JP2911134B2 - Document reading device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an original reading apparatus that can be used in an electronic copying machine or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a document reading apparatus for scanning a document and storing the image information of the document or recording the information on a medium, a range (exposure area) for scanning the document and extracting information is set in advance. , B5
It was generally determined in several patterns, such as a plate, and the position where the document was set was fixed, and it was common for the operator to set the document accordingly. In most cases, the display of the exposure area or position is simply drawn like a scale around the scanning table.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In a document reading apparatus for scanning a conventional document and storing the information or recording the information on a medium, when scanning the document, the operator scans the document and obtains information. If the original is a thick book or the like, because of the problem that it is difficult to recognize the range or position, or the position where the information is extracted by scanning, the part that protrudes from the scanning base There is a problem that it is difficult to scan some originals, for example, it is necessary to support

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention relates to a document reading apparatus that scans a document placed on a transparent platen by exposing and scanning the document via the platen to read a document image of the document. A light irradiating means for irradiating light from the side opposite to the original placing side, a designating means for arbitrarily specifying an exposure area, and a plane interposed between the platen and the light irradiating means, A screen made of a translucent member having a parallel plane, wherein the screen is configured to be movable in a direction parallel to the plane of the platen, and the screen is positioned below the platen. In the document reading apparatus, an arbitrary exposure area designated by the designation means by the light irradiating means is optically displayed on the screen in a state in which the exposure is performed.

(E) Function In the present invention, when the screen is positioned in parallel with the platen and the light irradiating means is operated to display an exposure area on the screen in advance, the operator operates the screen via the platen. The exposure area displayed above can be confirmed.

(F) Embodiment Examples of a method of displaying a range for extracting information (exposure position and its area) on a platen include a method using laser light and a method using a transparent electrode on the platen to perform liquid crystal display. However, here, an embodiment using laser light as the light irradiation means will be described.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 101 is a transparent glass platen and 102 is a line drawn by a laser beam or the like. The portion surrounded by the four lines shown here represents a place (exposure area) where information is extracted by scanning. The operator can visually recognize that the information reading of the document is performed in this range and position. In this figure, the page on the right side of the storage 104 is read.

By displaying the line by the laser beam over the entire length and width of the document table 101, the document 104 can be easily recognized even when the document 104 is placed on the document table 101. 103 indicates a control panel of this device. Control panel 103
Is an input device for changing the range and position of reading each line 102, that is, the information of the document 104, such as a switch and a joystick as shown in the figure. The operator can input his desired range and position by operating the control panel 103 while viewing each line 102 displayed on the document table 101.

A specific example of the following operation will be described. If you want to change the position of the line 102 on the right side of the exposure area, press the switch 108 on the control panel 103, input to the device that the line 102 on the right side is to be changed, and use the switches 115 and 113 to set the position to the desired position. Move. The change of the left line 102 and the upper and lower lines 102 is performed in the same manner. At this time, the upper line 102 crosses the lower line 102 or the left line 10
Control is performed so that the line 102 on the right side of 2 does not protrude leftward.

Also, since the size of the exposure area is not changed, if only the position is to be changed, the switch 111 is pressed and then the movement switches 112, 113, 114 and 115 are operated. Then,
The region surrounded by the line 102 can be translated without changing the interval between the lines 102. In this way, the position of the exposure area is changed as desired.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the mechanism of the apparatus of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 201 denotes a transparent platen on which a document similar to the above is placed, on which the document is placed. Reference numeral 202 denotes a scanner, from which information is read. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the inside of the scanner 202, and FIG. 6 is a front view. Reference numeral 501 denotes an image sensor that performs photoelectric conversion. Reference numeral 502 denotes a rod lens array, which reads an image of the original 504 with an image sensor 5.
One-to-one imaging at 01. Reference numeral 503 denotes a rod-like light source such as a fluorescent lamp. The scanner 202 performs exposure scanning by being moved by the motor 203. 204 is a laser light source. Reference numeral 205 denotes a reflecting mirror for reflecting and controlling the laser beam 208 using two mirrors, a first mirror 206 and a second mirror 207, to two-dimensionally draw the line 102 on the translucent screen 209. belongs to. That is, the first mirror 206 is moved to the screen 209.
And the second mirror 207 is swung in the horizontal direction so that one laser beam 208
A line 102 of the book will be drawn. The screen 209 is formed of a translucent film, and scatters laser light so that the laser light can be captured visually. Therefore, a mechanism for moving the scanner in the horizontal direction from between the scanner 202 and the document table 201 is required so as not to hinder the exposure scanning. The two motors 210 and 211 in the figure are for that purpose, and are used to stretch or store the screen.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a control panel,
Enter the range and location where the operator wants to read the information. A central control unit 302 includes a CPU and the like, and controls each unit. When the central control device 302 receives the data of the range or position from which information is read from the control panel 301, the central control device 302 uses the read range display control device
By controlling the laser light source 208 and the reflecting mirror 205 shown in the figure and drawing the line 102 at any time according to the input from the control panel 301, when receiving the data of the scanning start from the control panel 301, the central control device 302 The screen control device is operated, the screen 209 is stored, and data of a range and a position where information is read is passed to the scanner control device 306 so as to perform appropriate scanning. When the scanning is completed, the screen 209 is returned to its original position, and the system waits for data input from the control panel 301 again.

(G) Effects of the Invention By optically displaying a range and a position where a document is scanned and a document image is read, the operator can easily recognize the range and position, and reading errors are reduced. In addition, since the range and position of the reading can be changed while always being visually recognized, the operation is facilitated and the reading can be executed quickly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a document table, FIG. 1 (A) is a perspective view, FIG. 1 (B) is a plan view, and FIG. 1 (C) is an enlarged view of a control panel. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal configuration. FIG. 3 is a block diagram. Fig. 4 is a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the scanner. FIG. 6 is a front view of the scanner. 101 ... platen, 102 ... line, 103 ... control panel, 104 ... manuscript, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 11
2, 113, 114, 115 ... switch, 201 ... platen, 202 ...
… Scanner, 203, 210, 211… motor, 204… laser light source, 205… reflecting mirror, 206… first mirror, 207…
… Second mirror, 208… laser light, 209 …… screen.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A document reading apparatus for reading a document image of a document by exposing and scanning a document placed on a transparent document table through the document table, wherein the document table is opposite to the document placing side. A light irradiating means for irradiating light from the side; a designating means for arbitrarily designating an exposure area; and a translucent member interposed between the platen and the light irradiating means and having a plane parallel to the plane of the platen. The screen is configured to be movable in a direction parallel to the plane of the platen. In a state where the screen is located below the platen, A document reading apparatus, wherein an arbitrary exposure area designated by the designation means is optically displayed by light irradiation means. 2. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen is retracted outward from a lower portion of the document table when reading the document.