JP3869113B2 - Foldable hand scanner - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a manual image scanner that reads information as an image by moving the document.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The basic form of the image scanner is that the document automatically moves on the reading head when the document is placed, or the reading head moves and scans the document surface to read the information as an image and output the data However, there is a hand scanner as a simple one. In this method, information is read by placing a scanner on a document and moving the reading range by hand, and is used by connecting to a main unit such as a facsimile or a personal computer.
[0003]
5A and 5B are schematic views of an example of a hand scanner, where FIG. 5A is a front view with a part cut away, FIG. 5B is a side view with a part in cross section, and FIG. This is a structure in which components are assembled to the frame 1 and housed in a housing 2 made of metal, plastic, or the like. When the hand scanner is placed on the document as shown in FIG. 5B and the reading range is manually moved as indicated by an arrow a, the rubber roller 3 in contact with the document surface rotates. The rotation of one of the three rollers 3 is accelerated by the gear train 4 shown with details omitted in FIG. 5A and transmitted to the slit disk 5. As shown in FIG. 5B, the slit disk 5 has many slits radially in the radial direction. A photo interrupter 7 is placed on the substrate 6 and its forked end is disposed with the slit disk 5 sandwiched between them as shown in FIG. A light emitting portion 8 by a light emitting diode and a light receiving portion 9 by a photo diode are provided at each of the two branches, and light emitted from the light emitting portion 8 reaches the light receiving portion 9 through a slit, but as the hand scanner moves, a roller 3 and the slit disk 5 rotates through the gear train 4, the slits of the slit disk 5 and the light-shielding part between the slits alternately pass between the light emitting part 8 and the light receiving part 9 in a short cycle. The light detected by the unit 9 is interrupted to obtain a pulse signal. The above structure is accommodated in the right side portion of the frame body 1 in FIG. 5B, forming a pulse generating portion. The pulse signal generated by the pulse generation unit is transmitted to the data reading unit described below as a synchronization signal instructing reading of image information.
[0004]
In FIG. 5B, the data reading unit is configured on the left side portion of the frame 1. A light source 11 for reading data is provided on a substrate 10, which has a large number of light emitting diodes arranged in a line in the depth direction of FIG. 5B, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the drawing. The light emitted from the light source 11 irradiates the document surface through the glass window 12 as indicated by an arrow b, and the reflected light enters the lens array 13. The lens array 13 has a configuration in which a large number of round rod lenses are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction perpendicular to the drawing. The light passing through the lens array 13 reaches the image sensor 15 on the substrate 14 and is detected. The image sensor 15 has a configuration in which sensor ICs having optical sensor regions are arranged in a line in the vertical direction of the drawing. The data reading unit having such a structure reads image information from a document in synchronization with a pulse signal transmitted from the pulse generation unit, and a hand scanner is connected to a main device such as a facsimile or a personal computer by a cable or infrared data communication means. By connecting, image information is transmitted to the main device.
[0005]
Although not shown, the hand scanner can be configured to operate independently by incorporating a battery for power supply and a memory IC in the housing of the hand scanner. In other words, the hand scanner is transported separately from the main device, the image is read at an arbitrary location, the data is stored in the memory IC, and the image data in the memory IC is output to the main device after connecting to the main device. It is. The user only needs to carry the hand scanner and can easily collect image information.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the hand scanner scans the surface of the document to be read, it needs a width (longitudinal dimension) enough to cover the document, and this dimension is considerably large depending on the document to be handled. If the hand scanner is connected to a personal computer or a facsimile machine and used continuously in the same place, there will be no particular problem. However, as described above, the stand-alone hand scanner with built-in power supply battery and memory IC can be held anywhere. It is inconvenient because it is bulky. In the case of hand scanners for A4 version, B4 version, etc., the longitudinal dimension may be so large that it does not fit in the document bag or briefcase. If it is unavoidably carried by hand, it may be bumped or dropped, causing malfunction or damage. A hand scanner that is small and portable and that can be easily stored in a bag or the like is desired.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention makes the hand scanner foldable instead of the fixed shape as shown in FIG. As a result, when not in use, it can be folded and made smaller, and can be easily carried in a document bag or the like. Structurally, the hand scanner is divided into two or more parts along the length, and the parts are rotatably connected to each other. If each part is rotated, it will stretch to the required length when used, but it will be folded into a small size when not in use. The divided parts need to be electrically connected so that they are connected by cables or the like. As one method, it is possible to prevent the cable from being exposed to the outside of the housing by adopting a structure in which the cable is passed inside the connecting portion of each part.
[0008]
When the hand scanner is extended and used, a means for fixing it in the shape is provided. As an example, a concave portion and a convex portion are provided in both portions that rotate relative to each other, and these are engaged in use.
As the hand scanner, which was originally an integral structure as shown in FIG. 5, is divided into a plurality of parts, the reading mechanism such as the glass window 12 and the lens array 13 is also divided and distributed to each part. If the roller 3 is also provided in each part, the movement of the scanner at the time of scanning is stable and preferable. However, particularly when a reduction in size is required, a roller is provided only for a part of each divided part. be able to. In this case, the portion where the roller is not provided accommodates only the reading mechanism, so that the width can be narrowed and becomes smaller when folded.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the same types of components and parts including the above description.
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a housing of a hand scanner is divided into two parts 2a and 2b, which are coupled by a connecting shaft 21 so that they can be rotated around an axis line 22. It is the composition made. Cases 2a and 2b drawn with solid lines show a folded state when not in use. The surface of the housing 2a that comes into contact with the document during use, that is, the surface provided with the roller 3 and the glass window 12a is on the upper side, but the surface provided with these in the housing 2b is facing downward. The block denoted by reference numeral 23 in the housing 2a is a simplified representation of the pulse generator including the gear train 4, slit disk 5, photo interrupter 7 and the like shown in FIG. Operates in conjunction with 3. In addition, although not shown, a battery for power supply and a memory IC for data storage are appropriately disposed inside the housings 2a and 2b.
[0010]
When this hand scanner is used, the housing 2b is rotated by 180 ° with respect to the axis 22 as shown by the arrow in the drawing, and moved to the position 2b drawn by the two-dot chain line. As a result, the entire length of the hand scanner is extended and put into use, and in the folded state, the roller 3 and the glass window 12b located on the lower side of the housing 2b come to the upper surface in the same manner as the housing 2a. However, the orientation of the figure is for convenience of explanation, and the upper surface of the figure is actually the lower surface of the hand scanner and is placed downward toward the document. As a result, the hand scanner of FIG. 1 can perform an image reading operation.
[0011]
In the hand scanner having the fixed structure as shown in FIG. 5, the lens array 13 forms a straight line over the entire length, but in the present invention of FIG. 1, the lens array 13a on the housing 2a side and the housing The lens array 13b on the 2b side has a difference of o and becomes uneven. When the images are scanned with the lens arrays 13a and 13b which are different in this way, the image data read at the same time is shifted by o on the left and right, and must be corrected during processing. For this purpose, it is one method to provide deviation correction means by circuits or processing routines in the housings 2a and 2b of the hand scanner and store the corrected data in the memory IC. If it is inconvenient to incorporate the deviation correction means in the scanner, it is practical to provide the deviation correction means on the main device side for processing.
[0012]
Each of the housings 2a and 2b contains a photo interrupter, a light emitting diode, a sensor IC, etc., and these must be electrically connected. Therefore, a connecting cord 24 is provided between the ends of the housings 2a and 2b. Since the drive signal and data signal of the data reading circuit are serial signals, the code 24 is a bundle of at most several signal lines and can be wired without being too bulky.
[0013]
In FIG. 1, the rollers 3 are provided on both the casings 2a and 2b. When the rollers 3 are extended and used, the rollers 3 are arranged in a balanced manner in the longitudinal direction. In the case where emphasis is placed on simplifying, it is conceivable to omit the roller from one housing. In the case of FIG. 1, the roller 3 on the housing 2 a side is interlocked with the pulse generator 23 and can not be omitted, but the roller 3 on the housing 2 b side is removed. Then, although the stability at the time of rolling falls slightly, the width of the housing 2b is almost halved, so that it becomes smaller when folded.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a view of the hand scanner of FIG. 1 as viewed from above, and is extended and put into use. The most visible surface is the surface in contact with the document, which is a bottom view of a hand scanner. In addition, the figure on the right side is a right side view of the housing 2a drawn in perspective. The housing 2a and the housing 2b are coupled using a connecting shaft 21, a washer 25, a disc spring 26, and the like, as shown in FIG. It can be rotated around. If the hollow connecting shaft 21 as shown in FIG. 2 is used, the housing 2 a side and the housing 2 b side can be electrically connected through the cord 24. According to this structure, it is not necessary to expose the cord 24 to the outside as shown in FIG.
[0015]
The housing 2 a is provided with convex portions 27 on the side surfaces on both sides of the connecting shaft 22. On the other hand, a concave portion 28 is provided at a corresponding portion of the housing 2b, and the convex portion 27 and the concave portion 28 engage with each other, which helps to fix the hand scanner in an extended shape. Of course, the unevenness relationship may be reversed. As another method of fixing the housing 2a and the housing 2b, for example, a hook-shaped latch is provided on the surface of one housing, and when the hand scanner is extended, this latch is pinned on the surface of the other housing. It is possible to have a structure such as engaging with the.
[0016]
Next, FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This is also a configuration in which the hand scanner is divided into two and housed in the housings 2 a and 2 b, and the two housings are connected by a hinge 31. Compared with the previous embodiment, the direction of the axis of mutual rotation of the two casings is changed by 90 °. In the previous embodiment, the axis of rotation 22 was parallel to the surface of the document. In FIG. 3, the axis 22 is perpendicular to the document surface. In the figure, the housing 2b is shown in a solid line when it is not used, and a two-dot chain line shows a state where it is rotated and extended in the direction of the arrow in the figure for use. When extended or folded, the surfaces of the two housings 2a, 2b with the rollers 3 and the glass windows 12a, 12b are on the same side.
As shown in the figure, the concave portions 28 and the convex portions 27 are formed by using the ends of the housing 2 a and the housing 2 b, and the convex portions 27 are held between the concave portions 28. Of course, the concavity and convexity relationship may be reversed.
[0017]
In the previous embodiment, when the two casings 2a and 2b are stepped when extended and used, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the two casings 2a and 2b are straight and do not cause a step. However, since the lens arrays 13a and 13b are not linear in this case, a step is generated, and thus the read data must be corrected.
In FIG. 3, the rollers 3 are arranged in the two casings 2a and 2b, respectively. However, the casing 2b can be simplified by omitting the rollers, for example. Then, the width | variety of the housing | casing 2b reduces and becomes smaller further when folded.
[0018]
The two casings 2a and 2b are electrically connected by a cord 24 extending from the lower surface (upper surface as a hand scanner). Alternatively, since the end surfaces of the two housings face each other and come into contact with each other at the portion where the convex portion 27 and the concave portion 28 are engaged with each other, if the plug and socket of the connector are respectively arranged on both end surfaces and the hand scanner is extended. Electrical connection can also be performed by a configuration in which the connector is connected at this portion.
[0019]
FIG. 4 shows a structure in which the cord 24 is not exposed in the second embodiment and the inside of the connecting portion of the housings 2a and 2b is passed. This is a sectional view of the hinge 31 of FIG. 3 partially cut away and viewed in the direction of the arrow AA. Reference numeral 32 denotes a cylindrical portion at both ends of the hinge 31 and is integral with the housing 2a, and 33 is a cylindrical portion at the center of the hinge 31 and integral with the housing 2b. The cylindrical portions 32 and 33 are combined, and a hollow sleeve 34 is press-fitted into the cylindrical portion 33 and assembled. The casing 2a, the casing 2b, and the sleeve 34 are provided with lateral holes 35, 36, and 37. If the cord 24 is passed through these lateral holes and the hollow hole of the sleeve 34, the casing 2a side and the casing 2b side are electrically connected. Can be connected. With this structure, the cord 24 and connector parts are not exposed to the outside. The lid 38 closes both ends of the hinge 31.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
Conventionally, the size of the hand scanner is considerably long depending on the size of the document to be handled, so it does not fit in the document bag etc., so it is not portable, and if you carry it by hand, it will be bumped or dropped and exposed to the risk of damage It was. The hand scanner of the present invention is convenient to carry because it can be folded small when not in use, and can be used in the same manner as a fixed shape when extended. This increases the mobility of the hand scanner, which can further expand the application and contribute to information processing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a hand scanner according to the present invention, in which axes of mutual rotation of two housings are parallel to a document surface.
FIG. 2 is a view showing the hand scanner of FIG. 1 with a part cut away when viewed from above, and is a bottom view of the hand scanner.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the hand scanner of the present invention, in which the axes of mutual rotation of two housings are perpendicular to the document surface.
4 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge of the hand scanner of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction of arrow AA in FIG. 3;
5A is a front view, FIG. 5B is a side view, and FIG. 5C is a bottom view of a conventional hand scanner.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Frame 2, 2a, 2b Case 3 Roller 4 Gear train 5 Slit disk 7 Photo interrupter 11 Light source 12, 12a, 12b Glass window 13, 13a, 13b Lens array 15 Image sensor 21 Connecting shaft 23 Pulse generation Part 24 code 27 convex part 28 concave part 31 hinge 34 sleeve

Claims (2)

A hand scanner equipped with a pulse generator and data reader is divided into multiple parts.
Each part is equipped with a data reading part,
While providing a roller in part or all of the part, in the part that includes the pulse generator, provide a roller that interlocks with the pulse generator,
A connecting portion for connecting the adjacent parts to each other rotatably with each other,
By providing electrical connection means between the connected parts,
Folding hand scanner, characterized in that it can be in folding do I shape or stretched shape. The foldable hand scanner of claim 1.
The electrical connection means has a structure in which the cord is not exposed to the outside by passing the cord through the inside of the coupling portion from one inside of the mutually connected portions to the other inside. Folding hand scanner.

Images