reference numeral 5 denotes a backing member, and reference numeral 6 denotes a backing roller, each of which has a function of pressing the original at the reading position of the front surface and the back surface of the original. Reference numeral 7 denotes a discharge roller. Reference numerals 8 and 9 denote optical reading units for the front side and the back side, respectively, which are composed of a lamp for illuminating the original, an optical system including a mirror and a lens, and a CCD as an image pickup device. 10
Reference numeral denotes a platen glass used when reading a fixed original.

The front optical reading unit 8 is movable, and is stopped at the position shown in the figure when reading a moving original.
Is moved to the right (not shown).

When double-sided reading is performed at the time of reading of the original moving type, the original 1 is pulled out by the pick roller 2 and fed by the feeding rollers 3 and 4. During feeding, first, an image on the front surface (lower surface) of the document is read by the front optical reading unit 8, and subsequently, an image on the back surface (upper surface) of the document is read by the back optical reading unit 9. Image data obtained from each of the optical reading units 8 and 9 is stored in a buffer memory (not shown) and processed. Thereafter, the document is discharged by a discharge roller 7 to a left stacker (not shown).

The conventional example shown in FIG. 6 has a simple original feeding path and simple feeding control, but requires two optical reading units and a buffer memory for the back side. Also, the image on the back side of the original is
If the image is upside down, the scanned image
Since the orientation is irregular, 180 ° turn the image on one surface
It is necessary to perform a process of inverting.

[0007]

The conventional original moving type double-sided reading image scanner has a problem that it requires two optical reading units and a buffer memory for the back side, which is expensive. Also, the original for the image on the original surface
In some cases, the upper and lower directions of the image on the back face are restricted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and compact duplex image scanner having a single optical reading unit.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a document reversing mechanism or a folding mechanism or a reversing mechanism of an optical reading unit is provided in a single-layer document feeding path. The back side is made readable. In addition, the top and bottom of each image
Whatever the relationship of the orientation of the
This makes it possible to read the data.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the principle of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an original, 8 is an optical reading unit, 1
Reference numerals 1 to 13 are a document reversing mechanism, 14 is a rotatable optical reading unit, and 15 is a document folding mechanism.

In the duplex image scanner according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the reversing mechanisms 11 and 12 are provided on both sides of the reading position of the optical reading unit 8, that is, on the original feeding side and the original discharging side, respectively. It operates in two operation modes (a) and (b). In the operation mode shown in FIG. 1A, the original 1 is conveyed along the path. The front side of the original is read when the original is conveyed on the path, and then the original is reversed by the reversing mechanism 12 and the original is fed back on the path. The original surface is read during this conveyance. Thereafter, the original is again inverted by the inverting mechanism 11 and discharged through the path. The reading of the front side and the back side of the document are both performed from the top of the document. These series of controls are performed by a reading control unit (not shown).

In the operation mode shown in FIG.
Only used. The original is read from the top of the original by a path, and the original is fed back along the same path as the path. Next, the document is reversed by the reversing mechanism 11 and transported in the forward direction along the path.
At that time, control is performed so that the back side of the document is read and discharged.
In this path, since the front and rear of the document are reversed, the back of the document is read from the tail of the document.

[0013]

[Action] <br/> Oite in all operating modes of FIG. 1 (a) and (b) also, the reading of the original surface and the back surface of the image is performed by using a single optical reading unit, Since these readings are performed sequentially, only one buffer memory is required. But sub for the back surface is shown in FIG. 1 (b)
The main scanning direction is reversed with.

FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) correspond to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) .
4A and 4B show the main and sub scanning directions of the front side and the back side of the original in each of FIGS. The front and back surfaces of the document are shown upside down.

In FIG. 2A, the main and sub scanning directions of the front and back surfaces are the same, and when the images A and B of the front and back surfaces are aligned as shown in FIG. Image data in the correct direction can be obtained.

[0016] In the FIG. 2 (b), the positive in the document since the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction on the rear surface reversing both the image B of the rear surface as shown in FIG. 3 (b) has become inverted Shii read Ru is carried out.

[0017]

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the double-sided reading image scanner according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). In the figure, 1 is a document, 2 is a pick roller, 7 is a discharge roller, 8 is an optical reading unit, 10 is platen glass,
16 and 16 'are reversing rollers, and 17 is a reading control unit.

The original 1 is fed one by one by a pick roller 2, inverted by reversing rollers 16 and 16 ′, and discharged by a discharge roller 7. Read control unit 1
7 is drive control of each roller via a motor and a clutch,
It performs movement control and reading control of the optical reading unit.

The reading control unit 17 determines whether the orientation of the image on the front side and the back side of the original is as shown in FIG.
Execute the operation modes (a) and (b) separately. FIG. 5 shows a control flow. The operation of the flow in FIG. 5 will be described according to the illustrated steps (1) to (11).

(1) The pick roller 2 pulls out the document 1 and feeds it to the reading position. (2) It is determined whether the orientation of the image on the front and back of the document is the same or reversed (according to the instruction). If they match, execute (3). If they are reversed, execute (8).

(3) The front side of the document is read (the operation mode shown in FIG. 1A is started). (4) The document is conveyed to the reversing roller 16 'on the discharge side and reversed. (5) Scan the back side of the original that is being fed back.

(6) The document is conveyed to the reversing roller 16 on the paper feeding side and reversed. (7) The original is discharged by the discharge roller 7 (the operation mode in FIG. 1A ends). (8) Scan the front side of the document (start the operation mode in FIG. 1 (b)).

(9) The document is moved backward to the reversing roller 16 on the paper feeding side and reversed. (10) The original is fed to the reading position and the back side is read. (11) The document is discharged by the discharge roller 7 (the operation mode of FIG. 1B ends).

[0024]

According to the present invention, one optical reading unit is provided.
Inexpensive double-sided scanning image scanner is realized because it can be paired
Can be done, and the top and bottom images are upside down
Even if it is, just switch the operation mode to align it in the correct direction
Can be read. Also, since the feed path is a single layer,
The advantage is that it can be made thin, has a simple structure, and is easy to maintain.
is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the orientation of images on the front and back sides of a document.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a duplex image scanner according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a configuration of a conventional double-sided image scanner.
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Original 8,14 Optical reading unit 11,12,13 Original reversing mechanism 15 Folding mechanism

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-58-134575 (JP, A) JP-A-61-105168 (JP, A) JP-A-59-99867 (JP, A) 24764 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/04 B65H 15/00 B65H 85/00 G03G 15/00 107

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image forming apparatus is provided between an original feeding side and an original discharging side.
The single-layer document feed path and the single-layer document feed path.
An optical reading unit provided; a first document reversing mechanism provided on a document feeding side at a reading position of the optical reading unit; and a second document reversing mechanism provided on a document discharging side at a reading position of the optical reading unit. and a document reversing mechanism further upon reading of the two-sided document, the document feeding to the optical reading unit by the original feeding path to perform the reading of the original surface, then sent to the second document reversing mechanism, The original is inverted and sent back to the first original inverting mechanism on the original feeding path. At this time, the back side of the original is read by the optical reading unit, and then the original is inverted again by the first original inverting mechanism. the feed to the original feeding path Te, the first and the double-sided reading control function to perform the discharge from the second document reversing mechanism side, the original
Feeds the manuscript to the optical reading unit and reads the front side of the manuscript
The document is fed back to the first document reversing mechanism.
Flip the original and send it to the optical reading unit again.
The back side of the original is read, and the second original reversing mechanism side
And a second double-sided reading control function for discharging from the printer.
A double-sided reading image scanner , which is selectively activated by a scanner.