JPH02219188A - Optical reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read information even if a supporting body for carrying the information to be read is curved by placing at least three pieces of emitters so as to surround a point to be read. CONSTITUTION:Four pieces of light emitting diodes LED 1a-1d are fixed by an LED holder 4 and an LED holder 5 so as one point 3 of a feed paper path is irradiated at a prescribed angle. A lens 7 is attached to a lens cover 8, fitted into the center of the LED holder 4 and fixed. In this state, light emitted by the LEDs 1a-1d is reflected by a reader 13 of a photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11, a reflected light is photodetected by a phototransistor 9 and read of a bar-code displayed on the reader 13 and a detection of existence of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium are executed. Accordingly, even if the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11 is curved, since a part where becomes a shadow each other is irradiated with the LEDs 1a-1d, no shadow is generated and a point to be read is always irradiated with light exceeding a prescribed value. In such a way, even if a supporting body for carrying the information to be read is curved, the information can be read.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an optical reading device such as a barcode reader, and more specifically to an optical reading device that can read information even when a support carrying information to be read is curved. Regarding a reading device.

[Prior Art] Barcode readers are popular as optical reading devices. Conventional barcode readers irradiate light onto an information carrier to be read using a single or two light emitting diodes, and read the reflected light.

With the spread of barcode readers, their uses are becoming more diverse. For example, in an image forming apparatus using a long photosensitive recording medium, as shown in the specification and drawings attached to Japanese Patent Application No. 63-171470, characteristic information of the photosensitive recording medium is It is known that the information is written in the form of a bar code on a reader attached to the leading end of the recording medium, and the information is read by the apparatus so as to be compatible with photosensitive recording media having different characteristics. In such an image forming apparatus, since the photosensitive recording medium is wound up and utilized, the barcode is read when the photosensitive recording medium is passed through a predetermined path within the apparatus.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since the tip of the leader is not yet held during paper passing, no tension is applied to the leader itself. Therefore, the leader may be curved. In this case, a shadow may appear in the concave portion of the curved surface, and accurate reading may not be possible.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems,
The purpose is to provide an optical reading device that can read and acquire information even when a support carrying the information to be read is curved.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, an optical reading device of the present invention is characterized by having three or more light emitters arranged to surround a point to be read. .

[Function] In the optical reading device of the present invention having the above configuration, the three or more light emitters simultaneously illuminate the point to be read.

Therefore, even if the information carrier is curved, each light emitting body illuminates the areas that are in the shadow of each other, so no shadows are created. Therefore, since the point to be read is constantly irradiated with a predetermined amount of light or more, the reading process is performed without causing reading errors.

[Example] An example embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment includes an apparatus main body 20 and a photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium (microcapsule paper) corresponding to the photosensitive recording medium.
11.

First, the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 11 and its storage case 10 will be explained. The photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11 carries microcapsules on its surface, has aluminum vapor-deposited on its back surface, and is wound into a roll as shown in FIG. 3. Further, a leader 13 is attached to the leading end of the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 11 to facilitate installation of the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 11 into the main body of the apparatus.

This reader 13 is a sheet of paper having the same width as the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11, and on one side of the sheet, information regarding optimal processing conditions for processing such as exposure and fixing is recorded by a bar code 12. This barcode 12 is composed of a large number of lines extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 11. This photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 11 is the fourth
As shown in the figure, the reader 13 is housed in a light-shielded storage case 1o, with the reader 13 exposed to the outside through an outlet 15 provided in the storage case 10.

Next, the device main body 20 will be explained. In Figure 5,
A document table cover 22 is arranged on the upper surface of the main machine frame 21,
The document is configured to be placed at the bottom thereof. A light source 23 is provided below the end of the document table cover 22 for illuminating the document. Further, below the document table cover 22, a shutter blade 24 for blocking reflected light from the document and a shutter drive unit 25 for driving the shutter blade 24 are provided. This shutter drive section 25 is connected to a control section 26, and the shutter drive section 25 controls opening and closing of the shutter blades 24 under the control of the control section 26.

An imaging lens 27 is provided below the shutter blade 24. An exposure table 28 is provided at a position where the reflected light is imaged by the imaging lens 27. A filter unit 29 is disposed between the exposure table 28 and the imaging lens 27. As shown in FIG. 6, this filter unit 29 includes a yellow filter 29Y that transmits only yellow light, a magenta filter 29M that transmits only magenta light, and a cyan filter 29C that transmits only cyan light. 30 rotations, each of the filters 29Y, 29M,
29C is alternatively arranged on the optical path of the reflected light, that is, directly below the imaging lens. This step motor 30 is connected to the control section 26 and rotates under the control of the control section 26.

A socket 31 into which the storage case 10 is mounted is provided on the right side of the main machine frame 21 in FIG. Pull-out rollers 32, 32 are provided on the left side of the socket 31, and are configured to automatically pull out the reader 13 and pass paper when the storage case 10 is attached. An optical reading device 33 is provided at the lower left of the pull-out roller 32.32.

The configuration of the unit of this optical reading device 33 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

4 LEDs (light emitting diodes) LA, LB.

lc and ld are fixed by an LED holder 4 and an LED presser 5 so as to illuminate one point 3 on the paper passage path at a predetermined angle. L
The ED holder 4 is partially provided with a protrusion 6 to prevent the LED from falling out. The LED holder 4 and the LED presser 5 are fixed by fitting into four claws. The lens 7 is attached to a lens cover 8 and fitted into the center of the LED holder 4, and the LED holder 4 is fixed to the lens cover 8 by screwing at two places. A cylindrical portion 8b is positioned between the lens 7 and the phototransistor 9, and this cylindrical portion 8b prevents external light from entering the phototransistor 9. And the lens and LED la, lb.

Since 1c and 1d are positioned by the LED holder 4, an accurate positional relationship between the two can be maintained.

The optical reading device 33 reads the LEDs 1g, 1b, lc.
, ld is reflected by the reader 13 of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium, and the reflected light is received by the phototransistor 9, thereby creating the barcode 12 displayed on the reader 13 when the storage case 10 is attached. is configured to read the information and detect the presence or absence of a photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium. This optical reading device 33 includes the control section 2
6 and is configured to send information on the read barcode 12 to the control unit 26.

On the left side of the exposure table 28, there is a negative set of pressure developing rollers 40.
, 40 are arranged. This pressure developing roller 40, 4
0 is pivotally supported by a biasing device 41.41. This biasing device 41.41 is connected to the control section 26, and is connected to the control section 26.
The pressure developing rollers 40, 40 are urged in a direction in which they are pressed against each other according to the control. The pressure developing rollers 40, 4
0 is a color developer paper cassette 4 that stores color developer paper 42.
3 is installed. A paper feed roller 44 is provided at the top of this color developer paper cassette 43, and further to the right of the feed roller 44 is provided a conveyance path 45 for conveying the color developer paper 42 taken out by the paper feed roller 44 to the gap between the pressure developing rollers 40 and 40. It is being

A first conveyance mechanism (not shown) is provided in a section from the left side of the pull-out roller 32.32 to the position of the pressure developing rollers 40, 40, and when the storage case 10 is attached, the pull-out roller 32.32 Pulled out leader 1
3 passes through the upper part of the exposure table 28 and reaches the pressure developing roller 4.
It is configured to be conveyed between 0.0 and 40. After this leader 13 is passed between the pressure developing rollers 40, 40, the pressure developing roller 4 is moved by a second conveyance mechanism (not shown).
It is adapted to be bonded to a winding shaft 46 provided below the 0.0, 40. Further, to the left of the pressure developing roller 40, 40 there is a heat roller 47, 47, and further to the left of the heat roller 47, there is a tray 48 on the side of the main machine frame 21. This heat roller 47,
47 is connected to the control section 261 and generates heat under the control of the control section 26.

Next, the control section 26 will be explained. Optical reader 33
, shutter drive section 25, step motor 30, urging devices 41, 41, and heat rollers 47, 47 are connected to C through an interface circuit 51 as shown in FIG.
It is connected to a PU (central processing unit) 52.

This CPU 52 has a ROM (read only memory)
53 is connected and operates according to the program stored in the ROM 53. This CPU 52 has a RAM (
Random access memory) 54 is connected. Furthermore, a nonvolatile memory 55 is connected to this CPU 52. The stored contents of this nonvolatile memory 55 will not be erased even if the power is turned off.

The operation of this embodiment configured as above will be explained.

When the storage case 10 is attached to the socket 31, the pull-out rollers 32, 32 pull out the leader 13.

At the same time, the optical reading device 33 reads the barcode 12 recorded on the reader 13 and transmits the information to the control unit 26.
send to The action of pulling out the reader 13 at this time also serves as scanning for reading the barcode 12. Therefore, the optical reading device 33 can remain fixed, and no special device such as a scanning mechanism is required. The light emitting diodes la, lb, lc, and ld of this optical reading device 33 illuminate the point 3 to be read from all sides. Therefore, even if the reader 13 is curved in the paper passing path, no shadow will be formed at the point 3, and there will be fewer reading errors.

The control unit 26 decodes the sent information and determines the optimal exposure times Ty, Tm, and Tc of the photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium 11 for yellow light, magenta light, and cyan light, as well as the optimal pressure N in pressure development processing and color development promotion. The optimal temperature T for the process is determined and stored in the nonvolatile memory 55. Next, the reader 13 is transferred to the document table 2 by the first and second transport mechanisms.
After being passed between the upper part of 8 and the pressure developing rollers 40, 40,
It is glued to the winding shaft 46.

Next, the light source 23 is turned on and illuminates the document. The control unit 26 rotates the step motor 30 to place the yellow filter 29Y directly below the imaging lens, and controls the shutter drive unit 25 to open the shutter blade 24 for a time Ty. The yellow light component of the light emitted from the original is imaged by the action of the imaging lens 27 on the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11 pulled out onto the original table 28, forming a latent image of the yellow component of the original. . When the time Ty elapses and the shutter blade 24 closes, the control unit 26 rotates the step motor 30 to move the magenta filter 29M to the imaging lens 27.
It is installed directly below and similarly controlled to expose for a time Tm. Next, it is installed directly below the imaging lens 27 of the cyan filter 29C, and is similarly controlled to expose for the time Tc.

When the above processing is completed, the winding shaft 46 rotates and the exposed photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 11 is transferred to the pressure developing roller 4.
Move it in the direction of 0.40. At the same time, the paper feed roller 44 rotates, and the developer paper 4 is fed from the developer paper cassette 43.
2 is taken out and inserted between the pressure developing rollers 40, 40 so as to overlap the exposed surface of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11.

At this time, the biasing devices 41, 41 bias the pressure developing rollers 40, 40 so that the pressing force becomes N under the control of the control section 26. As the pressure developing rollers 40 and 40 rotate, the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11 and the color developer paper 42 are pressed. Therefore, the uncured microcapsules are destroyed, the encapsulated dye precursor reacts with the color developer of the color developer paper 42, and a developed image is formed on the color developer paper 42. Thereafter, the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11 is wound up on the winding shaft 46, and the color developer paper 42 is passed between the heat rollers 47 and 47. The temperature of the heat rollers 47, 47 is adjusted to T under the control of the control section 26.

By passing the heat rollers 47, 47, the color development reaction of the color developing paper 42 is promoted. The color developing paper 42 that has passed through the heat rollers 47, 47 is discharged onto a tray 48.

An image is formed as described above (at this time, the light emitted by the light emitter in the optical reading bag w133 is reflected on the aluminum vapor deposited surface on the back side of the photosensitive pressure sensitive recording medium 11 and enters the photoreceptor. Control The unit 26 detects the presence or absence of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11 based on the amount of light received by the photoreceptor.In other words, when the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11 is used up, the end of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium 11 is deviated from the axis inside the storage case 10 and the winding is interrupted. It is wound around the take-up shaft 46.Then, the amount of light received by the photoreceptor decreases, and the control section 26 knows that the photosensitive and pressure-sensitive recording medium 11 is finished.The control section 26 then displays a message to that effect on a display (not shown). indicate.

In this embodiment, since the information read by the optical reading device is stored in the nonvolatile memory, the information will not be lost even if the power is turned off. Since the device detects the presence or absence of a photosensitive and pressure sensitive recording medium, there is no need to use a special device. A similar effect can also be obtained by providing a mark at the end of the photosensitive recording medium and reading the mark.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment (and various other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in this embodiment, a reader is used as the information recording section, but a photosensitive It may be directly recorded on the leading edge of the recording medium.The method of recording information is not limited to the barcode method either.The direction of the barcode is also not limited to this embodiment.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, each piece of information is directly recorded using a bar code or the like, but the characteristics of several types of photosensitive recording media are stored in the ROM 53 of the control unit 26, and the information can be recorded on the photosensitive recording medium using a bar code or the like. It is also possible to record the type of photosensitive recording medium and determine the exposure conditions etc. by referring to both. Furthermore, by setting the wavelength of the light used in the optical reading device 33 to a non-sensitive area of the photosensitive recording medium, the information can also be detected on the surface of the photosensitive recording medium.

Furthermore, by using the optical reading device unit of the above embodiment, the positional relationship of the four light emitting diodes, lenses, and phototransistors can be fixed with high positional accuracy with a simple component configuration.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention,
For example, even when the object to be read may be curved as in the example shown in this embodiment, highly accurate reading is possible, and the range of application of the optical reading device can be further expanded.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a view of an LED holder with an LED mounted thereon viewed from the back side, and Figure 2 is a diagram showing a unit of an optical reading device. , FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium and a reader, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a storage case and a reader, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the main body of the apparatus, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a filter unit, and FIG. The figure is a diagram showing the configuration of the control section. In the figure, la, lb, lc, and ld are the LEs corresponding to the light emitters.
D, 3 is a point corresponding to the point to be read.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical reading device characterized by having at least three light emitters arranged to surround a point to be read.