JP4360362B2 - Reader - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reading device that reads an image of a document by scanning.

Conventionally, in this type of reading device, for example, a reading device described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. This reading device is configured to read an image using a contact image sensor divided into a plurality of parts. Here, the contact image sensors divided into a plurality are arranged in a line.
JP 2001-136345 A

  However, in the reading apparatus, since the contact image sensors are arranged in a line, the reading speed of the document has to be constant according to the resolution regardless of the size of the document.

  In the contact image sensor, the maximum size of the document is determined by the specifications of the reading device. For example, when the maximum size of a document is A4, a contact image sensor for A4 is generally used, and when the maximum size of a document is A3, a contact image sensor of A3 is generally used. However, when a contact image sensor of a new size is designed, the manufacturing cost of the contact image sensor increases depending on the number of readers sold.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a reading apparatus that uses an existing size contact image sensor and devise the arrangement and method of reading a document, and enables efficient reading according to the size of the document. The purpose is to do.

In solving the above-mentioned problem, a reading device according to the present invention, according to claim 1,
In the reading apparatus that reads an image of an original document placed on the original glass by scanning the reading device, the reading device is arranged in the first direction so that a part of the reading device overlaps the first direction in which the reading device is scanned. A plurality of rows are arranged in the longitudinal direction along the intersecting second direction,
When the width of the original is equal to or less than the overlapping length of the reading device, the original is placed on an area corresponding to each overlapping portion of the plurality of reading devices on the original glass, and the width of the original is the above-described overlapping of the reading device. If the length is exceeded, the document is placed on the area corresponding to the reading device of one or more rows,
Determination means for determining whether the width of the document is equal to or less than the overlap length of the reading device or exceeds the overlap length of the reading device;
The have been if judged by the judging means document exceeds the weight becomes the length of the width of the originals is read device by being placed on an area corresponding to the reading device 1 or a plurality of rows, First reading means for reading a document with one or more rows of reading devices;
By the determination unit width of the document is the weight becomes long hereinafter the width of the originals is read device by being mounted on a region corresponding to each overlapped portion of the plurality of rows read device on the document glass the the determined case, each of the first direction of the plurality of rows reading device distance, while moving the reading device to the first direction, each of an overlapping portion worth of read winding device of a plurality of rows in with, characterized in that a second reading means for reading the originals.

Thus, the first reading means, Ru read the length over original overlapping of the reading device by one or more rows reading device. In addition, as described above, the second reading unit moves the reading device in the first direction at intervals of the first direction of the plurality of rows of reading devices, with respect to a document having an overlapping length of the reading device or less. while, by reading with each an overlapping portion worth of read winding device of a plurality of rows, reading the Rukoto at a speed higher than the first reading means. Thus, for large document size, it is possible to read the document by one or more rows reading device, for small document size, the overlapping portions of read winding device of a plurality of rows There is an effect of reading a document at high speed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the reading device according to the first aspect, the first reading means includes a document whose width is within the length of one row of a plurality of rows of reading devices. In this case, the document is read by the reading device of one row.

  In this way, the first reading unit reads the original document only by the reading device in one row, so that power consumption can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the reading device according to the first or second aspect, the interval in the first direction of the reading devices in a plurality of columns is calculated from the reading resolution. It is set to an integral multiple of the minimum unit of scanning.

Thus, since the interval in the first direction of the reading devices of the plurality of columns is set to an integral multiple of the minimum unit of scanning calculated from the reading resolution, reading synchronization between the columns can be easily achieved. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the reading apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the reading device is a reading device for A4 size, and overlaps the reading devices. The length is equal to or greater than the postcard width.

  Thus, since the versatile A4 size reading device is used, the cost of the reading apparatus can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the reading device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the reading devices arranged in a plurality of rows are integrally molded. It is characterized by.

  As described above, since the reading devices arranged in a plurality of rows are integrally molded, the reading devices can be provided in a simple configuration. Further, it is possible to read a large document without adjusting the position between the reading devices, and it is possible to read a small document at high speed.

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a reading apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the reading apparatus includes an apparatus main body 10, and an original glass plate 20 is fitted into the upper opening 11 of the apparatus main body 10. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 30 indicates a document (one page) placed on the document glass plate 20.

  In addition, the reading apparatus includes reading devices 40 and 50 provided in parallel in the apparatus main body 10. As shown in FIG. 1, both reading devices 40 and 50 extend in the longitudinal direction along the horizontal direction (main scanning direction) of the opening 11 of the apparatus body 10 on the back side of the original glass plate 20. Both the reading devices 40 and 50 are supported in the apparatus main body 10 by a support body (not shown) so as to be movable in the vertical direction (sub scanning direction) of the opening 11. The sub-scanning direction corresponds to the first direction of the present invention, and the main scanning direction corresponds to the second direction of the present invention.

  Among the reading devices 40 and 50, the reading device 40 extends to the left in the drawing in the opening 11 of the apparatus main body 10 with respect to the other reading devices 50 as shown in FIG. 1.

  The reading device 40 includes a supporting member 40 a and a reading member 40 b having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the supporting member 40 a extends in the longitudinal direction along the left-right direction of the opening 11 of the apparatus main body 10.

  The reading member 40b is accommodated in the U-shaped recess 41 of the support member 40a along the longitudinal direction thereof. The reading member 40b has a longitudinal casing 42, and the casing 42 is supported by both protrusions 42a (only one protrusion 42a is shown in FIG. 2) provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The member 40a is connected to and supported by the left side wall 43 of the member 40a so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reading member 40 b includes a light guide plate 44, a lens array 45, and a series of light receiving elements (not shown) corresponding to the lens array 45. The light guide plate 44 is arranged along the longitudinal direction in the casing 42. The light guide plate 44 guides light from a light emitting diode (not shown), and converts the light into a one-dimensional light as an original glass plate. 20 is emitted toward the document 30.

  The lens array 45 includes a series of gradient index cylindrical lenses 45 a and is arranged along the light guide plate 44 in the casing 42. Thus, the series of cylindrical lenses 45a receive the one-dimensional light from the light guide plate 44 reflected by the document 30 and emit it downward.

  Each cylindrical lens 45 a protrudes upward from the opening end of the casing 42 at the tip end 45 b and faces the back surface of the original glass plate 20.

  The series of light receiving elements described above are arranged so as to face the series of cylindrical lenses 45a immediately below the lens array 45, and each of the series of light receiving elements receives light emitted from the corresponding cylindrical lens 45a. And output as read data.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the reading device 40 has a coil spring 40c. The coil spring 40c is formed in the width direction central portion of the bottom wall of the recess 41 of the support member 40a and the casing 42 of the reading member 40b. It is interposed between the width direction center part of the bottom wall.

  Thereby, the coil spring 40c urges the reading member 40b toward the original glass plate 20 by its elasticity. This is because the reading member 40b is biased counterclockwise by the coil spring 40c around the connecting portion between the projection 42a of the casing 42 and the left side wall 43 of the support member 40a, and is maintained at a predetermined inclination angle. Means that.

  The reading device 50 includes a supporting member 50 a and a reading member 50 b having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the supporting member 50 a extends in the longitudinal direction along the left-right direction of the opening 11 of the apparatus main body 10.

  The reading member 50b is accommodated in the U-shaped recess 51 of the support member 50a along the longitudinal direction thereof. The reading member 50b has a longitudinal casing 52. The casing 52 is supported by both protrusions 52a (only one protrusion 52a is shown in FIG. 2) provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The member 50a is connected to and supported by the left side wall 53 of the member 50a so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the reading member 50 b has a light guide plate 54, a lens array 55, and a series of light receiving elements (not shown) corresponding to the lens array 55. The light guide plate 54 is disposed in the casing 52 along the longitudinal direction thereof. The light guide plate 54 guides light from other light emitting diodes (not shown), and as one-dimensional light, The light is emitted toward the original 30 through the original glass plate 20.

  The lens array 55 includes a series of gradient index cylindrical lenses 55 a and is arranged along the light guide plate 54 in the casing 52. Thus, the series of cylindrical lenses 55a receives the one-dimensional light from the light guide plate 54 reflected by the document 30 and emits the light downward.

  Each cylindrical lens 55 a protrudes upward from the opening end of the casing 52 at the tip 55 b and faces the back surface of the original glass plate 20.

  Further, the series of light receiving elements of the reading member 50b are arranged so as to face the series of cylindrical lenses 55a immediately below the lens array 55, and each of the series of light receiving elements corresponds to the corresponding cylindrical lens 55a. The emitted light is received and output as read data.

  Further, the reading device 50 includes a coil spring 50c. The coil spring 50c is formed in the width direction center of the bottom wall of the recess 51 of the support member 50a and the width direction of the bottom wall of the casing 52 of the reading member 50b. It is interposed between the central part. As a result, the coil spring 50c urges the reading member 50b toward the original glass plate 20 by its elasticity. This is because the reading member 50b is urged counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 2 by the coil spring 50c around the connecting portion between the projection 52a of the casing 52 and the left side wall 53 of the supporting member 50a. It means that the tilt angle is maintained.

  In the present embodiment, the reading device 50 is positioned at the left side portion L (hereinafter referred to as an overlapping portion L) so as to overlap the right side portion R (hereinafter referred to as an overlapping portion R) of the reading device 40 in the sub-scanning direction. is doing. Here, the overlapping lengths of the overlapping portion L of the reading device 50 and the overlapping portion R of the reading device 40 are set to be somewhat longer than the width of the public postcard.

  Further, the distance along the sub-scanning direction between the lens array 55 of the reading device 50 and the lens array 45 of the reading device 40 is the minimum scanning unit in the sub-scanning direction determined based on the reading resolution (for example, both adjacent lines). Is set to an integer multiple (for example, 1 time).

  In the present embodiment, a highly versatile A4 size contact image sensor is employed as the reading members 40b and 50b.

  Next, the circuit configuration of the reading device will be described with reference to FIG. 3. Both analog-digital converters 60 and 70 (hereinafter referred to as A-D converters 60 and 70) respectively include both reading devices 40, 50 read data are digitally converted and output to the microcomputer 80.

  The microcomputer 80 executes the computer program in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, and during this execution, the microcomputer 80 responds to the document size based on the driving process of the driving mechanism 90 and the outputs from both A / D converters 60 and 70. Read process. The computer program is stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 80.

  The drive mechanism 90 is driven and controlled by the drive motor under the control of the microcomputer 80 to move both the reading devices 40 and 50 integrally in the sub-scanning direction.

  In the first embodiment configured as described above, when the reading device operates, the microcomputer 80 starts executing the computer program according to the flowchart of FIG.

  At this time, the reading device 40 is assumed to be positioned at the upper end of FIG. 1 in the sub-scanning direction of the opening 11 of the apparatus main body 10 (corresponding to the first line of the document 30).

  In the present embodiment, when the original 30 is an A3 size original, an A4 size original or a postcard size original in the reading apparatus, the original 30 is placed on the entire area of the original glass plate 20. It is set to be placed on the area corresponding to the reading device 40 or on the area corresponding to the overlapping portion of the reading devices 40 and 50 on the original glass plate 20.

  Accordingly, in step 100 of FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the document 30 is an A4 size document. At this stage, if the original 30 is an A4 size original and is placed on the area corresponding to the reading device 40 of the original glass plate 20, the determination in step 100 is YES.

  Next, in step 101, reading setting processing by one reading device is performed. Here, since the one reading device is the reading device 40, the reading device 40 is set to read the A4 size document.

  Accordingly, the first line document portion of the A4 size document is read by the reading device 40, and the first line storage area for each color in the RAM of the microcomputer 80 as data of each color (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). (See FIG. 5). Note that the reading device 50 is placed in a reading stopped state.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 0 represents a storage portion corresponding to the 0th pixel of each color data in the first line storage area for each color, and reference numeral m represents the above storage area in the first line storage area for each color. The storage part corresponding to the mth pixel of each color data is represented.

  Thereafter, in step 102, one reading device is moved by one line. At the present stage, the reading device 40 is moved from the first line to the second line along the sub-scanning direction. Along with this processing, the driving mechanism 90 moves the reading device 40 together with the reading device 50 from the first line to the second line along the sub-scanning direction with the driving motor.

  After the processing in step 102, it is determined in step 110 whether or not reading of one page of the A4 size document has been completed. At the present stage, since the reading for one line has only been completed, the determination in step 110 is NO.

  Thereafter, the circulation processing from step 101 to step 110 is repeated, and the reading of the A4 size original for each line after the second line and the movement of the reading device 40 for each line are sequentially performed. As the A4 size document is read line by line from the second line onward, the document area for each line is sequentially stored in each storage area for each color in the RAM of the microcomputer 80 (see FIG. 5).

  In such a state, when reading of one page of the A4 size document is completed, YES is determined in step 110. Thereby, the reading of the A4 size document is completed.

  Next, when the computer program proceeds to step 100 as described above, if the original 30 is an A3 size original or a postcard size original, the determination in step 100 is NO.

  Accordingly, in step 103, a line gap N setting process is performed. In the present embodiment, the line gap N represents an interval in the sub-scanning direction of the lens arrays 45 and 55 of both the reading devices 40 and 50 (an integral multiple (for example, 1 time) of the minimum scanning unit). Is stored in advance in the ROM.

  Accordingly, in step 103, the line gap N is set to the interval between the lens arrays 45 and 55 stored in the ROM of the microcomputer 80 (for example, the interval between both adjacent lines).

  Next, in step 104, an address generation process is performed. In this generation processing, in consideration of the line gap N, the address of each storage area in which each read data for the original part for each line of the A3 size original and the postcard size original is stored is generated and output to the RAM. . Thereby, each storage area of the RAM is associated with each generated address.

  Thereafter, in step 105, the line count value z is cleared to z = 0. Here, the line count value z takes a value within the range of z = 0 to N.

  Next, in step 120, it is determined whether or not the document 30 is a postcard size document. Here, if the original 30 is an A3 size original and is placed on the entire area of the original glass plate 20, the determination in step 120 is NO.

  Then, in step 121, reading setting processing by both reading devices 40 and 50 is performed. Accordingly, both reading devices 40 and 50 are set to read the A3 size original.

  At this time, since the reading device 40 is located on the first line of the A4 size document as described above, the reading device 50 is located on the Nth line of the A4 size document.

  Therefore, the line corresponding to the Nth line of the A4 size original among the A3 size originals is the first line that can be read by the reading devices 40 and 50 for one line of the A3 size original. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first line of the A3 size document is positioned on the Nth line of the A4 size document. Further, among the plurality of pixels for one line of the A3 size document, the 0th to mth pixels are read by the reading device 40, and the remaining m + 1st to nth pixels are read by the reading device 50. ing.

  Accordingly, in step 121, the document portion corresponding to the (m + 1) th to nth pixels in the first line of the A3 size document is read by the reading device 50, and is used for each color of the RAM of the microcomputer 80 as each color data. It is stored in the (m + 1) th to nth storage locations in the Nth line storage area (see FIG. 6).

  Next, in step 122, movement processing for one line of both reading devices 40 and 50 is performed. At the present stage, the reading device 40 is moved from the first line to the second line along the sub-scanning direction. Along with this processing, the drive mechanism 90 moves the reading device 40 from the first line to the second line along the sub-scanning direction with the drive motor. For this reason, the reading device 50 moves from the Nth line to the (N + 1) th line.

  At this stage, since only the document portion corresponding to the (m + 1) th to nth pixels in the first line of the A3 size document is read, it is determined as NO in Step 130. Then, in step 121, the reading setting process is performed again by both reading devices 40 and 50. Along with this, the document portion corresponding to the (m + 1) th to nth pixels in the second line of the A3 size document is read by the reading device 50, and the Nth line for each color in the RAM of the microcomputer 80 is used as each color data. It is stored in each of the (m + 1) th to nth storage locations in the storage area.

  Thereafter, the circulation process of each of the steps 122, 130 and 121 is repeated, and the document portion corresponding to the (m + 1) th to nth pixels after the third line of the A3 size document is sequentially read by the reading device 50, and each color is read. As data for use, it is stored in each of the (m + 1) th to nth storage locations in each storage area after the third line of the RAM of the microcomputer 80.

  In this state, when the reading device 40 and the reading device 50 are moved after the Nth line and after the 2Nth line of the A4 size document, respectively, the 0th to mth lines after the first line of the A3 size document. The original parts corresponding to the pixels are sequentially read by the reading device 40 and stored as data for each color in the 0th to mth storage parts of the storage area after the Nth line of the RAM of the microcomputer 80. (See FIG. 6). Further, the reading device 50 sequentially reads the document portions corresponding to the (m + 1) -th to n-th pixels after the 2N-th line of the A3 size document by the reading device 50, and uses the microcomputer 80 as data for each color. It is stored in the (m + 1) th to nth storage locations in the storage area after the 2Nth line of the RAM (see FIG. 6).

  As a result, the original part after one line of the A3 size original is read by both the reading devices 40 and 50 and sequentially stored in the storage area after the Nth line of the RAM of the microcomputer 80 line by line. Become.

  Thereafter, when reading of one page of the A3 size document is completed, the determination in step 130 is YES.

  When the computer program reaches step 120 as described above, if the original 30 is a postcard-size original and is placed on the overlapping area of the reading devices 40 and 50 on the original glass plate 20, It is determined as YES. Accordingly, in the next step 123, reading setting processing is performed by the overlapping portions of both reading devices 40 and 50. Accordingly, both reading devices 40 and 50 are set to read the postcard-size original at each overlapping portion. In the present embodiment, the processing in steps 100 to 150 corresponds to the first reading unit of the present invention.

  Therefore, the original part of the first line of the postcard size original is read by the overlapping portion of the reading device 40 and stored as the color data in the first line storage area for each color in the RAM, and the postcard size. The original part of the Nth line of the original is read by the overlapping portion of the reading device 50 and stored as each color data in the Nth line storage area for each color in the RAM (see FIG. 7). In FIG. 7, for the sake of convenience, only the storage mode in the storage area for the first color of the RAM is shown.

  After step 123, it is determined in step 140 whether or not the line count value is z = N. Since z = 0 at the current stage, the determination in step 140 is NO. Accordingly, in step 141, addition updating is performed with z = z + 1 = 1.

  Next, in step 142, the moving process for one line of the reading device is performed. Along with this, the drive mechanism 90 moves both the reading devices 40 and 50 by one line in the sub-scanning direction. For this reason, the reading device 40 moves to the second line, and the reading device 50 moves to the N + 1 line.

  When the moving process is performed in this way, in step 123, the reading process by the overlapping portions of both reading devices 40 and 50 is performed in the same manner as described above. Therefore, the original part of the second line of the postcard-size original is read by the overlapping portion of the reading device 40 and stored as the color data in the second-line storage area for each color of the RAM. The original portion of the (N + 1) th line is read by the overlapping portion of the reading device 50 and stored as each color data in the N + 1th line storage area for each color of the RAM.

  Thereafter, while the circulation process of each step 140, 141, 142, and 123 is repeated, the original part after the third line of the postcard size original is sequentially read by the overlapping portion of the reading device 40, and each color data Is stored in the storage area for each color after the third line of the RAM, and the original part after the N + 2th line of the postcard-size original is read by the overlapping portion of the reading device 50, and the data for each color is stored in the RAM. It is stored in the storage area after the (N + 2) th line for each color.

  Thereafter, when the latest line count value in step 141 reaches z = N, YES is determined in step 140, and in the next step 143, the reading device is moved by N lines. Accordingly, the driving mechanism 90 moves both reading devices 40 and 50 by N lines in the sub-scanning direction under the operation of the driving motor. For this reason, the reading device 40 moves to the 2N line, and the reading device 50 moves to the 3N line.

  At the present stage, since reading of the postcard-size original has not been completed for one page, NO is determined in step 150 and the line count value z = 0 is cleared again in step 105. Thereafter, in accordance with the determination of YES in step 120, the circulation processing of steps 123, 140, 141, and 142 is performed in the same manner as described above.

  In this cyclic processing, the original portion after the 2Nth line of the postcard size original is read by the reading device 40 and stored as each color data in the storage area for each color after the Nth line of the RAM. The document portion after the 3N-th line of the document is read by the reading device 50 and stored as color data in each color storage area after the 3N-th line of the RAM.

  Thereafter, by repeating the same processing, when the reading of one page of the postcard size document is completed, it is determined as YES in Step 150.

  As described above, the arrangement of the reading devices 40 and 50 has been devised, and the reading device necessary for reading is adjusted according to the size of the document 30, so that the size of the document 30 is increased. Regardless, the document 30 can be read.

  Further, when reading the A4 size document, the reading device 50 is placed in the reading stopped state and is read only by the reading device 40, which leads to a reduction in power consumption of the reading device. Such an effect can be similarly achieved even when the reading device 40 is placed in the reading stop state and reading is performed only by the reading device 50.

  Further, when reading the A3 size document, since a highly versatile A4 size contact image sensor is used as each reading element of the reading devices 40 and 50, a high cost A3 size contact image sensor is used. Compared with this, the cost of the reading device can be reduced.

  Further, when reading the postcard size original, each original part of the postcard size original from 1 to N-1 lines, each original part of 2N lines to 3N-1 lines,... Are read by the scanning unit 50, and each original part of the postcard-size original from N line to 2N-1 line, each original part of 3N line to 4N-1 line,. It is done.

  As described above, the postcard size original is read by the overlapping portions of both the reading devices 40 and 50, so that it is faster than reading the postcard size original by only one overlapping portion of the both reading devices 40 and 50. The postcard-size original can be read at (double speed).

  Further, as described above, the interval in the sub-scanning direction of both lens arrays 45 and 55, that is, the interval in the sub-scanning direction of both reading devices 40 and 50 is determined based on the reading resolution. Since it is set to an integral multiple (for example, 1 time) of a unit (for example, an interval between both adjacent lines), it is possible to synchronize reading between the respective reading devices 40 and 50. As a result, subsequent image processing can be performed with high accuracy.

Further, as described above, in both reading devices 40 and 50, since both reading members 40b and 50b are maintained at the same inclination angle so as to face the same direction as described above, No color misregistration occurs.
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 shows a main part of the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, in the reading device 40 described in the first embodiment, a reading device 200 is used instead of the reading member 40b. Is adopted.

  The reading device 200 is configured by molding both reading members 220 and 230 on a longitudinal mold member 210. Instead of the reading member 40b of the reading device 40, the mold member 210 is rotatably connected to the left side wall 43 of the casing 42 by both projections 211 formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction. It is accommodated in the place 41.

  Among the reading members 220 and 230, the reading member 220 includes a light guide plate 221, a lens array 222, and a series of light receiving elements (not shown). The light guide plate 221 is disposed along the longitudinal direction in the mold member 210, and the light guide plate 221 guides light from a light emitting diode (not shown), and the original glass from the upper surface of the mold member 210. The light is emitted toward the document 30 through the plate 20.

  The lens array 222 has the same configuration as the lens array 45 of the reading member 40 b, and the lens array 222 is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 221. Accordingly, the lens array 222 receives the one-dimensional light from the light guide plate 44 reflected by the document 30 and emits the light downward.

  In addition, the series of light receiving elements of the reading member 220 are arranged to face the series of cylindrical lenses directly below the lens array 222, and each of the series of light receiving elements is emitted light from the corresponding cylindrical lens. Is received and output as read data.

  The reading member 230 includes a light guide plate 231, a lens array 232, and a series of light receiving elements (not shown). The light guide plate 231 is disposed along the longitudinal direction in the mold member 210 so as to be parallel to the lens array 222 via the lens array 232, and the light guide plate 231 is provided from a light emitting diode (not shown). Light is guided and emitted from the upper surface of the mold member 210 toward the original 30 through the original glass plate 20.

  The lens array 232 has a configuration similar to that of the lens array of the reading member 40b. The lens array 232 is arranged between the light guide plate 231 and the lens array 222 along the longitudinal direction thereof. Thus, the lens array 232 receives the one-dimensional light from the light guide plate 231 reflected by the document 30 and emits the light downward.

  Further, the series of light receiving elements of the reading member 230 are arranged to face the series of cylindrical lenses directly below the lens array 232, and each of the series of light receiving elements is emitted light from the corresponding cylindrical lens. Is received and output as read data.

  In the second embodiment, the reading member 230 is positioned at the left side (overlapping part) so as to overlap the right side (overlapping part) of the reading member 220 in the sub-scanning direction. Here, the overlapping lengths of the overlapping portion of the reading member 230 and the overlapping portion of the reading member 220 are set to be somewhat longer than the width of the official postcard.

  Further, the distance along the sub-scanning direction between the lens array 232 of the reading member 230 and the lens array 222 of the reading member 220 is determined based on the reading resolution as described in the first embodiment. It is set to an integral multiple of the minimum scanning unit in the direction. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment configured as described above, since both the reading members 220 and 230 are molded on the mold member 210 so that the original 30 can be read, the reading device in the reading apparatus has a simple configuration. And can be provided compactly. Further, it is possible to read a large document without adjusting the position between the reading devices, and it is possible to read a small document at high speed. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, a reading member having the same configuration as the reading device 200 may be adopted instead of the reading member of the reading device 50 described in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 9 shows a main part of a modified example of the second embodiment. In this modified example, in the reading device 200 described in the second embodiment, the configuration of both reading members 220 and 230 is as follows. Has been changed.

  That is, in the reading member 220, the light guide plate 221 is provided on the mold member 210 on the reading member 230 side with respect to the lens array 222. On the other hand, in the reading member 230, the light guide plate 231 is provided on the mold member 210 on the reading member 220 side with respect to the lens array 232. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

  Also according to this modified example configured as described above, the same effects as those of the second embodiment can be achieved.

In carrying out the present invention, the following various modifications are possible without being limited to the above embodiments.
(1) In the first embodiment, the reading devices 40 and 50 are not limited to the A4 size contact image sensor, but may be configured with various size contact image sensors such as an A3 size contact image sensor. .
(2) In the first embodiment, the number of reading devices is not limited to both reading devices 40 and 50, and may be further increased.
(3) In this embodiment, the document size is described as A3, A4, and a postcard size, and the size of the document read at high speed is the postcard size. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reading devices 40 and 50 are not limited thereto. The same effect can be obtained if the size is equal to or smaller than the overlap length.
(4) Although the speed of reading a postcard-size original has been described as being high speed (double speed), it is not limited to this, and it is possible to read at a speed faster than the speed of reading A3 and A4 size originals. It ’s fine.
(5) In the present embodiment, the case where the reading devices are arranged in two rows has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the reading devices may be arranged in three or more rows. By doing so, the reading speed in the overlapping region can be further increased.

It is a partial fracture top view showing a 1st embodiment of a reading device concerning the present invention. It is the partial side view which looked at the reading apparatus of FIG. 1 from the left side. It is a block circuit diagram in the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action of the microcomputer of FIG. It is a typical explanatory view showing an example of storing read data in each storage area of the RAM of the microcomputer when the document is an A4 size document. It is a typical explanatory view showing an example of storing read data in each storage area of the microcomputer RAM when the original is an A3 size original. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating an example of storing read data in each storage area of a RAM of a microcomputer when the original is a postcard-size original. It is a top view which shows the principal part of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the principal part of the modification of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

20 ... Original glass plate, 30 ... Original, 40, 50 ... Reading device,
40b, 50b, 220, 230 ... reading member, 80 ... microcomputer,
90 ... Drive mechanism, 200 ... Reading device, 210 ... Mold member.

Claims (5)

In a reading apparatus that reads an image of an original placed on an original glass by scanning the reading device,
The reading devices are arranged in a plurality of rows in a longitudinal direction along a second direction intersecting the first direction so that a part of the reading device overlaps the first direction in which the scanning device is scanned,
When the width of the original is equal to or less than the overlapping length of the reading device, the original is placed on an area corresponding to each overlapping portion of the reading devices in a plurality of rows on the original glass,
When the width of the document exceeds the overlap length of the reading device, the document is placed on an area corresponding to one or more rows of reading devices,
Determining means for determining whether the width of the document is equal to or less than the overlap length of the reading device or exceeds the overlap length of the reading device;
The document is determined by the determining means and said exceeds the weight becomes the length of the 1 or more rows widths said reading device before SL document by being placed on an area corresponding to the reading device the case, the first reading means for reading the originals by the reading device of the one or more rows,
In the weight becomes long hereinafter the plurality column widths said reading device before SL document by being placed in a corresponding region in each overlapping portion of the reading device on width the document glass of the document the case where it is determined by said determining means that there, for each of the intervals in the first direction of the reading device of the plurality of rows, while moving the reading device of the plurality of rows in the first direction, the plurality the column reading-up devices with each an overlapping portion min, the reader being characterized in that a second reading means for reading the originals.   2. The first reading unit reads the document by the one row reading device when the width of the document is within the length of one row of the plurality of rows of reading devices. A reading device according to 1. The interval in the first direction of the reading devices of the plurality of columns is set to an integral multiple of the minimum unit of the scan calculated from the reading resolution. Reading device. The reading device is a reading device for A4 size,
The reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overlapping length of the reading device is equal to or greater than a postcard width.   The reading device according to claim 1, wherein the reading devices arranged in a plurality of rows are integrally molded.