JP2888137B2 - Image input device and image recording device using the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input apparatus and an image recording apparatus using the same, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus of a laser type recording apparatus such as a copying machine and an image input apparatus used therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image input apparatus (scanner section) in an electrophotographic recording apparatus such as a copying machine will be described. The scanner unit, as shown in FIG.
A light source 37 for irradiating the original, an imaging lens 38 for imaging reflected light from the original, and a linear type C for converting the reflected light condensed by the imaging lens 38 into an electric signal in one dimension.
A CD sensor 39 and a controller 4 for controlling the linear CCD sensor 39 to convert electric signals into image data
0 and a buffer memory 41 for temporarily storing the image data.

In the operation, first, the paper 36 to be copied is sequentially fed by a mechanical mechanism. Next, the original 36 is
Is irradiated. An image formed by passing the image through an imaging lens 38 is scanned by a linear CCD sensor 39 line by line. Further, the controller 40 includes the linear CCD
By controlling the sensor 39, data for each line is stored in the buffer memory 41. The data stored in the buffer memory 41 is sent to the printing unit of the recording unit via the video interface of the recording unit and printed.

[0004]

The scanner section in such a copying technique is large in size because the light source is constituted by a fluorescent lamp or the like, and the whole apparatus becomes large because an image forming lens is used. There was an inconvenience.

Furthermore, since a linear type CCD sensor is used, a mechanism for running the copy sheet is required, and there is a disadvantage that the entire apparatus becomes large. In addition, since this mechanism operates and scans an image line by line and accumulates data for each line in the buffer memory, a considerable time is required. There was an inconvenience of not being able to hope for it.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image input apparatus capable of improving the disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular, capable of being downsized and operating at high speed, and an image recording apparatus using the same. Aim.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source unit for irradiating a document set on a document setting unit, and a CCD for converting light reflected from the document into an electric signal.
A sensor and a CCD controller for controlling the CCD sensor to generate image data from electric signals are provided. Moreover, with the document installed portion, and the glass substrate, and a plurality of micro-lenses over the entire surface is formed on the glass substrate, CC
The D sensor is an area type two-dimensional CDD sensor,
Further, the light source unit is disposed between the plurality of microlenses.
And a plurality of light emitting elements on a glass substrate .

(Delete)

[0009] In the present invention of claim 2, wherein the micro lens and the light emitting element, is disposed in every other line on a glass substrate, and employs a configuration that.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an image memory having a storage capacity corresponding to the resolution of a document setting unit and a CCD sensor is provided to a CCD control unit, and image data stored in the image memory is stored on the basis of an external command. Image data editing means for enlarging and reducing the image data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image input device according to the fourth aspect, an operation panel for receiving an input from an operator, and a control for outputting to the image data editing means based on the input from the operation panel. And a printing unit that prints out the image data output from the image data editing unit, and a medium transport unit that transports the recording medium to the printing unit.

The present invention seeks to achieve the above-mentioned objects by these means.

[0013]

According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, first, a user of the apparatus sets a document on which an image to be read is recorded in a document setting section. Next, when the present apparatus is operated, the light source unit irradiates the document set in the document setting unit. Then, the area type CCD sensor converts the reflected light from the original into an electric signal, and the electric signal
The data is converted into image data by the CD control unit.

At this time, the reflected light is condensed by a plurality of microlenses formed on the front surface of the glass base of the original setting portion. An image is formed in each area type CCD by the refractive index distribution defined individually for this micro lens.
To form an image on the surface of the sensor, a plurality of area-type two-dimensional C
The DD sensor receives one document at a time. The CCD controller converts the electric signals from the plurality of area-type CCD sensors into image data, and corrects the electric signals and the image data according to the distortion caused by the condensing of the microlenses.

Further, according to the present invention, when the apparatus operates after the document is set, first, a plurality of light emitting elements (for example, LEDs) mounted on the glass base of the document setting section emit light. Next, as described above, the reflected light from the document is condensed by the microlens and received by the two-dimensional CCD sensor. At this time, for example, when the microlenses and the light emitting elements are arranged every other row on the glass substrate, C
The reflected light received by the CD sensor is relatively uniform, and the amount of correction in the CCD control unit can be reduced. The CCD controller corrects the electric signals from these CCD sensors and converts them into image data.

[0016]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual configuration of the present embodiment. The image input device includes a light source unit 6 that irradiates the original 1 installed on the original installation unit, a CCD sensor 3 that converts reflected light from the original 1 into an electric signal, and controls the driving of the CCD sensor 3 to generate an electric signal. CC for generating image data from signals
And a D control unit 4. In addition, the document setting section includes the glass substrate 2 and a plurality of microlenses 5 formed on the entire surface of the glass substrate 2. Furthermore, CC
The D sensor 3 is an area-shaped two-dimensional CDD sensor 3.

This will be described in detail. Micro lens 5
Is formed by injecting a substance having a high refractive index into the glass substrate 2. For example, a mask pattern having a circular opening is formed on the glass substrate 2 by using photolithography technology or the like, and ion exchange is performed through the opening to obtain a mask pattern.
The microlenses are implemented to provide a dimensional refractive index distribution. In this way, the microlenses 5 can be arrayed with high accuracy.

Each of the micro lenses 5 is an area type CCD
The document 1 is installed at a position where the image of the document 1 can be formed on the sensor 3.
The CCD sensor 3 converts the formed image into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal to the CCD controller 4. The CCD controller 4 converts the electric signal into image data, which is a digital value, temporarily stores the image data in the image memory 7, and then sends it to the recording unit via the video interface.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the glass substrate 2 when scanning an image on a document. here,
The light source unit 6 includes a plurality of light emitting elements 6 on a glass substrate arranged at a predetermined interval between the plurality of microlenses 5. Further, the light emitting elements 6 and the microlenses 5 are arranged on the glass substrate 2 every other row. Here, the light emitting element 6 employs the LED 6 so that a light amount can be evenly applied to the document by the configuration shown in the drawing. The LED 6 is provided with wiring for supplying a drive control signal and power. Further, depending on the distance between the microlens 5 and the LED 6, a light reflector may be provided to equalize the light amount. The LED 6 selectively etches the glass substrate 2 to form a semiconductor PN junction in the glass substrate 2 and forms a flat surface by chemical etching or the like. Note that, depending on the size of the document placement section, a plurality of fluorescent lamps and the like and a reflector are combined to form
It may be.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the microlenses 5 and the LEDs 6 formed on the glass substrate 2. The micro lens 5 and the LED 6 are respectively formed on the same surface of the glass substrate. Here, when the LED 6 emits light, the original placed above the glass substrate 2 is irradiated with light, and the respective refractive index distributions are formed so as to form an image on the area type CCD sensor 3 as shown in FIG. In addition, the setting surface of the document setting unit is set at a position where this image formation is effectively performed. In the present embodiment, the surface on which the microlenses 5 and the like are formed is set as the document setting portion side, and a glass base (not shown) is provided to secure a distance from the surface on which the microlenses 5 and the like are formed to the setting surface. However, as shown in FIG.
The D sensor 3 side may be used to secure the distance to the document installation surface by the thickness of the glass substrate 2.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the reflected light condensed by the microlens 5 is received by the area type CCD sensor 3, the configuration of the scanner unit can be made very compact. Since the entire image of the document can be scanned in one operation without scanning each line, the document reading operation can be performed at a much higher speed than in the related art.

In addition, the light emitting portion is formed on a glass substrate.
By using the ED, the entire device can be made very compact.

Second Embodiment An image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the laser type recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. The laser type recording apparatus includes the above-described image input device (scanner unit), an operation panel 8 for receiving an input from an operator, and a control unit 10 for outputting to the image data editing unit 9 based on the input from the operation panel 8. A printing unit 11 for printing out the image data output from the image data editing unit 9; and a medium transporting unit 12 for transporting the recording paper 24 to the printing unit 11. The CCD control unit 4 of the scanner unit has an image memory 7 having a storage capacity corresponding to the size of the document setting unit 2 and the resolution of the CCD sensor 3, and stores the image data stored in the image memory 7 based on an external command. Image data editing means 9 for enlarging and reducing the image data is also provided.

This will be described in detail. The printing unit 11 includes a charging corotron 29 that charges the photosensitive drum 30, a photosensitive drum 30, and a laser head 22 that converts input image data into laser light and outputs the laser light to the photosensitive drum 30.
And a developing unit 35 for converting the electrostatic latent image generated by the laser head 22 into a toner image, a transfer corotron 28 for transferring the toner image to the recording paper 24, and fixing of the toner transferred to the recording paper 24 And a cleaner 31 for removing residual toner on the photosensitive drum 30
And an eraser 3 for removing the residual potential of the photosensitive drum 30
2 is provided.

The medium transport section 12 includes a pickup roller 25 for separating the recording paper 24 from a recording paper cassette 23 in which the recording paper 24 is stored, and an intermediate roller 2 for transporting the recording paper 24 picked up by the pickup roller 25.
6, a registration roller 27, and a paper feed sensor 34 disposed near the registration roller 27 and capturing the recording paper 24.
And Further, a paper feed unit 13 for storing recording paper 24 is provided upstream of the medium transport unit 12, and the paper feed unit 13 includes a recording paper 24 and a recording paper cassette 23.

The control means 10 includes a recording device housing 20.
It is carried out by a mechanical control board 21 which is mounted inside and controls the driving and timing of each part. The function of the image data editing means 9 is actually realized by the mechanical control board 21. The image data editing means 9 edits the image data by enlarging or reducing the area of each dot of the image data stored in the image memory as a digital value.

Next, the operation will be described. An intermediate roller 26 located at an intermediate position of a sheet feeding unit, picking up a recording sheet 24 from a recording sheet cassette 23 by a pickup roller 25.
Carry on. The intermediate roller 26 turns on the paper feed sensor 34 with the recording paper 24 and moves the leading end of the recording paper 24 to the registration roller 2.
Carry to 7. Then, the toner image is sent from the registration roller 27 to the printing unit 11 in accordance with the transfer timing position of the toner image to which the toner on the photosensitive drum 30 has adhered.

In the printing unit 11, first, the charged corotron 2
9, the photosensitive drum 30 is charged to a negative potential. The image data sent from the scanner unit (image input device) is received by the mechanical control board 21 and input to the laser head 22. At this time, when an enlargement or reduction instruction is received from an operation panel (not shown), the mechanical control board 21 activates the image data editing means 9 to enlarge or reduce the image data.
In the present embodiment, the processing from 1/2 times to 2 times is performed by image processing. Next, by outputting a laser in accordance with the dot image, the negative potential is reduced to about 0 [V]. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 30.

The developing device 35 applies a potential of 0 to the electrostatic latent image.
The negatively charged toner is attached to the portion [V] to change the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 30 into a toner image. The photosensitive drum 30 is rotated by a DC motor or the like, and the recording paper 24 is sent out from the registration roller 27 in synchronization with the transfer timing position of the toner image.
The recording paper 24 is transferred from the transfer corotron 28 to the photosensitive drum 30.
The upper toner image is transferred, and the toner image is fixed from the transport unit to the fixing device 33. The cleaner 3 is placed on the photosensitive drum 30 after the transfer.
1. The residual toner is scraped off by
2 removes the residual potential to about 0 [V].

As described above, according to the present embodiment, an image can be copied without any reduction in the effect of the scanner unit (image reading device) which is small and operates at high speed. That is, it is possible to provide a small-sized and high-speed image recording apparatus.

[0031]

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, according to this, the reflected light from the original is further transmitted by a plurality of microlenses formed on the front surface of the glass base of the original setting portion. The two-dimensional CDD sensors of a plurality of area type that collect light and receive one surface of the document at a time can greatly reduce the driving time as compared with the conventional one-line scanning. In addition, since the reflected light is focused by the micro lens, the area type C
By arranging the CD sensor in an appropriate amount, the image on the document surface can be received at one time, so that the device configuration can be reduced, and moreover, a plurality of micro lenses can be used.
A plurality of light-emitting elements on the glass substrate disposed therebetween.
Micro-lenses and light-emitting elements on the same substrate.
Therefore because he, which also makes it possible to reduce the device configuration. As described above, it is possible to provide an unprecedented excellent image input device which can be reduced in size and operate at high speed, and an image recording device using the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a conceptual configuration of an embodiment of an image input device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a document setting unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a microlens and L according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an ED.

FIG. 4 illustrates a microlens and L according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of the ED.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an image recording device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional image input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Original 2 Glass substrate 3 Area type CCD sensor 4 CCD control part 5 Microlens 6 LED 7 Image memory 8 Operation panel 9 Image data editing means 10 Control means 11 Printing part 12 Medium conveyance part

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An illumination unit for irradiating a document set in a document setting unit;
A light source unit, and converts reflected light from the document into an electric signal
A CCD sensor and controlling the CCD sensor to
A CCD controller for generating image data from signals
In the image input device, the document setting unit includes a glass substrate and a glass substrate.
A plurality of microlenses formed on the entire surface, wherein the CCD sensor is an area-shaped two-dimensional CDD sensor.
There, the light source unit, images input device you being a plurality of light emitting elements on the glass substrate disposed between the plurality of micro lenses. Wherein said the micro lens and the light emitting element, an image input apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that arranged on every other line on the glass substrate. 3. An image memory having a storage capacity corresponding to the resolution of the document setting unit and the two-dimensional CCD sensor in the CCD control unit, and expanding image data stored in the image memory based on an external command. 2. The image input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image data editing means for reducing the image data. 4. An image input device according to claim 3, an operation panel for receiving an input from an operator, a control unit for outputting to said image data editing unit based on an input from said operation panel, and said image data. An image recording apparatus, comprising: a printing unit that prints out image data output from an editing unit; and a medium transport unit that transports a recording medium to the printing unit.