JP5862856B2 - Document reader - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a document reading apparatus, and more particularly to improvement of a reading method of a first document sent out by a document sending unit.

  Conventionally, a document drawn by a document feeder (hereinafter simply referred to as “DF”) is read by an internal optical system, and an original placed on a placement contact glass is read by an internal optical system. An image reading apparatus capable of performing the above is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Here, in the technique of Patent Document 1, an image near the upper surface of the mounting contact glass is formed on the optical system. The height position of the upper surface of the mounting contact glass is set to be the same as the height position of the guide fixed on the DF contact glass. As a result, both the image of the document read by the DF and the image of the document placed on the placement contact glass can be satisfactorily read without being out of focus.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-110818

  However, Patent Document 1 does not describe what member defines the positional relationship between the optical system and the DF contact glass. That is, in Patent Document 1, the specific configuration for defining the positional relationship between the optical system and the DF contact glass is unknown.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a document reading apparatus that can satisfactorily read the image of the first document sent out by the document sending unit and the image of the second document placed on the platen glass with a simple configuration. The purpose is to do.

To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a document reading apparatus, a reading unit reading the first and second document, the first document placed on the paper feed tray is sent towards the slit glass and a document delivery portion, and the document placing section with a platen glass for placing a second document, if the first document is read, along with moving the reading unit at a position opposite to the slit glass, the first When two originals are read, a driving unit that moves the reading unit in the sub-scanning direction along the platen glass, a pressing unit that presses the reading unit toward the platen glass, and a direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction provided at both ends of the scanning unit in the main scanning direction, and a contact member in contact with the platen glass by being pressed by the pressing means, the slit glass Shuhashi When the reading portion is positioned corresponding to the slit glass, the abutment member is positioned on both outer sides of the slit glass in the main scanning direction. When the abutting member is abutted against the platen glass and abuts against the platen glass, the abutting member is abutted against the platen glass and is abutted against a member that holds the glass. The distance and the distance between the second document and the reading unit are set to be equal .

In the above document reading device, the reading unit, characterized in that it is a contact image sensor.

According to the present invention, the image of the first document sent by the document sending unit and the image of the second document placed on the platen glass are satisfactorily obtained without being out of focus regardless of the depth of focus of the reading unit. Can be read.

In addition, according to the present invention, if the depth of focus of the reading unit is appropriately set (so that the depth of focus is reduced), even if foreign matter such as dust adheres to the upper surface of the slit glass. This foreign matter image can be prevented from being formed by the reading unit. For this reason, even when foreign matter adheres to the slit glass, streaks (lines) due to the foreign matter can be prevented from occurring in the image of the first document.

In addition, according to the present invention, the first document is disposed apart from the upper surface of the slit glass, and the reading surface of the first document and the slit glass can be prevented from coming into direct contact. Therefore, it can suppress that the foreign material adheres to the slit glass itself.

It is a perspective view showing an example of composition of a manuscript reading device in the 1st and 2nd embodiments of the present invention. It is a front sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the document reading apparatus in the first and second embodiments of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a structure of a drive part. It is a front sectional view showing an example of the configuration near the reading unit. It is a top view which shows an example of the positional relationship of platen glass and slit glass, and a contact part. It is a side view which shows an example of the positional relationship of the slit glass in 1st Embodiment, a contact part, and a sliding member. It is a side view which shows an example of the positional relationship of the platen glass and contact part in 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a side view which shows an example of the positional relationship of the slit glass in 2nd Embodiment, a contact part, and a sliding member.

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

<1. First Embodiment>
<1.1. Configuration of Document Reading Device>
FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a front sectional view, respectively, showing an example of the configuration of the document reading apparatus 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the drive unit 50. FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration in the vicinity of the reading unit 10.

  The document reading device 1 is a so-called scanner, and can be incorporated into a multifunction peripheral, and reads an image from a document. Here, the multifunction machine is also called an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), and a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function, a copy function, a scan function, and a print function are realized by the multifunction machine.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the document reading apparatus 1 mainly includes a reading unit 10, a document placing unit 20, a document sending unit 30, a driving unit 50, a display unit 80, and an operation unit 85. And a control unit 90. 1 and the subsequent drawings have an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system in which the Z-axis direction is a vertical direction and the XY plane is a horizontal plane, as necessary, in order to clarify the directional relationship. .

  The reading unit 10 reads an image from the document M1 (first document) sent by the document sending unit 30 or the document M2 (second document) placed on the document placing unit 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the reading unit 10 is arranged in the main body unit 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the reading unit 10 mainly includes a light source 11, a selfoc lens 14, and a light receiving unit 16.

  The light source 11 is illumination that irradiates light on the originals M1 and M2, and includes, for example, one or a plurality of light emitting elements. As shown in FIG. 4, the light source 11 is disposed in a housing 10a on a rectangular parallelepiped. In the present embodiment, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used as the light emitting element.

  The Selfoc lens 14 is a plate-like lens extending in the main scanning direction of the reading unit 10 (direction parallel to the Y-axis direction: direction perpendicular to the arrow AR1 direction). As shown in FIG. 4, the selfoc lens 14 is arranged in the housing 10 a like the light source 11, and guides the light emitted from the light source 11 and reflected by the documents M <b> 1 and M <b> 2 to the light receiving unit 16.

  The light receiving unit 16 receives light reflected by the documents M1 and M2. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the light receiving unit 16 is disposed in the housing 10 a in the same manner as the light source 11 and the Selfoc lens 14, and includes, for example, a plurality of light receiving elements. In the present embodiment, CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) is used as the light receiving element.

  Thus, the reading unit 10 is configured as a contact image sensor (CIS). That is, the light source 11, the selfoc lens 14 and the light receiving unit 16 of the reading unit 10 are arranged in the housing 10a, and the light source 11, the selfoc lens 14 and the light receiving unit 16 are modularized.

  The document placing unit 20 causes the reading unit 10 to read the document M2 placed on the platen glass 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the platen glass 21 is a plate provided on the upper part of the main body 5. Then, when the reading unit 10 is moved along the lower surface of the platen glass 21, the document M2 placed on the platen glass 21 is read.

  The document delivery unit 30 reads the document M1 sent by feeding the document M1 placed on the paper feed tray 31 into the interior and sending the document M1 from the paper feed tray 31 toward the slit glass 41. Let the part 10 read. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the document delivery section 30 is provided on the lid section 7, and mainly includes a plurality of rollers 35, 37, 39, a slit glass 41, guide members 42, 44, and a press Member 46.

  The pickup roller 35 feeds the document M1 from the paper feed tray 31 one by one. The transport roller 37 transports the document M1 fed by the pickup roller 35 above the slit glass 41. The paper discharge roller 39 discharges the document M1 that has passed over the slit glass 41 to the paper discharge tray 33.

  The slit glass 41 is a plate extending along the main scanning direction of the reading unit 10. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the slit glass 41 is provided on the upper part of the main body 5 in the same manner as the platen glass 21. When the reading unit 10 is moved below the slit glass 41 and then stopped below the slit glass 41, the document M1 sent on the slit glass 41 is read.

  The guide member 42 is a plate body formed of resin or metal. The guide member 42 guides the document M1 sent in the transport direction (arrow AR2 direction) by the transport roller 37 to above the sliding member 70 and the slit glass 41.

  The pressing member 46 is provided above the slit glass 41, is guided by the guide member 42, and presses the upper surface of the document M 1 that has passed above the sliding member 70. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the document M1 passing above the slit glass 41 from being separated from the slit glass 41.

  The guide member 44 is a plate body formed of resin or metal, like the guide member 42. The guide member 44 guides the document M 1 that has passed over the slit glass 41 to the paper discharge roller 39.

  The drive unit 50 moves the reading unit 10 along the direction of the arrow AR1 (movement direction). As shown in FIG. 3, the drive unit 50 mainly includes a carriage 51, a guide rail 53, a sliding unit 54, a pulley 56, a belt 58, and a spring 59.

  The carriage 51 is a carriage that moves the reading unit 10 in the movement direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 51 is a box having openings on the top, front, and back surfaces. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the carriage 51 in a front view is a U-shape, and the lower portion of the carriage 51 is fixed to the upper portion of the sliding portion 54.

  The guide rail 53 is a rod that extends along the direction of the arrow AR1. As shown in FIG. 4, the sliding portion 54 is fixed to the inner bottom portion of the main body portion 5. The sliding portion 54 is slidable along the guide rail 53 in the direction of the arrow AR1. Further, the rotational force of the motor (not shown) is transmitted to the pulley 56, and the pulley 56 is linked to the sliding portion 54 via the belt 58.

  Therefore, when the document M <b> 1 is read, the driving unit 50 moves the reading unit 10 below the slit glass 41. When the document M <b> 2 is read, the driving unit 50 moves the reading unit 10 in the moving direction along the slit glass 41.

  The spring 59 is formed of an elastic body such as a coil spring or a leaf spring, and urges the reading unit 10 upward. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of the spring 59 is fixed to the reading unit 10, and the lower end of the spring 59 is fixed to the inner bottom portion of the carriage 51.

  Therefore, the upper portion of the reading unit 10 is placed on the lower surface side of the slit glass 41 on the lower surface of the slit glass 41 when the original M1 sent by the original sending unit 30 is read by this biasing. Is moved to the lower surface side of the platen glass 21, respectively.

  The display unit 80 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display, and has a function as a “touch panel” that can specify a position on the screen by touching the screen with a finger or a dedicated pen. Therefore, the user of the document reading apparatus 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as “user”) gives an instruction using the “touch panel” function of the display unit 80 based on the content displayed on the display unit 80. The document reader 1 can execute a predetermined process (for example, a process of reading the document M1 placed on the paper feed tray 31). Thus, the display unit 80 is also used as an input unit that receives an input operation from the user.

  The operation unit 85 is an input unit configured by a so-called keypad. The user can cause the document reading apparatus 1 to execute a predetermined process by performing an input operation based on the display content of the display unit 80. For example, when the reading start button 86 of the operation unit 85 is pressed down, the image of the document M1 sent out above the slit glass 41 by the plurality of rollers 35, 37, 39, or the platen glass 21 of the document placement unit 20. The image of the document M2 placed on the is read.

  The control unit 90 realizes operation control and data calculation of each element of the document reading apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 90 mainly includes a ROM 91, a RAM 92, and a CPU 93.

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 91 is a so-called nonvolatile storage unit, and stores, for example, a program 91a. As the ROM 91, a flash memory that is a readable / writable nonvolatile memory may be used.

  A RAM (Random Access Memory) 92 is a volatile storage unit and stores, for example, data used in the calculation of the CPU 93. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 93 performs control according to the program 91a of the ROM 91 (for example, control of the document M1 sending operation by the document sending unit 30 and the reciprocating operation of the reading unit 10 by the driving unit 50), and various types of control. Data calculation processing is executed.

<1.2. Method for setting the distance from each document to the reading section>
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of the positional relationship between the platen glass 21 and the slit glass 41 and the contact portion 60. FIG. 6 is a side view showing an example of the positional relationship among the slit glass 41, the contact portion 60, and the sliding member 70. FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example of the positional relationship between the platen glass 21 and the contact portion 60. Here, a method for setting the distance D4 from the document M1 to the reading unit 10 and the distance D5 from the document M2 to the reading unit 10 using the contact part 60 and the sliding member 70 will be described.

  A plurality of (two in the present embodiment) contact portions 60 (first defining portions) are provided at the upper ends of both ends of the reading unit 10 in the main scanning direction, as shown in FIGS. Further, each contact portion 60 is biased upward by a spring 59.

  Accordingly, when the reading unit 10 is moved below the slit glass 41, both contact portions 60 are located near the first lower surface LS1 of the slit glass 41 (specifically, both outer sides of the slit glass 41 in the main scanning direction). Abut each of the opposing surfaces OP1). Therefore, the contact portion 60 defines a distance D1 (first distance) between the first lower surface LS1 of the slit glass 41 and the incident surface of the reading unit 10.

  Further, the abutting portion 60 is abutted against the lower surface LS2 of the platen glass 21 while the reading unit 10 is moved along the direction of the arrow AR1, thereby causing the lower surface LS2 of the platen glass 21 and the incident surface CS of the reading unit 10 to move. A distance D2 (second distance) is defined.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the distance between both contact portions 60 is set to be larger than the size of the slit glass 41 in the main scanning direction and smaller than the size of the platen glass 21 in the main scanning direction. ing.

  The sliding member 70 (second defining portion) is a sheet body fixed to the upper surface of the slit glass 41. As shown in FIG. 6, the sliding member 70 defines a distance D3 (third distance) between the upper surface US of the slit glass 41 and the first reading surface RS1 of the document M1.

  Then, the contact portion 60 and the sliding member 70 are arranged such that the distance D4 (fourth distance) between the reading surface RS1 of the document M1 and the incident surface CS of the reading portion 10 and the reading surface RS2 of the document M2 and the reading portion 10 are. The distances D1 to D3 are defined so that the distance D5 (fifth distance) from the incident surface CS is equal.

  Therefore, even when a contact image sensor having a smaller depth of focus than a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used as the reading unit 10, the image of the original M 1 sent by the original sending unit 30 and the platen glass 21. The image of the original M2 placed thereon can be read well without being out of focus.

  In the document reading apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, when the document M1 sent by the document delivery unit 30 is read, the reading surface RS1 of the document M1 is separated from the upper surface US of the slit glass 41 by a distance D3. Be placed.

  Thereby, if the depth of focus of the reading unit 10 is appropriately set (for example, the depth of focus is smaller than the distance D3), foreign matter such as dust is attached to the upper surface US of the slit glass 41. Even if it exists, it can prevent that the image of this foreign material is imaged by the reading part 10. FIG. Therefore, even when foreign matter is attached to the slit glass 41, it is possible to prevent a streak (line) caused by the foreign matter from occurring in the image of the document M1.

  Further, the document M1 is arranged at a distance D3 from the upper surface US of the slit glass 41, and the reading surface RS1 of the document M1 and the slit glass 41 can be prevented from coming into direct contact. Therefore, it can suppress that the foreign material adheres to the slit glass 41 itself.

<2. Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The document reading apparatuses 1 and 100 of the first and second embodiments have the same configuration except that the configurations of the corresponding slit glasses 41 and 141 are different. Therefore, in the following, this difference will be mainly described.

  Note that the same components in the document reading apparatuses 1 and 100 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the components denoted by the same reference numerals have been described in the first embodiment. Therefore, description is abbreviate | omitted in this Embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a side view showing an example of the positional relationship among the slit glass 141, the contact portion 60, and the sliding member 70. The slit glass 141 is a plate that extends along the main scanning direction of the reading unit 10, similarly to the slit glass 41 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the upper surface US of the slit glass 141 is a single plane (the same plane: a plane without a step), and both ends of the slit glass 141 in the main scanning direction are in a flange shape.

  Further, the thickness TH12 (first thickness) at both ends of the slit glass 141 in the main scanning direction is set to be smaller than the thickness TH11 (second thickness) near the center of the slit glass 141 in the main scanning direction. ing.

  As a result, when the reading unit 10 is moved below the slit glass 141, both contact portions 60 are abutted against both ends of the slit glass 141 having a flange shape. Therefore, the contact portion 60 defines a distance D1 (first distance) between the first lower surface LS1 of the slit glass 141 and the incident surface CS of the reading unit 10.

  As described above, in the document reading apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment as well as the document reading apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, if the depth of focus of the reading unit 10 is set appropriately, the slit is formed. Even when foreign matter such as dust adheres to the upper surface US of the glass 141, the image of the foreign matter can be prevented from being formed by the reading unit 10.

  For this reason, even when foreign matter adheres to the slit glass 141, streaks (lines) due to the foreign matter can be prevented from occurring in the image of the document M1.

  Further, the document M1 is arranged at a distance D3 from the upper surface US of the slit glass 141, and it is possible to prevent the reading surface RS1 of the document M1 and the slit glass 141 from coming into direct contact. Therefore, it can suppress that the foreign material adheres to the slit glass 141 itself.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 Document reading apparatus 10 Reading part 10a Housing 11 Light source 16 Light receiving part 20 Document placing part 21 Platen glass 30 Document sending part 41, 141 Slit glass 50 Drive part 60 Contact part 70 Sliding member

Claims (3)

A document reading device,
A reading unit for reading the first and second originals;
A document sending section for sending the first document placed on the sheet feed tray toward the slit glass ;
An original placement unit including a platen glass for placing the second original ;
When the first original is read, the reading unit is moved to a position facing the slit glass, and when the second original is read, the reading unit is moved in the sub-scanning direction along the platen glass. A drive unit;
A pressing means for pressing the reading unit toward the platen glass;
An abutting member provided at both ends of the reading unit in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction, and abutting the platen glass by being pressed by the pressing unit;
With
The slit glass is formed in a narrower width than the platen glass in the main scanning direction,
When the reading unit is positioned corresponding to the slit glass, the abutting member is abutted against members holding the slit glass located on both outer sides of the slit glass in the main scanning direction,
When the reading unit is positioned facing the platen glass, the contact member is abutted against the platen glass,
An original reading apparatus , wherein a distance between the first original and the reading unit is set to be equal to a distance between the second original and the reading unit. The document reading device according to claim 1,
An original reading apparatus, wherein a surface of the slit glass facing the original is provided with a sliding member . The document reading device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The document reading apparatus, wherein the reading unit is a contact image sensor.

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