JPH0287870A - Reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the title reader to cope with the respective document using conditions by constituting the reader so that plural kinds of read mechanism units whose read systems are different can be connected alternatively to a control unit. CONSTITUTION:The reader is provided with three kinds of different read mechanism units 10, 20 and 30, and one control unit 40. These respective mechanism units are formed so that bottom faces 11a, 21a and 31a of the respective enclosures 11, 21 and 31 become the same size as the upper face 41a of an enclosure 41. Also, the reader is constituted so that connectors 12, 22 and 32 are provided on the part corresponding to a connector 42 provided on the upper face 41a of the enclosure 41, and can be attached/detached to/from the upper face 41a of the control unit 40. In such a manner, plural kinds of read mechanism units 10, 20 and 30 whose read systems are different, and the common control unit 40 can be connected alternatively. Accordingly, this reader can cope with plural kinds of document using conditions at a comparatively low cost.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a reading device.

(Prior Art) Generally, in a reading device such as a facsimile machine, a document image on the document is read by illuminating the reading surface of the document with light from a light source and guiding light reflected from the document by this light source to a reading sensor. I have to.

This type of reading device has a reading method in which the original is moved relative to a light source fixed to the device housing and the document images on the original are sequentially scanned, and a reading method in which the original is held stationary on a mounting table and the original is A reading method that sequentially scans the document image on the document by moving a light source, and the document is stored in a cassette.
There is a reading method in which the cassette is transported to a reading position, held stationary at the reading position, and a light source is moved relative to the cassette to sequentially scan the output images on the document.

These reading methods are selected as appropriate depending on the type and quantity of originals used by the user.The first reading method described above is suitable for scanning a large number of general originals, and the second reading method is suitable for scanning a large number of general originals. This method is suitable for scanning thick originals such as books or important documents, and the third reading method is suitable for scanning a large number of important documents.

〈The problem that the invention tries to solve''! A) By the way, with normal reading devices, one reading method is adopted for each device, so if the user's document usage conditions change, a new device that is suitable for the usage conditions must be purchased. It won't happen. Furthermore, in order to satisfy all the document usage conditions, it is necessary to prepare a large number of reading devices with different reading methods, and the equipment cost becomes enormous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a reading device that can accommodate a plurality of document usage conditions at a relatively low cost.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) A reading device according to the present invention includes a plurality of types of reading mechanism units having different reading methods, and a control unit shared by these plurality of reading mechanism units. , and the plurality of types of reading structure units are selectively connected to the burial unit.

(Function) In the reading device according to the present invention, by replacing each reading mechanism unit with a common control unit, each @
be able to comply with the terms of use of the manuscript.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on drawings showing examples.

FIG. 1 conceptually shows a reading device according to the present invention, and this reading device consists of three different types of reading mechanism units 10 and 10.
, 20.30 and one control unit 40. Each of these mechanical units 10.20.30 is located on the bottom surface 11a, 21a, 31 of the respective housing 11.21°31.
a is formed to have the same size as the top surface 41a of the casing 41 in the control unit 40, and a connector 12 is provided at a portion corresponding to the connector 42 disposed on the top surface 41a of the casing 41.
．． 22.32, and is configured to be detachable from the upper surface 41a of the control unit 40.

The first reading mechanism unit 10 has a document transport path 11b within the housing 11. This conveyance path 11b has one end opening to the upper surface 11d of the housing 11 via the paper feed table 11G, and the other end opening to one side surface 11e of the housing 11, and the two openings 11f and 11g are mutually connected. It communicates. In the conveyance path 11b, a paper feed roller 13, a pair of conveyance rollers 14, and a pair of ejection rollers 15 are arranged in order from the side of the paper feed tray 11c, and furthermore, an upper portion between the pair of conveyance rollers 14 and the pair of ejection rollers 15 is arranged. An opening 11h is formed in the opening 11h.

The first reading mechanism unit 10 also includes a transparent plate 16 formed of glass or the like on the upper surface 11d of the housing 11. The transparent plate 16 is connected to the opening 11 of the document transport path 11b.
h, and the opening 11r) faces the outside of the housing 11. Note that the reference symbol @17 in the figure indicates an I'J friction piece that slides into contact with the circumferential surface of the paper feed roller 13, and the reference symbol 18 indicates a stacker disposed below the opening 11g of the housing 11.

The second reading mechanism unit 20 has a top surface 21b of the housing 21.
It is equipped with a transparent cover 23 made of glass or the like.

The transparent cover 23 is formed in a rectangular shape, and one end of the trunk is fixed to the housing 21 via a hinge (not shown) or the like, and is arranged so as to be able to come into and out of a part of the upper surface 21b of the housing 21. It is set up.

The third reading n414 unit 30 is located on the upper surface 3 of the housing 31.
1b has four columnar parts 4431c and 31G.

Equipped with 31c and 31C. Column member 31C231c
, 31c, and 31c respectively project upward from portions corresponding to the four corners of the rectangle, and constitute a cassette conveying area 31d between them. Moreover, these columnar members 31c, 31c.

31G, 31G are provided with a plurality of claw pieces 31e, 31e, . . . at mutually corresponding parts, respectively.

The claw pieces 31e, 31e, . . . are arranged so as to be movable up and down by driving means (not shown), and their respective tips protrude into the cassette transport area 31d.

The control unit 40 includes a reading section 43 above the housing 41 . The reading section 43 is supported between a pair of track members (not shown) extending substantially horizontally above the housing 41, and is disposed so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow in the figure. This reading section 43 includes a light source 45 inside a box body 44 opening downward.
．． A mirror 46° lens 47 and a reading sensor 48 are housed therein, and the opening 44a thereof is roughly covered by a transparent bottom plate 49. Moreover, this control unit 40
A power supply section 50 and a control section 51 are provided inside the housing 41 . The control unit 51 includes each reading mechanism unit 10, 20.
Control programs a, b, and c corresponding to 30 are stored, and these programs a, b, and c are stored in the connectors 12.
Selected based on the connection mode of 2.32. Note that the selection of these programs a, b, and c may be performed by a switch provided in the subunit 4o.

In the reading device configured as described above, as shown in FIG.
When 0 is set to 1, the connector 12 is fitted into the connector 42, and the control program a is selected via these connectors 12 and 42, thereby causing the first
The reading mechanism unit j 10 and the reading section 43 perform a reading operation according to program a.

That is, when an operation switch (not shown) is pressed, the documents 60 stacked on the paper feed tray 11C are moved to the conveyance path 1 by the cooperation of the paper feed roller 13 and the friction separation piece 17.
The sheets are fed one by one to the downstream side of 1b, and are discharged and stored in a stacker 18 via a pair of conveyance rollers 14 and a pair of discharge rollers 15. During this time, the reading unit 43 is stationary on the transparent plate 16, and the light source 45 irradiates the original 60 through the opening 11h of the transport path 11b, and the reflected light is reflected by the mirror 46.
The document image on the document 60 is read by sequentially guiding it to the reading sensor 48 through the lens 47.

As shown in FIG.
When the reading mechanism unit 20 is set, the connector 2
The control program b is selected via the control program 2 and the connector 42, whereby the second reading unit 20 and the reading section 43 perform a reading operation according to the program b.

That is, when an operation switch (not shown) is pressed, the reading section 43 is moved back and forth over the upper surface 21b of the housing 21 of the second reading AM unit 20. At that time, for example, the light from the light source 45 is irradiated onto a document (not shown) held between the transparent cover 23 and the upper surface 21b of the housing 21 between the one side edge 23a and the other side edge 23b of the transparent horn bar 23 on the outward path. The reflected light is then sequentially guided to a reading sensor (f, not shown) to read the output image on the document.

17, the third reading on the control unit 40, as shown in FIG. When a@units 1 to 30 are set, It, IJ control program C is selected via the connectors 32 and 42. When program C is selected,
Cassette 70 accommodated above the cassette transport area 31d
are sequentially moved downward within the conveying area 31d by the claw pieces 31e, 31e, .

During the opening, when the cassette 70 is held stationary at the reading unit @31' in the cassette transport area 31d, the reading unit 43 moves back and forth over the h set 70, and reads the cassette 70.
The light of the light source 45 is illuminated on a document (not shown) housed in the
j to read the output image on the document.

In the above embodiment, three types of reading mechanism units 10 are used.
．． Although a reading device equipped with 20.30 is shown as an example, the present invention does not necessarily require three types of reading devices, and an 11-piece reading unit employing other reading systems may also be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the reading section 43 is installed above the control unit 40, and this reading section 43 is shared by each reading mechanism unit 10, 20, 30, but in the present invention, the reading section is It may be arranged within the casing 41 of the unit 40, or each reading mechanism unit may be provided individually.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the reading device according to the present invention includes a plurality of types of reading mechanism units with different reading methods and a control unit shared by the plurality of types of reading units. Since the plurality of types of reading mechanism units are selectively connected to the control unit, it is possible to correspond to a plurality of types of document usage conditions at a relatively low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded view conceptually showing a reading device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 are diagrams conceptually showing different aspects of the reading device according to the present invention. 10.20.30-read n1m1 nits, 40...
Controller unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of types of reading mechanism units having different reading methods and a control unit shared by these plurality of types of reading mechanism units are provided, and the plurality of types of reading mechanism units are selectively connected to the control unit. Characteristic reading device.