JP5803416B2 - Image reading device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for digitizing a document such as a slip.

  Documents such as slips used in home delivery services and forms used among a plurality of users and workers may be wrinkled depending on how they are handled during work. For example, in a delivery service, a delivery person takes a receipt slip to a delivery destination in order to obtain approval for receipt, and obtains a receipt stamp on the receipt slip at the delivery destination. The delivery person collects the received slip together with other slips and brings it to the collection and delivery office. A voucher used in such a situation is trapped by being stored in a delivery person's pocket or the like, or when pressure is applied by work such as stamping.

  In many cases, a slip including a receipt stamp is digitized and managed by a device such as a scanner. For example, it may be managed as an electronic file such as an image. In addition, payment storage forms such as transfer paper are brought into a convenience store by the user, and after the barcode is read together with the price written on the form by the operator, the electronic form is used for application and management. It becomes.

  Image reading apparatuses that digitize documents such as slips and forms include a paper conveyance type apparatus and a flat bed type apparatus that is placed on a reading table and closes an upper lid (document cover) to read an image. There are also flatbed type devices, such as small forms, cards and business cards, which are miniaturized devices that target only small-size originals. In addition, there is a face-up type apparatus in which an image input unit is mounted on an arm that holds a predetermined height from a document and an image is read from a position away from the document. In addition, there is a vertical apparatus in which the apparatus main body can be installed vertically.

  When the image is read by the image reading apparatus, if the document has wrinkles, the read image may be blurred or distorted. Further, in a paper conveyance type apparatus, when a document with a flaw is conveyed, a jam may occur in the middle of conveyance and the document may be damaged. There is a slit-type device that transports paper only in the image reading unit without transporting the paper in the device, but there is a possibility that a jam may occur if the document has a wrinkle. is there.

  In a flat bed type or face-up type apparatus, when a document has a wrinkle, an operator must stretch the document wrinkle with a hand or an iron before placing the document on the reading table. In addition, when the stretched wrinkles return, the document cover must be closed while holding the document with both hands, so that the operator's operation becomes complicated.

  Another possible method is to read the image with the eyelids stretched by placing the document in a transparent folder. However, if the scanned image contains a folder frame, or if the transparency of the folder is low, a clear image cannot be read, or the folder reflects light and part of the scanned image turns white. there is a possibility.

  Further, in the flat bed type apparatus, since the image is read with the document cover closed, it is impossible to confirm the position of the document and the state of the document crease when reading the image. Therefore, it is not possible to confirm the effect of wrinkles on the image until after the image is read.

  Patent Document 1 describes an image reading apparatus that causes a document to be brought into close contact with an image reading surface by moving a document pressing member provided in a document cover portion in a direction approaching the image reading surface.

  Patent Document 2 describes an image reading apparatus that can confirm a placement position of a document placed on a document table from a viewing window provided on an outer wall of a housing.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228867 allows vertical installation in order to reduce the installation occupation area, and when vertical installation is performed, an original can be conveyed with the lid closed, and an image can be read. A flatbed type device is described.

  In Patent Document 4, the scanner casing on which the reading surface is installed is inclined, and a gap for inserting a document is provided between the scanner casing and the printer casing. A vertical apparatus is described in which it is in close contact with a reading surface inclined by the weight of the document.

  Patent Documents 5 and 6 describe a face-up type device.

JP 2001-53918 A JP 2005-109663 A JP 2000-209409 A JP 2006-205398 A Japanese Patent No. 2968214 Japanese Patent No. 3008791

  Since the apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 reads an image by transporting a document, if there is a wrinkle on the document, a jam may occur during the transport.

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 4, since the original is brought into close contact with the inclined reading surface by the weight of the original, there is a possibility that the read image may be blurred or distorted when the original is wrinkled. .

  In the apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260260, since the document pressing member causes the document to be in close contact with the image reading surface, even if the document has a wrinkle, the wrinkle of the document is extended by the document pressing member. For this reason, the influence of wrinkles on the image can be reduced. However, when the main unit is installed vertically, it is necessary to insert a document from the document insertion slot. If the thickness of the document including the wrinkles exceeds the width of the document insertion slot, the document is scanned on the image reading surface. It is necessary for the operator to stretch the manuscript of the document before placing it on. Even if the thickness of the document including the fold is larger than the width of the document insertion slot, you can place the document on the image reading surface without stretching the fold of the document by manually opening and closing the document cover. The person must open and close the document cover.

  The apparatus described in Patent Document 2 can check the state of the folds of the document placed on the document table. However, when placing a document with a fold on the document table, the operator removes the fold of the document. It must be stretched.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image reading apparatus capable of accurately and simply reading a flawed original and digitizing it.

An image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing provided with a reading plate for placing an original, an original cover plate for pressing the original against the reading plate, and an image for reading an image of the original placed on the reading plate via the reading plate. and a reading means, the document cover plate is rotatable shaft one side, seen including a gap adjusting means for rotating the document cover plate in a direction to the direction and proximity away from the reading plate, the axis of the document cover plate A foldable cover is provided between the sides adjacent to the sides and the housing .

  An image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing provided with a reading plate for placing an original, an original cover plate for pressing the original against the reading plate, and an image for reading an image of the original placed on the reading plate via the reading plate. From the reading means, the gap adjusting means for adjusting the width of the gap between the original cover plate and the reading plate by moving the original cover plate in a direction perpendicular to the reading plate, and the gap between the reading plate and the original cover plate. A fall prevention means for opening and closing a fall prevention lid for preventing the document from dropping is provided.

  According to the present invention, a wrinkled document can be read and digitized accurately and simply.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the external appearance of 1st Embodiment of the image reading apparatus by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of an image reading apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a structure of a clearance gap adjustment mechanism. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of an image reading apparatus provided with a second document cover. It is explanatory drawing which shows the external appearance of 2nd Embodiment of the image reading apparatus by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the external appearance of 3rd Embodiment of the image reading apparatus by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the image reading apparatus by this invention.

Embodiment 1. FIG.
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the appearance of a first embodiment of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

  The image reading apparatus includes a document cover 110, a housing 120, a reading plate 130, and a gap adjustment mechanism 140.

  The document cover 110 is a cover for pressing documents such as forms and slips. The lower end (lower side in FIG. 1) of the document cover 110 is connected to the housing 120 as shown in FIG. The lower end of document cover 110 and housing 120 are connected via a hinge. The document cover 110 is a plate made of a material that does not transmit external light or light applied to the document when reading an image.

  The reading plate 130 is a transparent plate installed on the surface of the housing 120 on the side where the document cover 110 is attached. The reading plate 130 is a transparent material plate such as glass, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, or the like. A document is placed on the reading plate 130.

The gap adjusting mechanism 140 includes a reading plate 130 and a document cover 110.
Is a mechanism for providing a gap therebetween. The gap adjustment mechanism 140 includes a movable part 141.

  The gap adjustment mechanism 140 is attached to the side surface of the housing 120 (the surface located on both sides of the surface on which the reading plate 130 is installed in FIG. 1), and one end of the movable portion 141 is connected to the document cover 110. The gap adjustment mechanism 140 includes an electric motor (not shown). The gap adjustment mechanism 140 drives the electric motor to expand and contract the movable portion 141, thereby rotating the document cover 110 around the lower end of the document cover 110, and the gap between the upper end of the document cover 110 and the reading plate 130. Change the width. That is, the document cover 110 can be rotated about one side, and the gap adjusting mechanism 140 can rotate the document cover 110 in a direction away from and a direction close to the reading plate 130.

  The electric motor of the gap adjusting mechanism 140 is controlled by a control unit (not shown). The control unit is realized by a CPU or the like provided in the image reading apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image reading apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit 121 and an image processing unit 122 inside the housing 120. The image reading unit 121 and the image processing unit 122 are controlled by the control unit.

  The image reading unit 121 includes an image sensor group composed of a plurality of image sensors. The image sensor is driven, and the light irradiated on the document placed on the reading plate 130 and reflected by the document is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor to be converted into an electrical signal.

  The image reading unit 121 has, for example, a structure of a close-contact optical system in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a line and are put in one case together with a plurality of LEDs for illumination. The image reading unit 121 has a reduction optical system structure in which an optical path of light reflected from a document is folded back by a mirror and guided to a lens, and imaged on an image pickup device in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a line shape. Also good. Moreover, it may have a structure that includes an area sensor in which photoelectric conversion elements are two-dimensionally arranged and forms an image on the two-dimensional area sensor with a wide-angle lens, like a digital camera.

  The image processing unit 122 generates an image by two-dimensionally developing the electrical signal generated for each pixel by the image reading unit 121. The image processing unit 122 stores the generated image in a storage unit (not shown) so that the image can be read from a personal computer (PC) or a display device that is connected to be communicable with the image reading device.

  Next, the operation of the image reading apparatus when reading an image of a wrinkled document 200 will be described.

  When the image reading unit 121 is not reading an image (standby state), the control unit controls the electric motor of the gap adjusting mechanism 140 so that the gap between the upper end of the document cover 110 and the reading plate 130 is controlled. , Stop it as long as it can be inserted.

  A user of the image reading apparatus inserts the original document 200 through the gap between the upper end of the original cover 110 and the reading plate 130 and places the original document 200 on the reading plate 130. Then, the user operates an operation unit (not shown) of the image reading apparatus to start the image reading process of the image reading unit 121.

  When the image reading unit 121 starts the image reading process, the control unit controls the electric motor of the gap adjustment mechanism 140 to move the upper end of the document cover 110 in the direction of narrowing the gap, so that the document 200 is moved by the document cover 110. Press down gradually. At this time, when the document is pressed by the document cover 110, the wrinkles of the document 200 are extended. The time from when the control unit starts controlling the electric motor of the gap adjustment mechanism 140 to when it ends, that is, the time from when the upper end of the document cover 110 starts to stop until it stops is, for example, from several hundred milliseconds. It is about 1 second.

  When the image reading unit 121 finishes the image reading process and returns to the standby state, the control unit controls the electric motor of the gap adjusting mechanism 140 to control the gap between the upper end of the document cover 110 and the reading plate 130. Restore the width of the original.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the document 200 with a fold is placed on the reading plate 130, the document 200 can be pressed by the document cover 110. The image of the original 200 can be read accurately without being easily received.

  Further, by setting the width of the gap between the upper end of the document cover 110 and the reading plate 130 in the standby state to a width that allows easy insertion of a wrinkled document, The user can place the document on the reading plate 130 without extending the fold of the document. Further, since it is not necessary to stretch the fold of the document, the user can place the document on the reading plate 130 with one hand.

  Further, since it is not necessary to transport the document in the image reading apparatus, the document is not damaged by a jam or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the movable portion 141 is controlled by the electric motor included in the gap adjusting mechanism 140 has been described. However, the movable portion 141 may be formed of an elastic body. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the gap adjustment mechanism 140. As shown in FIG. 3, when the movable portion 141 is configured by an elastic body such as a spring, the gap adjusting mechanism 140 may have a damper function.

  According to such a configuration, since the upper end of the document cover 110 is pulled toward the reading plate 130 by the force (elastic force) that returns the spring, the document can be pressed against the reading plate 130 by the document cover 110. Further, since it is not necessary to control the electric motor and the electric motor, the configuration of the gap adjustment mechanism 140 can be simplified and the processing of the control unit can be reduced. When placing a document on the reading plate 130, a user may move the upper end of the document cover 110 to provide a gap for inserting the document.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the image reading device is set vertically (in a state in which the reading plate 130 is installed in a substantially vertical direction) has been described. However, the image reading device is not placed vertically, for example, horizontally (reading). You may install in the state which installed the board 130 in the substantially horizontal direction.

  Further, the image reading apparatus may be installed at a place other than the desk. For example, install it in a place where an image reader can be used with one hand by a worker sitting in the driver's seat, such as on the passenger seat (ceiling) of a truck for delivery service, or in the dashboard in front of the driver's seat or passenger seat It may be.

  Further, the second document cover 111 may be installed so that the document does not protrude or fall from the gap between the left end or right end of the document cover 110 and the reading plate 130. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the appearance of the image reading apparatus provided with the second document cover 111. As shown in FIG. 2, the second document cover 111 is provided with a fold line so that it can be folded.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the appearance of the second embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

  The configuration of the image reading apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of the image reading apparatus of the first embodiment. However, the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the document confirmation unit 150.

  The document confirmation unit 150 is a plate made of a transparent material such as glass, acrylic resin, or polycarbonate resin, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the document confirmation unit 150 is installed on the surface of the housing 120 that faces the surface on which the reading plate 130 is installed.

  According to the present embodiment, even when the original is pressed against the reading plate 130, that is, even when the original cover 110 and the reading plate 130 are in close contact with each other and the original state cannot be confirmed from the outside, It is possible to confirm whether or not the wrinkles are stretched and whether the original is correctly placed on the reading plate 130. Further, since the state of the document can be confirmed before the image reading is started, it is possible to reduce the number of image readings.

  The size (area) of the document checking unit 150 and the position where the document checking unit 150 is installed are arbitrarily large as long as the user can check the state of the document via the document checking unit 150. It may be the height and position. In this embodiment, the case where the document checking unit 150 is installed on the surface of the housing 120 opposite to the surface on which the document cover 110 is attached has been described. However, the document checking unit 150 may be installed on another surface. Good.

Embodiment 3. FIG.
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the appearance of the third embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

The configuration of the image reading apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of the image reading apparatus of the first embodiment. However, the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the second gap adjustment mechanism and the fall prevention mechanism 170.

  The second gap adjustment mechanism is configured in the same manner as the gap adjustment mechanism 140 and includes a movable portion 161. The electric motor of the second gap adjustment mechanism is controlled by the control unit in the same manner as the gap adjustment mechanism 140.

  The second gap adjustment mechanism, together with the gap adjustment mechanism 140, is attached to the side surface of the housing 120 (surfaces located on both sides of the surface on which the reading plate 130 is installed in FIG. 5). The second gap adjusting mechanism is attached to a surface opposite to the surface to which the gap adjusting mechanism 140 is attached. Further, one ends of the movable portions 141 and 161 are connected to the document cover 110.

  The second gap adjustment mechanism and the gap adjustment mechanism 140 drive the electric motor to expand and contract the movable portions 141 and 161, thereby moving the document cover 110 in a direction perpendicular to the reading plate 130 to read the reading plate. The width of the gap between 130 and the document cover 110 is changed.

  The fall prevention mechanism 170 is a mechanism for preventing the document from dropping from the gap between the lower end (lower side in FIG. 5) of the document cover 110 and the reading plate 130. The fall prevention mechanism 170 connects one end of the fall prevention lid 171 and the housing 120 at a position below the reading plate 130 (lower side in FIG. 5), and rotates the fall prevention lid 171 according to the control unit. It is a hinge which has.

  The control unit controls the fall prevention mechanism 170 and rotates the fall prevention lid 171 around the fall prevention mechanism 170. By rotating the fall prevention lid 171 around the fall prevention mechanism 170, the fall prevention lid 171 is closed (the lower end of the document cover 110 and the fall prevention lid 171 are in contact) or opened (the document cover 110 The lower end and the fall prevention lid 171 are separated).

  The control unit controls the fall prevention mechanism 170 to maintain the fall prevention lid 171 in the closed state when in a standby state or during image reading. When the image reading unit 121 of the housing 120 finishes the image reading process, the control unit controls the fall prevention mechanism 170 to open the fall prevention lid 171 so that the lower end of the document cover 110 is dropped. The document is discharged from the gap with the prevention lid 171.

  According to the present embodiment, since the original is removed from the reading plate 130 after the image is read, the work of removing the original from the reading plate 130 can be omitted when the next original is placed on the reading plate 130. The work time can be shortened.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the second document cover may be installed so that the document does not protrude or fall from the gap between the left or right end of the document cover 110 and the reading plate 130. . Further, as in the second embodiment, the document checking unit 150 may be provided in the housing 120.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a main part of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the image reading apparatus has a casing (corresponding to the reading plate 130 in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1) on which a document is placed (a casing in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1). 1), an original cover plate (which corresponds to the original cover 110 in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1) for pressing the original against the reading plate, and an image of the original placed on the reading plate via the reading plate. An image reading unit 11 (corresponding to the image reading unit 121, the image processing unit 122, and the control unit shown in FIG. 2) is provided, and the document cover plate is rotatable about one side, and the document cover plate is used as the reading plate. Gap adjusting means 12 (gap adjusting mechanism 140 and control unit in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1). Including the equivalent.).

  In the above embodiment, the following image reading apparatus is also disclosed.

(1) An image reading apparatus in which a transparent plate (corresponding to the document checking unit 150 in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 5) is installed on the surface opposite to the surface on which the reading plate is installed in the housing.

(2) The gap adjusting means 12 includes an elastic body, and in order to press the original against the reading plate, the image reading apparatus draws one end of the original cover plate toward the reading plate by the elastic force of the elastic body.

  In the above-described embodiment, the following image reading apparatus is also disclosed.

(3) A housing in which a reading plate for placing a document is installed, a document cover plate for pressing the document against the reading plate, an image reading unit 11 for reading an image of the document placed on the reading plate via the reading plate, A manuscript is dropped from the gap between the reading plate and the manuscript cover plate by moving the manuscript cover plate in a direction perpendicular to the reading plate to adjust the width of the gap between the manuscript cover plate and the reading plate. Drop prevention means (corresponding to the fall prevention mechanism 170 and control unit in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 6) for opening and closing the fall prevention lid (corresponding to the fall prevention cover 171 in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 6). ).

(4) The fall prevention means is an image reading device that opens the fall prevention lid when the image reading means 11 completes reading.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Image reading means 12 Gap adjustment means 110 Document cover 120 Case 121 Image reading part 122 Image processing part 130 Reading plate 140 Gap adjustment mechanism 141,161 Movable part 150 Document confirmation part 170 Fall prevention mechanism 171 Fall prevention cover 200 Original

Claims (5)

A housing in which a reading plate for placing an original is installed;
A document cover plate for pressing the document against the reading plate;
Image reading means for reading an image of a document placed on the reading plate via the reading plate;
The document cover plate is rotatable around one side,
Look including a gap adjusting means for rotating the original cover plate in a direction to the direction and proximity away from the reading plate,
An image reading apparatus comprising a foldable cover between a side adjacent to a side serving as an axis of the document cover plate and the housing . The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transparent plate is installed on a surface of the housing opposite to the surface on which the reading plate is installed. 3. The image reading according to claim 1, wherein the gap adjusting unit includes an elastic body, and pulls one end of the document cover plate toward the reading plate by the elastic force of the elastic body in order to press the document against the reading plate. apparatus. A housing in which a reading plate for placing an original is installed;
A document cover plate for pressing the document against the reading plate;
Image reading means for reading an image of a document placed on the reading plate via the reading plate;
A gap adjusting means for adjusting the width of the gap between the document cover plate and the reading plate by translating the document cover plate in a direction perpendicular to the reading plate;
An image reading apparatus comprising: a fall prevention unit that opens and closes a fall prevention lid that prevents a document from dropping from a gap between the reading plate and the document cover plate. The fall prevention means is
The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the image reading unit completes reading, the fall prevention lid is opened.

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