JP4991016B1 - Image reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of easily adjusting the distance and arrangement between a photographing unit and a photographing object when capturing images of photographing objects (for example, books) having different sizes. .
The image reading apparatus includes a photographing unit (1a) that performs photographing, an arm (2) that supports the photographing unit in a direction facing the photographing surface, and within and outside the angle of view of the photographing unit. And an arm extendable portion that allows the arm to extend and contract in a direction substantially along the boundary line (f) on the arm side.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that captures an image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading apparatus has been developed that captures an image of a document by arranging a photographing unit including an area sensor composed of a CCD, a CMOS, or the like above the document (for example, Patent Document 1). In the image reading apparatus of Patent Document 1, the document is positioned by abutting two sides of the document against a leg portion supporting the apparatus, and the photographing unit is fixed at an upper position of the document by the arm unit.

  When capturing a still image of a book surface, it is preferable to take a picture with the book surface occupying a large area in the field of view of the photographing unit in order to effectively use the resolution of the area sensor. For example, shooting is performed in a state in which the upper end and the lower end of the paper surface of the book are aligned with the upper end and the lower end of the field of view of the photographing unit, so that a still image on a paper surface with high resolution can be obtained.

JP 2010-200291 A

  Books come in various sizes. Therefore, in order to perform high-resolution photography for books of various sizes, the user first sets the size of the book to the appropriate size within the field of view of the photography unit. It is necessary to adjust the distance. Further, the user needs to adjust the arrangement by shifting the photographing unit or the paper surface in the horizontal direction so that the paper surface of the book is appropriately arranged within the field of view of the photographing unit. Performing these two adjustments at the same time is very complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of easily adjusting the distance and arrangement between a photographing unit and a photographing object when capturing images of photographing objects having different sizes (for example, books). That is.

An image reading apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a shooting unit that captures a still image from a book , an arm that supports the shooting unit in a direction facing the book , and an angle of view and an angle of view of the shooting unit. wherein without changing the base part for supporting and fixing said arm in a substantially parallel inclined state, and a positioning part to align the edge center of the book provided in the base portion, the inclined state against the boundary line between the An arm expansion / contraction section that allows the arm to expand and contract, and the photographing section adopts a configuration for capturing a still image of the book positioned by the positioning section .

According to the present invention, the distance between the photographing unit and the book to be photographed can be adjusted by moving the photographing unit by extending and contracting the arm while substantially fixing one end of the angle of view of the photographing unit. Therefore, the distance and arrangement between the photographing unit and the book to be photographed can be easily adjusted so that the book to be photographed has an appropriate size and arrangement within the photographing field of view.

1 is a perspective view showing an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of a state at the time of photographing of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing explaining the effect | action of the image reading apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention. Explanatory drawing explaining the effect | action of the image reading apparatus of Embodiment 2 of this invention. Explanatory drawing explaining the effect | action of the image reading apparatus of Embodiment 3 of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the drawer-type tray in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image reading apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment includes an imaging unit 1 that captures an image, an arm 2 that supports the imaging unit 1, a base unit 4 that supports the arm 2, and a base unit 4 that extends in two directions. It is mainly composed of two leg portions 3 and 3 to be supported, and a light source portion 5 that illuminates the photographing range.

  The photographing unit 1 includes a camera 1a (see FIG. 3) that electrically captures an image. The camera 1a includes a camera lens and an image sensor that converts an image formed by the camera lens into an electric signal and takes it in. The image sensor is, for example, a two-dimensional (area) sensor such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor (CMOS image sensor). The photographing unit 1 is fixedly supported at an angle where the camera 1a faces downward (a direction facing the surface along the leg portions 3 and 3).

  In addition, when the imaging unit 1 is not in use, the imaging unit 1 rotates about a hinge provided on the upper arm 2a and can be stored in the upper arm 2a. The upper arm 2a is fixed at a predetermined angle.

  The arm 2 includes a lower arm 2 b supported by the base portion 4 and an upper arm 2 a that supports the photographing unit 1. The lower arm 2b is fixedly supported at a predetermined angle by the base portion 4. The arm 2 is provided with an expansion / contraction mechanism that allows the length of the arm 2 to expand and contract. The expansion / contraction mechanism is specifically a slide mechanism, and for example, a convex portion provided in the longitudinal direction of the upper arm 2a is supported by a concave guide groove (none of which is shown) provided in the longitudinal direction of the lower arm 2b. Thus, the arm 2 is slidable in the longitudinal direction. The upper arm 2a slides with respect to the lower arm 2b by applying a certain force or more, but if no force is applied, the sliding position is maintained.

  The slide mechanism of the arm 2 is provided with a stopper for locking the upper arm 2a and the lower arm 2b at a predetermined slide position. A plurality of positions are set as slide positions where the both are locked. With this configuration, the user can easily adjust the arm 2 to a predetermined plurality of lengths step by step. These plural lengths allow the photographing unit 1 to be moved to a height suitable for these prescribed book sizes, corresponding to the case where the book to be photographed has a prescribed size such as A4 size and B5 size, for example. It is set to length.

  When the arm 2 is not in use, the arm 2 rotates about a hinge portion provided on the base portion 4 and can be folded to a position parallel to the legs 3, 3. Is fixedly supported by the base portion 4 at an angle of. The angle at which the arm 2 is supported is, for example, an angle at which the longitudinal direction of the arm 2 is inclined with respect to the vertical line when the image reading device is placed on a horizontal plane (for example, 30 ° to 60 ° with respect to the vertical line, The angle is preferably set to 40 ° to 50 °.

  The light source unit 5 is provided on one surface of the upper arm 2a (the surface facing the document placement surface 20 (see FIG. 3)). The light source unit 5 includes a plurality of light emitting elements (for example, LEDs: light emitting diodes) 5 a, and the plurality of light emitting elements 5 a are provided along the longitudinal direction of the arm 2. The light source unit 5 changes the position up and down with the upper arm 2a when the arm 2 is expanded and contracted.

  Each of the leg portions 3 and 3 has a shape that is long in one direction, and one end of each of the leg portions 3 and 3 is connected to the base portion 4. When the image reading device is placed on a horizontal plane, the legs 3 and 3 support the image reading device by extending in two directions on the horizontal plane. The upper surfaces of the leg portions 3 and 3 are made flat, and marks (positioning marks) 7 and 7 for aligning one end of the book to be photographed are provided at positions close to the base portion 4.

  In addition, when not in use, the leg portions 3 and 3 are folded around so as to rotate around a support shaft provided in the base portion 4 and close to each other (so that the leg portions 3 and 3 are parallel to each other). In use, it is opened at a predetermined angle (for example, 60 ° to 120 °, preferably 80 ° to 100 °, etc.).

  The base part 4 serves as a base of the image reading apparatus, supports the arm 2 as described above, and connects the two legs 3 and 3 as described above. Further, the inner central end portion (the middle portion sandwiched between the leg portions 3 and 3) of the base portion 4 functions as a stopper 8 that is positioned by contacting one end of the book to be photographed.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a state at the time of photographing of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the image reading apparatus having the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the book 30 to be photographed is placed in a state where a part is placed on the legs 3 and 3. As shown in the figure, the book 30 is positioned by being abutted against the arc portion of the stopper 8, but it is desirable that the marks 7 and 7 have a positional relationship such that the extension line is in contact with the arc portion of the stopper 8. . The alignment between the book 30 and the photographing unit 1 will be described later. At this time, the illumination of the light source unit 5 is applied to the paper surface of the book from an oblique direction. In this state, the photographing unit 1 operates to capture a still image on the paper surface of the book. When the user repeatedly takes in the still image while turning the pages of the book, the still images of the plurality of pages of the book are sequentially taken in. These still images are sent to a computer and converted into a flat and rectangular image in which the edge of the book 30 is corrected to a straight line by image processing.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  3A shows a state in which the arm 2 is contracted, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the arm 2 is extended. In FIG. 3, the mounting surface of the image reading apparatus is an XY plane (horizontal plane), the direction extending in front of the image reading apparatus (the horizontal component in the longitudinal direction of the arm 2) is the X direction, and the height of the image reading apparatus is The vertical direction is the Z direction. Note that FIG. 3 is drawn with the thickness in the Z direction of the leg portions 3, 3 etc. omitted for the sake of simplicity.

  In this image reading apparatus, as shown in FIG. 3, the surface on which the legs 3 and 3 are placed becomes the document placing surface 20 on which the book to be photographed is placed, and the photographing direction of the camera 1a (the optical axis of the camera lens). Direction) is set substantially vertically downward.

  Further, of the angle of view of the camera 1a (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 3), the boundary line f on the arm 2 side is substantially the same as the expansion / contraction direction of the arm 2 (same as the longitudinal direction of the arm 2 in this embodiment). Set to parallel. The boundary line f represents the boundary between the inside angle of view and the outside angle of view of the camera 1a.

  Further, the offset L (line segment PC1-B1 in FIG. 3A and line segment PC2-B2 in FIG. 3B) from the tip of the arm 2 to the camera 1a is the position of one end of the document placement surface 20 from the support portion 4a of the arm 2. It is set almost the same as the offset up to P0 (the line segment P0-C in FIGS. 3A and 3B). In other words, the offset L from the straight line along the expansion / contraction path of the arm 2 to the center of the camera lens of the camera 1a and the offset from the straight line to the position P0 at one end of the document placing surface 20 are made substantially the same. Here, the offset represents a displacement amount and a displacement direction. The position P0 is a position where the end of the book contacts the stopper 8, or a position of an intersection between one side of the book aligned by the mark 7 and a straight line extending in the X direction from the support portion 4a.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the arm 2 is contracted, the distance from the camera 1a to the document placing surface 20 is shortened, and therefore the reading range W1 of the camera 1a. Becomes smaller. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the arm 2 is extended, the distance from the camera 1a to the document placing surface 20 is increased, and therefore the reading range W2 of the camera 1a is increased. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the heights A1 and A2 of the camera 1a differ by a distance Dz. Further, in both cases, one end of the reading ranges W1 and W2 of the camera 1a is fixed at the position P0, and the positions PE1 and PE2 at the other end are changed. That is, even if the expansion / contraction amount of the arm 2 is changed, the intersection of one end of the angle of view of the camera 1a and the document placement surface 20 is fixed at the position P0.

  Therefore, when adjusting the positions of the book and the photographing unit 1, the user first places the book on the document placement surface 20 with one end of the book aligned with the position P 0. Subsequently, the user adjusts the amount of expansion / contraction of the arm 2 so that the paper surface of the book fits within the reading range of the camera 1a. By only these adjustments, the user can adjust the photographing unit 1 and the book to an appropriate distance and arrangement. Even if the size of the book is different, the user can easily adjust the photographing unit 1 and the book to an appropriate distance and arrangement in the same manner.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the arm 2 is contracted, the light source unit 5 illuminates the document placement surface 20 from a low position. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the arm 2 extends, the light source unit 5 illuminates the document placement surface 20 from a high position. 3A and 3B, the height of the light source unit 5 differs by a distance Dz. Therefore, the light source unit 5 can efficiently illuminate the small reading range W1 of the camera 1a if the arm 2 is contracted, and if the arm 2 is extended, the illumination range is widened to illuminate the entire large reading range W2. Can do.

  Further, the light source unit 5 is provided along the inclined arm 2. The illumination of the light source unit 5 is applied obliquely to the document placement surface 20 regardless of the amount of expansion / contraction of the arm 2. Therefore, direct reflected light of illumination is prevented from entering the camera 1a, and light scattered by illumination on the paper surface of the book is incident on the camera 1a. Therefore, it is possible to avoid overexposure and smearing of an image mainly caused by saturation of the output of the image sensor, and the camera 1a can capture a clean and accurate image. Further, since the light source unit 5 is provided on the inclined arm 2 and is separated from the boundary line f on the arm 2 side in the X direction by the offset L, the light source unit 5 is always disposed outside the angle of view of the camera 1a. Therefore, it is avoided that the irradiation light of the light source unit 5 is directly incident on the camera lens of the camera 1a. Therefore, the camera 1a can capture a beautiful and accurate image.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment, the XY plane on which the apparatus is placed is a horizontal plane, and the inclination (θs) that increases from the distal end side to the root side (support side) on the upper surface of the leg 3 is increased. Is provided. Due to this inclination, the book is held obliquely along the inclination when the book to be photographed is placed. In other words, the document placement surface 20 is set obliquely along the above inclination.

  The image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment further tilts the camera 1a from the horizontal direction by the same angle θs so as to correspond to the inclination (θs) of the document placement surface 20. In other words, the photographing direction of the photographing unit 1 is inclined from the vertical direction toward the support part 4a of the arm 2 in correspondence with the inclination of the upper surface of the leg part 3. In other words, the shooting direction of the camera 1a (the optical axis direction of the camera lens, the center direction of the field angle θi + θi) is set to a direction substantially orthogonal to the document placement surface 20.

  However, also in the image reading apparatus of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the boundary line f on the arm 2 side in the angle of view of the camera 1a is set in parallel with the expansion / contraction direction of the arm 2. Further, as in the first embodiment, the offset from the tip of the arm 2 to the camera 1a and the offset from the support portion 4a of the arm 2 to the position P0 at one end of the document placement surface 20 are made substantially the same. (See FIGS. 3A and 3B). The position P0 is the position of the stopper 8 where the end of the book abuts or the position of the intersection of one side of the book aligned by the mark 7 and a straight line extending in the X direction from the support portion 4a.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the user simply adjusts the expansion / contraction amount of the arm 2 by aligning one end of the book with the position P0, and the photographing unit 1 and the book. Can be adjusted to an appropriate distance and placement. Furthermore, according to the image reading apparatus of the second embodiment, the document placement surface 20 is inclined in a direction that is low on the front side and high on the back side. Therefore, work when setting a book and turning a page of the book And the visibility of the set book is improved.

  The length of the document placement surface 20 that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane is all the maximum document size that is assumed to be read by the image reading device (for example, 297 mm, which is the short direction in the case of A3 size). It is desirable that the length be supported by the document placement surface 20. That is, it is desirable to extend the document placement surface 20 shown in FIG. 4B (in a direction inclined by θs from the X direction) and extend between P0 and PE2. By doing so, the original surface of a book or the like placed on the original placement surface 20 and the optical axis of the camera 1a are substantially orthogonal, and there is little shape distortion (no bias) in the entire imaging region. Images can be acquired.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the third embodiment, the XY plane on which the apparatus is placed is a horizontal plane, and the upper surface of the leg portion 3 is provided with an inclination (θs ′) that becomes lower from the distal end side toward the root side. . Due to this inclination, the book is held obliquely along the inclination when a book or the like to be photographed is placed. In other words, the document placement surface 20 is set obliquely along the above inclination.

  The image reading apparatus according to the third embodiment further tilts the camera 1a from the horizontal direction (a line parallel to the horizontal plane) by a similar angle θs ′ in correspondence with the inclination (θs ′) of the document placement surface 20. . In other words, the shooting direction of the shooting unit 1 is tilted from the vertical direction toward the tip of the leg 3 in accordance with the inclination of the upper surface of the leg 3. In other words, the shooting direction of the camera 1a (the optical axis direction of the camera lens, the center direction of the field angle θi + θi) is set to a direction substantially orthogonal to the document placement surface 20.

  However, also in the image reading apparatus according to the third embodiment, the boundary line f on the arm 2 side in the angle of view of the camera 1a is set in parallel with the expansion / contraction direction of the arm 2 as in the first embodiment. Further, as in the first embodiment, the offset from the tip of the arm 2 to the camera 1a and the offset from the support portion 4a of the arm 2 to the position P0 at one end of the document placement surface 20 are made substantially the same. (See FIGS. 3A and 3B). The position P0 is the position of the stopper 8 where the end of the book abuts or the position of the intersection of one side of the book aligned by the mark 7 and a straight line extending in the X direction from the support portion 4a.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the third embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the user simply adjusts the expansion / contraction amount of the arm 2 by aligning one end of the book with the position P0, and the photographing unit 1 and the book. Can be adjusted to an appropriate distance and placement. Furthermore, according to the image reading apparatus of the third embodiment, since the document placement surface 20 is inclined in a direction that is high in front and low in the back, the book slides forward after setting the book. It becomes possible to support stably.

  5A and 5B, reference numeral 9 denotes a pull-out tray.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the pull-out tray 9 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the configuration and function of the pull-out tray 9 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The leg 3 is provided with a recess (not shown) that is a space for storing the pull-out tray 9, and the pull-out tray 9 is stored inside the leg 3 when not in use. By storing the pull-out tray 9 in the leg portion 3 when not in use or when reading a small-sized book, the apparatus size can be made compact. On the other hand, when reading a large-sized book, A3 paper, or the like, the two pull-out trays 9 are rotated around the rotation shaft 12 in the direction Dx and are used by being pulled out of the leg portion 3.

  In the third embodiment, the leg portion 3 is configured to be higher than the support portion 4a (base) on the side operated by the user, but the pull-out state of the pull-out tray 9 (the left and right rotation angles are changed). In other words, on the user side, documents of various sizes can be placed on a plane formed by the document placement surface 20 without any deformation of the single-leaf document or the like. . By doing so, the original surface of a book or the like placed on the original placement surface 20 and the optical axis of the camera 1a are substantially orthogonal, and there is little shape distortion (no bias) in the entire imaging region. Images can be acquired.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.

  In the above embodiment, the image reading apparatus includes the mark 7 and the stopper 8 for positioning one end of the book. However, the image reading apparatus may not include the mark 7 and the stopper 8. Even in this case, the user can align the book as in the case where the mark 7 or the stopper 8 is provided by aligning one end of the book with the edge of the video screen while watching the video screen, for example. Further, as shown as P0 in FIG. 4A, a cutout may be provided in the leg portion instead of the mark 7, and this may be used as a stopper.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure which an arm expands and contracts by a slide mechanism, it is good also as a structure which an arm expands and contracts by various expansion / contraction mechanisms. Further, the arm may have a bent shape instead of a linear shape as long as the imaging unit can be moved along the boundary of the angle of view by expansion and contraction.

  Further, the pull-out tray 9 described in the third embodiment can be easily applied to both the first and second embodiments.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the surface of the book is taken as an object to be photographed has been described, but the object to be photographed by the image reading apparatus of the present invention can be applied to other than books.

  The present invention can be applied to an image reading apparatus that photographs a paper surface of a book.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image pick-up part 1a Camera 2 Arm 3 Leg part 4 Base part 4a Support part 5 Light source part 5a Light emitting element 7 Marking 8 Stopper 9 Pull-out tray f Boundary of angle of view

Claims (7)

A shooting unit that captures still images from books ,
An arm that supports the photographing unit in a direction facing the book ;
A base part for supporting and fixing said arm in a substantially parallel inclined state against the boundary line between the angle in the angle out of the photographing unit,
A positioning part for aligning the center of the edge of the book provided on the base part
An arm expansion / contraction section that allows the arm to expand and contract without changing the inclined state ;
Equipped with,
The image reading device , wherein the photographing unit captures a still image of the book positioned by the positioning unit. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a positional deviation amount from a straight line along the extension / contraction path of the arm to the positioning unit is substantially the same as a positional deviation amount from the straight line to the photographing unit. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the positioning unit is a mark. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the positioning unit is a stopper that locks an edge of the book . It further comprises leg portions that extend in two directions from the base portion to support the device and on which the books are placed ,
The arm is supported in an oblique direction with respect to the surfaces along the two longitudinal directions of the leg,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing unit is supported in a direction opposite to surfaces of the leg portions along two longitudinal directions. The upper surface of the leg is provided with a slope that increases as it proceeds toward the base ,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a photographing direction of the photographing unit is inclined toward the base part from a vertical direction corresponding to an inclination of an upper surface of the leg part. The upper surface of the leg portion is provided with a slope that decreases as it proceeds to the base portion side,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a photographing direction of the photographing unit is inclined from a vertical direction toward a distal end portion of the leg portion corresponding to an inclination of an upper surface of the leg portion.

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