JP3960934B2 - Image reader - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that reads an image of a document being automatically conveyed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image reading apparatus that automatically conveys a document from a predetermined document tray to a conveyance path by an ADF (automatic document feeder (automatic sheet feeding unit)) and reads an image of the document being conveyed. Further, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260260, there is known a configuration in which image reading means is arranged on each side of a document being conveyed so that images on both sides of the document can be read in parallel. As a result, it is possible to read images from both sides of the original (single-sided reading of the original image) with a single conveyance of the original.
On the other hand, in offices and the like, image readers are often shared by a plurality of users due to problems such as installation space and cost, and there is a high need for sharing image readers efficiently.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-69087
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional image reading apparatus including the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be used only by one person, and there is a problem that the user is likely to be congested when sharing the image reading apparatus.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus that can eliminate a user's traffic jam without greatly increasing the installation space even when shared. It is to provide.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To accomplish the above object, automatically conveys a document from a given document tray, the image reading apparatus for reading an image of the document being transported, disposed in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, respectively the document A plurality of document trays to be placed, a plurality of document discharge trays arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction below the plurality of document trays and for discharging the document after automatic conveyance, and the plurality of document trays, respectively A plurality of conveying paths arranged in parallel from each of the plurality of document discharge trays to which the document is conveyed, and an image that is provided for each of the conveying paths and that reads an image on one side of the document that is being conveyed An image reading device comprising: a reading unit configured to read an image on one side of the document that is different in parallel in two or more of the conveyance paths. It is constituted as a location.
With such a configuration, the image reading apparatus can be used by a plurality of users simultaneously (in parallel). As a result, when sharing with a plurality of users, it is possible to eliminate the user's congestion without greatly increasing the installation space.
[0006]
And a reading position moving means for moving one or more of the image reading means to a position for reading the one surface and / or the opposite surface of the document being conveyed on the other conveying path. Is also possible.
As a result, it is possible to read both sides of the original image and read one side of the original twice (reading the image on one side once by each of the first and second image reading means). In this case, by making it possible to move the image reading means for the back side of a document that is generally less frequently used, the operation rate of the image reading means is increased and the image reading means can be used efficiently.
Here, by making the reading twice, the following becomes possible. For example, by performing image processing that mutually complements the obtained two image data, vertical streaks generated in the image data due to dust or the like adhering to the first or second image reading means are removed (prevented). It is possible to perform image correction processing such as. Further, if it is configured in advance so that the reading conditions (reading density conditions, etc.) can be individually set for the first and second image reading means, the image reading conditions (density, etc.) are adjusted by trial and error. When it is desired to do so, it is possible to obtain image data with two condition settings by carrying the document once, so that the number of trials can be reduced.
[0007]
It is also conceivable that a cleaning means for cleaning the second image reading means and a shading plate used for shading correction of the second image reading means are arranged on the moving path of the second image reading means. .
Accordingly, it is possible to perform cleaning and shading correction of the second image reading unit by utilizing the fact that the second image reading unit is movable.
[0008]
Further, a configuration in which the second image reading means can be moved to a position where it can be taken out from the image reading apparatus is also conceivable.
As a result, the second image reading means can be easily taken out and maintained.
[0009]
Further, even if the document is provided with an opposite surface image reading means provided on one or a plurality of the conveyance paths and reading an image on the surface opposite to the one surface of the document being conveyed on the conveyance path, It is possible to read both sides of an image. In this case, by providing the reading position moving means, it is possible to read various original images in parallel while suppressing the number of image reading means.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. It should be noted that the following embodiments and examples are examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic cross section of an image reading apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a second view of the image reading apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 schematically shows a schematic cross section of the image reading device X1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 schematically shows a second cross section of the present invention. FIG. 5 schematically shows a schematic cross section of the image reading apparatus X2 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 schematically shows the second image reading means and its moving mechanism in the image reading apparatus X2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which represented the cross section typically.
[0011]
First, the configuration of the image reading apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
From the first document tray 1a and the second document tray 1b on which the document S is loaded, and from the pickup roller that discharges the document S from the first and second document trays 1a and 1b (supplied into the apparatus). The first original supply means 2a and the second original supply means 2b, and the original S transported from the first and second original trays 1a and 1b, respectively, are provided in parallel. The first transport path R1 and the second transport path R2, the plurality of transport rollers 4 that transport the document S in the first and second transport paths R1 and R2, and the first transport path R1 are transported. First image reading that reads an image on one side of the original document S (upper surface side when placed on the first document tray 1a, hereinafter referred to as a front surface for convenience) through the glass plate 7. Means 8 and said second transport path 2 is an image of the front surface of the document S being conveyed (the upper surface side when it is placed on the second document tray 1b) and the back surface of the document S being conveyed on the first conveyance path R1 ( A second image reading means 9 configured to be reversible (movable) so as to selectively read the surface opposite to the front surface), and the first and second transport paths R1, R2, respectively. The first document discharge tray 5a and the second document discharge tray 5b from which the document S on which the image has been read are discharged, and the function of the platen glass when the document image is manually read one by one are fulfilled. A document table 6 is provided.
As is clear from FIG. 1, the plurality of document trays 1a and 1b are arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, and the plurality of document discharge trays 5a and 5b are arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction below. The plurality of transport paths R1, R2 are arranged in parallel from the plurality of document trays 1a, 1b to the plurality of document discharge trays 5a, 5b.
[0012]
The first image reading means 8 includes first and second scanning units 81 and 82 which are two optical system scanning units.
The first scanning unit 81 exposes line by line in the main scanning direction (depth direction in FIG. 1) while stopping at a predetermined transported document reading position P0, and reflects reflected light from the document S to the second scanning unit 81. A light source (for example, an exposure lamp such as a halogen lamp or a fluorescent lamp) 81 a and a first reflection mirror 81 b that guides reflected light from the document S to the second scanning unit 82 are provided to guide the scanning unit 82. .
The second scanning unit 82 is controlled to move at a predetermined speed (for example, half the speed of the first scanning unit 81) following the first scanning unit 81, and the first reflection unit 82 Second and third reflection mirrors 82a and 82b for guiding the reflected light from the mirror 81b to the imaging lens 83 are provided. The imaging lens 83 forms an image of the reflected light from the third reflection mirror 82b on a CCD 84 (Charge Coupled Device). The CCD 84 converts the reflected light from the imaging lens 83 into an analog electric signal. The electrical signal is converted into digital image data by an image processing unit (not shown) and stored in an image memory or output to an image forming apparatus or an external device. Here, the arrangement position of the first and second image reading means 9 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 1, but it is desirable that they are not arranged opposite to each other in view of the quality of the read image.
[0013]
Next, the configuration and operation of the second image reading means 9 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 schematically shows a schematic cross section of the second image reading means.
As shown in FIG. 2, the second image reading means 9 is a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) in which a contact glass 94 and a light source 91 formed in an array, an imaging lens 92, and a CCD 93 are integrated. Thus, the second image reading unit 90 is configured together with the two guide plates 9a and 9b which are guide means for the document S. It is also conceivable that the guide means for the document S is constituted by other means such as a guide roller.
Further, the second image reading means 9 can be rotated around a predetermined rotation axis 95 by a driving source 96 (an example of the reading position moving means) such as a stepping motor in the second image reading unit 90. And is configured to be able to stop in directions V1 and V2 toward the guide plates 9a and 9b, respectively. The second image reading unit 90 matches the first conveying path R1 with the first guide plate 9a and the gap (the original path) of the contact glass 94 in the V1 direction. The second conveyance path R2, the second guide plate 9b, and the gap between the contact glasses 94 in the V2 direction (document passage) are arranged to coincide with each other.
As a result, the image on the back surface of the document S being conveyed on the first conveyance path R1 can be read in the state where the second image reading means 9 is stopped in the V1 direction. In this state, the image on the front surface of the document S being conveyed on the second conveyance path R2 can be read (the second image reading unit 90 in the previous period has the configuration of the reading position moving means). One case).
[0014]
The image reading apparatus X is configured to be able to select three modes of a tray A side single-sided reading mode, a tray B side single-sided reading mode, and a tray A side double-sided reading mode by a setting operation from an operation unit (not shown). Yes.
The tray A side single-sided reading mode is a mode in which the first image reading means 7 reads the front surface of the document S stacked on the first document tray 1a and conveyed to the first conveyance path R1. It is. Here, the tray A side single-sided reading mode and the tray B side single-sided reading mode are configured to be executable in parallel. For example, the image data processing unit (not shown) that processes the read image data has a sufficient processing capacity, or the image data processing unit is provided for each of the transport paths R and R2, so that parallel execution is possible. Become.
On the other hand, in the tray B side image reading mode, the front surface of the document S stacked on the second document tray 1b and conveyed to the second conveyance path R2 is moved by the second image reading means 9. It is a reading mode.
In the tray A side duplex reading mode, both sides (the front surface and the back surface) of the document S stacked on the first document tray 1a and transported to the first transport path R1 are referred to as the first surface. In this mode, the first and second image reading means 8 and 9 read in parallel.
[0015]
When the tray B side single-sided reading mode is set, the second image reading unit 9 controls the front surface of the document S being conveyed through the second conveying path R2 by a control unit (not shown). The image is read in a direction V1. As a result, the image on the front surface of the document S can be read by the second image reading means 9 in the second transport path R2.
On the other hand, when the tray A side double-sided reading mode is set, the second image reading means 9 faces the direction V2 for reading the image on the back side of the document S being conveyed on the first conveying path R1. It is done. Thereby, the first and second image reading means 8 and 9 can read the images on both the front surface and the back surface of the document S being conveyed on the first conveyance path R1 in parallel. It becomes.
In addition, when the tray A side single-sided reading mode is set, the position (direction in which the second image reading unit 9 faces) is not particularly controlled.
With such a configuration, either the tray A-side single-sided reading mode or the tray A-side double-sided reading mode and the B-side single-sided reading mode can be executed in parallel, so that two users can simultaneously execute the image reading apparatus. X can be used, and the user's congestion is eliminated. In addition, space saving and cost reduction (resource saving) can be achieved compared to the case where two conventional document reading devices X are provided. Further, the second image reading means 9 conventionally provided for reading both sides of the document image is configured to be movable, so that the image reading means for the back side of the document which is generally infrequently used (see above). The operating rate of the second image reading means 9) is increased and can be used efficiently.
In the present embodiment, the case where there are two document conveyance paths has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more conveyance paths each provided with image reading means are provided by the same configuration. Can also be considered. Thereby, it is possible to effectively eliminate the user's traffic jam (wait time reduction).
In the present embodiment, the second image reading means 9 can be moved. However, even if the second image reading means 9 is fixed toward the second transporting path R2, it can be read as long as the original image is read on one side. There is no change in the effects that human users can use simultaneously.
[0016]
【Example】
(First embodiment)
Next, an image reading X1 which is a first application example of the image reading apparatus X will be described.
The image reading apparatus X1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention uses the image reading apparatus X to read out an image on the back surface of the document S that is being conveyed through the second conveyance path. An example of the opposite surface image reading means is newly provided. As the third image reading means 10, for example, it is conceivable to use the same CIS as the second image reading means.
By adopting such a configuration, in addition to the three image reading modes described above, the tray B side double-sided reading mode, that is, the original document stacked on the second original tray 1b and conveyed to the second conveyance path R2. It is also possible to add a mode (function) for reading both sides (front surface and back surface) of S in parallel by the second and third image reading means 9 and 10.
Thus, both sides of the original image can be read regardless of whether the original S is set on the first and second original trays 1a and 1b, and other users can read the image in the single side reading mode on the tray A side. Even when the apparatus X1 is in use, both sides of the original image can be read by the tray B side duplex reading mode. As described above, if the movable image reading means and the fixed back surface image reading means are provided side by side, the back side image reading means is not provided in both (all) transport paths R1 and R2. Therefore, it is possible to read various document images in parallel while suppressing the number of image reading means.
[0017]
(Second embodiment)
Next, an image reading apparatus X2, which is a second application example of the image reading apparatus X, will be described.
The image reading apparatus X2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention enables the second image reading means to be moved to an arbitrary conveyance path along the guide rail and to read the back surface image of the document. The image reading means 9 is configured to be rotatable. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, the figure number of the image reading means in the image reading apparatus X2 is represented as 9 ', but it is the same as the image reading means 9 itself.
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic cross section of the image reading device X2. As shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of the image reading device X2 is the same as that of the image reading device X except that the position of the image reading means 9 'and its moving range (moving mechanism) are different.
[0018]
In the image reading apparatus X2, the modes selectable by a setting operation from an operation unit (not shown) are the above-described three modes (the tray A side single side reading mode, the tray B side single side reading mode, and the tray A side. In addition to the double-sided reading mode, two modes of a high-quality reading mode and a two-condition reading mode are added.
In the high-quality reading mode, the image on the front surface of the document S being conveyed on the first conveying path R1 is read by the same reading condition (reading) by both the first and second image reading means 8 and 9. (Hereinafter, reading the image of the same side of the document with the two image reading means 8 and 9 is called twice), and the obtained two image data are not shown. In a mode in which image correction processing is performed such as removing (preventing) vertical streaks generated in image data due to dust or the like adhering to the first or second image reading means by complementing each other by an image processing unit. is there.
The two-condition reading mode is the same as the high-quality reading mode in that the two-time reading is performed, but the reading conditions are individually set in advance for each of the first and second image reading means 8 and 9 in advance. (Reading density conditions, etc.) can be set, and two image data under each condition can be obtained. As a result, when it is desired to adjust the image reading conditions (density, etc.) on a trial and error basis, it is possible to obtain image data with two condition settings by carrying the document once, so the number of trials can be reduced. Become.
[0019]
Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the second image reading means 9 ′ will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 schematically shows a schematic cross section of the second image reading means and the moving mechanism thereof in the image reading apparatus X2, and the inside of the broken line frame is a second image having the second image reading means. Only the portion of the image reading unit 90 is extracted and shown. However, the direction is changed by 90 ° counterclockwise with respect to FIG.
The second image reading means 9 ′ in the image reading apparatus X2 constitutes a second image reading unit 90 together with two guide plates 9a and 9b which are guide means for the document S. It is also conceivable that the guide means for the document S is constituted by other means such as a guide roller.
Further, the second image reading means 9 ′ can be rotated around a predetermined rotation shaft 95 by a driving source such as a stepping motor (not shown) in the second image reading unit 90, and the guide plate Cleaning of, for example, the white shading plate 11 (reference reading density setting plate) and the contact glass 94 used when performing shading correction in the second image reading means 9 ′ and the directions V1 and V2 toward the respective 9a and 9b. Is configured to be able to stop in a direction V3 toward the cleaning device 12 (cleaning means).
Thereby, the image of the document S passing (conveyed) between the guide plate 9a and the contact glass 94 is read in a state where the second image reading means 9 is stopped in the V1 direction. The image of the document S passing (conveyed) between the guide plate 9b and the contact glass 94 can be read in a state where the image is stopped in the V2 direction.
[0020]
The second image reading unit 90 is supported by a guide rail 20 disposed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second transport paths R1 and R2, and includes a stepping motor or the like (not shown). It is configured to be movable along the guide rail 20 by a driving source. Then, the second image reading unit 90 is located at a position where the first conveyance path R1 and the second guide plate 9b and the gap between the contact glasses 94 in the V2 direction (document passage) coincide. A double reading position P3, which is a position where the reading position P2, the first conveying path R1, the first guide plate 9a, and the gap between the contact glass 94 in the V1 direction (original passage) coincide with each other. , A shading correction position P4 that is a position facing the shading plate 11, a cleaning position P5 that is a position facing the cleaning device 12, and the second transport path R2, the second guide plate 9b, and the contact glass. It is configured to be able to stop at each position of the single-sided reading position P6 that is a position where the gap of 94 (document passage) matches (that is, the shade). Ring plate 11 and the cleaning device 12 is arranged in the movement path of the second image reading unit 9). In the image reading apparatus X, a stepping motor is used to move the second image reading unit 90, and the second image reading unit 90 is positioned at each of the positions P2 to P6 according to a moving distance (number of steps) from a predetermined reference position P1. At the reference position P1 near one end of the guide rail 20, a unit detection sensor 13 for detecting whether or not the second image reading means 9 exists at that position is provided. 13, the reference position P1 is positioned.
The reference position P1 is a position at which the second image reading unit 90 can be taken out from the image reading device X without disassembling the device X. As a result, the second image reading means 9 can be easily taken out and maintained.
[0021]
When the high image quality reading mode or the two-condition reading mode is set, the second image reading unit 90 is positioned at the second reading position P2 and the second image reading mode. Means 9 are oriented in the V2 direction. As a result, it is possible to read the image of the front surface of the document S being conveyed on the first conveyance path R1, and the image of the document S being conveyed on the first conveyance path R1 is the first image. The second image reading means 8 and 9 perform the reading twice, thereby complementing the two obtained image data to improve image quality, and adjusting the image reading conditions on a trial and error basis. When it is desired, the number of trials can be reduced.
When the tray B side single-sided reading mode is set, the second image reading unit 90 is positioned at the single-sided reading position P6 and the second image reading unit 9 is directed in the V2 direction. It is done. As a result, it becomes possible to read the image on the front surface of the document S being conveyed on the second conveyance path R2, and the first and second conveyance paths R1 and R2 respectively. The image reading means 8 and 9 can read the image on the front surface of the document S in parallel.
When the tray A side double-sided reading mode is set, the second image reading unit 90 is positioned at the double-sided reading position P3 and the second image reading means 9 is directed in the V1 direction. It is done. As a result, it is possible to read an image on the back side of the document S being conveyed through the first conveyance path R1, and the first and second image reading means 8 and 9 can cause the first conveyance path R1 to pass through the first conveyance path R1. Images on both the front and back sides of the document S being conveyed can be read in parallel.
When the shading correction of the second image reading means 9 is performed at the time of start-up or when a predetermined operation is performed, the second image reading unit 90 is positioned at the shading correction position P4. At the same time, the second image reading means 9 is directed in the V3 direction. Similarly, when cleaning the contact glass 94, the second image reading unit 90 is positioned at the cleaning position P5 and the second image reading means 9 is directed in the V3 direction.
Accordingly, it is possible to perform cleaning and shading correction of the second image reading unit 9 by utilizing the fact that the second image reading unit 9 is movable.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of document trays and document conveyance paths provided with image reading means are provided, and these are image reading devices that can be used in parallel. ) Can be used by multiple users. As a result, when sharing with a plurality of users, it is possible to eliminate the user's congestion without greatly increasing the installation space.
Further, by allowing one or more of the image reading means to move to the reading position on the opposite side of the document being conveyed on another conveyance path, it is possible to read both sides of the document image. In this case, by making it possible to move the image reading means for the back side of a document that is generally less frequently used, the operation rate of the image reading means is increased and the image reading means can be used efficiently.
Further, it is possible to read both sides of a document image by providing image reading means for reading an image on the opposite side in one or a plurality of conveyance paths. Further, if it is provided with a movable image reading means, more various original images can be read in parallel while reducing the number of image reading means.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic cross section of an image reading apparatus X according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic cross section of a second image reading unit included in the image reading apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic cross section of the image reading apparatus X1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic cross section of an image reading apparatus X2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic cross section of a second image reading means and a moving mechanism thereof in an image reading apparatus X2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b ... 1st and 2nd document trays 2a, 2b ... 1st and 2nd document supply means 4 ... Conveyance rollers 5a, 5b ... 1st and 2nd document discharge tray 6 ... Document table 7 ... Glass plate 8... First image reading means 9. Second image reading means 10. Third image reading means 20. Guide rail 90. Second image reading unit 91.
93 ... CCD
94 ... Contact glass 96 ... Drive source (reading position moving means)
9a, 9b ... guide plate R1 ... first transport path R2 ... second transport path S ... original

Claims (7)

In an image reading apparatus that automatically conveys a document from a predetermined document tray and reads an image of the document being conveyed,
A plurality of document trays arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, each having the document placed thereon ;
A plurality of document discharge trays that are arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction below the plurality of document trays and from which the document after automatic conveyance is discharged;
A plurality of conveying paths arranged in parallel from each of the plurality of document trays to each of the plurality of document discharge trays to convey the document ;
Image reading means for reading an image of one side of the document being conveyed, provided for each conveyance path,
An image reading apparatus configured to be able to read an image on one side of each of the different originals in parallel on two or more transport paths.   A reading position moving means for moving one or more of the image reading means to a position for reading the one surface and / or the opposite surface of the document being conveyed on the other conveying path. Item 2. The image reading device according to Item 1.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein image reading conditions in the first and second image reading units can be individually set.   4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a cleaning unit that is disposed in a moving path of the second image reading unit and that cleans the second image reading unit.   5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a shading plate disposed on a moving path of the second image reading unit and used for shading correction of the second image reading unit.   6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second image reading means is configured to be movable to a position where it can be taken out from the image reading apparatus.   7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an opposite-surface image reading unit that is provided in one or a plurality of the conveyance paths and reads an image on a surface opposite to the one surface of the document being conveyed on the conveyance paths. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1.

Images