JPH04156061A - Picture reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the efficiency of a picture reading work by sensing the width of an original with an original sensor and allowing a control section to adjust the read starting origin of a picture read mechanism in response to the width of the original. CONSTITUTION:An original set to an original tray 41 is supported to a prescribed set position with a wide width original fixing guide plate 52 or the narrow width original rotary guide plate 53 of an original guiding mechanism 51, a paper feeding mechanism 43 supplies the original to a read opening section 38 and a picture read mechanism 13 reads the picture of the surface of the original. When the original is supplied, original sensing sensors 73, 74 detect the width of the original depending on the presence of operation of each sensor, the control section revises the read window starting point by the picture read mechanism 13 in response to the width of the original so as to segment a required part of the read picture automatically. Thus, the read of undesired area is omitted to make the picture read efficient.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides an image processing system that has both a function of reading an image of a document fixed on a platen surface and a function of reading the image while moving the document in the sub-scanning direction. Regarding a reading device.

[Prior Art] Image reading apparatuses have conventionally been provided with a function of reading an image of a document while moving the document in the sub-scanning direction. below,
This image reading device will be explained based on FIGS. 2 and 3 using an example of an Aegis scanner.

This image scanner consists of main unit 1 and this book.

A single-centre lateral feed device (Auto Document, Feede
A scanner (not shown) consisting of a control circuit section, a light source, a photoelectric conversion element, etc. is provided inside the main body 1, which is roughly composed of an ADF (hereinafter referred to as "ADF") 2.

There is.

The ADF 2 also includes a document tray 3, a document star/force section 4, and a document feed mechanism section (not shown). The document tray 3 is provided with guide plates 6 and 7 that support and guide the document 5 from both sides in the direction 1, and are movable in directions indicated by arrows 1 and 2, respectively, in accordance with the width of the document 5. Furthermore, a paper feed roller (not shown) is provided near the center of the seven document feed sections, and contacts the center of the q-axis of the document 5 set on the document tray 3 to feed the document 5. It flies like this.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, as shown in FIG.
The reading length Y is the size of the reading length Y. For this purpose, the original 5 has a radius xE in the main scanning direction X, a length Y in the sub-scanning direction Y,
, become J.

Therefore, even if one area A that does not need to be read (the area formed by the distance 1fxCp and the length Y- between the reading origin Q of the scanner and the origin P of the original 5) is an area that does not need to be read, the scanner The image data including this area A is then sent to the host machine and is lost. Therefore, on the host machine side, the origin P of the original 51
There is a problem in that it requires work to re-cut out the image data starting from 1, which puts a burden on the operator.

Indigo The present invention was made in view of the above problems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device that improves the efficiency of image reading work by omitting reading of unnecessary areas.

[Means for solving the problem] In order to achieve the above object, claim (1') of the present invention is as follows:
A document tray for setting documents, a document guide mechanism provided in the document tray to adjust the reference setting position according to the width of the document, and a paper feeding mechanism for feeding documents set in the document tray. a document detection sensor that detects the width of the fed document, an image reading mechanism that reads the image on the surface of the document, a main body that incorporates this image reading mechanism, and a main body provided on the main body side facing the image reading mechanism. The image reading device is equipped with a reading width section for automatically reading an image of a document that is fed, and a control section that changes a reading start point by an image reading mechanism according to the width of the document detected by a document detection sensor. The document guide mechanism includes a wide fixed guide plate fixed to the document tray and supporting and guiding one side edge of the wide document;
A rotary guide plate for narrow widths that is normally stored and functions only when supporting and guiding one side edge of a narrow document, and a movable guide that slides to support and guide the other side edge of the document depending on the width of the document. (the document detection sensor operates on wide documents and does not operate on narrow documents); and a second sensor section that operates on each document. It is characterized by:

Further, in claim (2), a narrow width rotation guide plate is rotatably attached to the document tray, and when setting a narrow width document, it is rotated to one side to set the document. When a wide original is set, it is rotated to the other side and stored in a storage groove provided in the original tray.

[Function] According to the invention of claim (1), the original set on the original tray is moved by the wide fixed guide plate or @ of the original guide mechanism.
It is supported at a predetermined set position by a narrow rotation guide plate, fed to a reading opening by a paper feeding mechanism, and an image on the surface of the document is read by an image reading mechanism. Then, when the document is fed, the document detection sensor detects the width of the document depending on whether each sensor section is activated, and the control section determines the starting point of the reading window by the image reading mechanism according to the width of the document. automatically cuts out the necessary part of the read image.

Further, according to the invention of claim (2), when the narrow width rotation guide plate is not in use, it is stored in the storage groove, so that it does not get in the way when using a wide document.

[Example 1] An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 to 10. Note that this embodiment will also be described using an image scanner as an example of an image reading device.

First, the overall configuration of the image scanner will be explained based on FIGS. 1 and 4 to 8.

The image scanner of this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Like a conventional image scanner, the main body 11 and the ADF
It is roughly composed of 12.

Inside the main body 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5,
It has a scanner 13 as an image reading mechanism that is set to be movable in the sub-scanning direction Y.

This scanner 13 includes a housing 15 having a rectangular reading window 14 on the upper side, a fluorescent lamp 16 provided in parallel to the reading window 14, and mirrors 17 and 18 provided inside the housing 15.
, 19, a lens 20, a substrate 22 on which a photoelectric conversion element 21 is mounted, and the like. The light from the fluorescent lamp 16 is irradiated onto the surface of the document 240, reflected from this surface, condensed by the lens 20 via mirrors 17, 18, and 19, and imaged on the photoelectric conversion element 21. The conversion element 21 converts it into an image signal.

Furthermore, a moving mechanism 25 for controlling the movement of the scanner 13 is provided within the main body 11 .

The moving mechanism 25 has a guide shaft that slidably supports the scanner 13 while being fixed to one side of a casing 26 constituting the main body 11, and allows the scanner 13 to move in the sub-scanning direction Y. 27 and fixed to the other side of the housing 26,
A guide plate (not shown) that guides the movement of the scanner 13
The pulleys 28 and 29 provided at both ends of the housing 26 in the sub-scanning direction 7, and the respective boops J2B and 29 are hooked, and the rotation of the pulleys 2B and 29 moves the scanner 13 in the sub-scanning direction Y. a belt 30 that moves the scanner 13, a gear 31 that is integrally attached to one of the pulleys 28, and a motor 33 that engages the gear 31 with a pinion 32 to rotationally drive the pulley 28 and move the scanner 13 by a predetermined amount.
It is composed of.

Further, a detection lever 35 is provided on one side of the scanner 13 facing downward, and the detection lever 35 is aligned with one end of the housing 26 in the sub-scanning direction to detect the detection lever 35. home position (reference position) of the scanner 13
A home sensor 36 is provided to detect.

The original 24 is fixed to the upper side of the housing 26, and the scanner 1
A platen surface 37 for reading a document image by moving the document 24 and a reading opening 38 for reading the document image by moving the document 24 while fixing the scanner 13 are provided. The platen surface 37 is formed by applying glass to a window that is open over the entire area in which the scanner 13 can move.

Furthermore, this platen surface 37 has a reading width x in the main scanning direction
The reading length in the sub-scanning direction Y is YL, which is slightly longer than &J. The reading opening 38 is opened when the scanner 13 is moved to the home position (the position when the scanner 13 moves to one side in the sub-scanning direction Y and the home sensor 36 is aligned with the detection lever 35).
The reading window 14 is formed in substantially the same shape as the reading window 14 at a position corresponding to the reading window 14 . And ADF
12, the original 24 is sent to this reading opening 3
8, the scanner 13 reads the original image through the reading aperture 38 and the reading window 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the ADF 12
4 is set, and the original 2 that receives the original 24 after being read and is placed on the platen surface 37.
A document stacker 42 that holds and fixes the document tray 4
The document 24 set at 1 is fed to the reading opening 38,
It is comprised of a paper feeding mechanism section 43 that moves the document 24 along with the image reading operation by the scanner 13, and a protective cover 44 that protects the paper feeding mechanism section 43. and,
This ADF 12 is rotatably attached to the main body 11 in the direction of arrow a in FIG. I'm trying to do it now.

A document guide mechanism 51 is provided on the upper side of the document tray 41 . As shown in FIG. 4 and FIGS. 6 to 8, this document guide mechanism 5 is a wide document guide mechanism 5 fixed to one side end of the document tray 1-41 in order to abut and support one side edge of the wide document document 24. The fixing guide J52 for narrow throats is rotatably attached to a position shifted from the wide fixing guide plate 52 by the radius The rotation guide plate 53 and the ride plate 5 whose negative end is either
2. A movable guide that slides in the notch e direction and f direction to abut and support the other end of the original 24 according to the position of the other end that is shifted due to the difference in U narrowness of the original 24 that is supported in contact with 53. It is composed of a plate 54.

One end of the narrow-width rotary kite plate 53 is rotatably supported by the document tray 41, so that it can rotate once in the sub-scanning direction Y. Further, on the proximal end side S of the fulcrum 53a of the narrow-width rotation force 3, the narrow-width rotation guide plate 5 is provided.
3 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to store it, and a storage groove 55 is provided 1 to prevent it from becoming a hindrance when a wide original 24 is set. , rotation guide for narrow width) Id plate 53 is indicated by arrow g
A fitting pad 56 is provided to fit and support this narrow-width rotation guide plate 53 when it is rotated in the direction. In addition, FIG. 7 shows the narrow rotation 5, and the moving mechanism F plate 53 is in the storage groove 5.
FIG. 8 shows a state in which the narrow-width rotation guide plate 53 is set (a state in which the narrow-width rotation guide plate 53 abuts and supports the document 24).

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. A separation roller 62, three pairs of feed rollers 63,
A platen roller 64 provided facing the reading opening 38
, a pair of ejection rollers 65, a document pressing plate 66 provided facing the paper feed roller 6, and guide plates 67, 68, and 69 for guiding the document 24 between the respective rollers, Each a-ra is driven by an ADF motor 91, which will be described later.

The guide plate 68 is provided with two sensor insertion holes 71 and 72, and first and second original detection sensors 73 and 74 for detecting the size of the original 240 are installed in each of the sensor insertion holes 71 and 72, respectively.
is provided. These original detection sensors 73 and 74 have the same configuration, and each of the sensor insertion holes 71 and 72
When the original 24 is inserted into the original 24 and fed, the original detection lever 7 is rotated by pushing the leading end side of the original 24.
5.76, and each lever 75.76 is provided on the base end side of this document detection lever 75.76. It is composed of detection sensor sections 77 and 78 that detect the rotation of the '76.

Note that the positions where the sensor insertion holes 71 and 72 are provided, that is, the mounting positions of the document detection sensors 73 and 74 are set as follows.

The first document detection sensor 73 is located at a position corresponding to an intermediate position between the fixed guide plate 52 for wide width and the rotary guide plate 53 for narrow width;
That is, when the wide original 24 supported in contact with the wide fixed guide plate 52 is fed, the original detection lever 75 contacts the original 24 and rotates, detects this original 24, and detects the narrow original 24. When the narrow original 24 supported in contact with the rotary guide plate 53 is fed, the original detection lever 75 moves the original 24
It is located in a position where it does not come into contact with the The second document detection sensor 74 is provided at a position where the document detection lever 76 contacts and rotates approximately the center of the document 24 when wide and narrow documents 24 are fed, and detects the document 24. ing.

Reference numeral 79 denotes a document sensor composed of a photosensor, which detects whether the document 24 is set on the document tray 41 or not.

Next, the circuit configuration of the image scanner of this embodiment will be explained based on the block diagram of FIG. 9.

An amplifier 81 amplifies the image signal from the scanner 13 to a certain level. 82 is a normalization circuit for correcting uneven illumination of the fluorescent lamp 16, peripheral light intensity deterioration characteristics due to the lens 20, etc., and includes an A/D converter, a D/A converter, a shading correction memory, etc. There is. Reference numeral 83 denotes an image processing unit, which performs binarization, halftone conversion, multivalue conversion such as 4 bits/8 bits, mirror image processing, etc. on the image signal from the normalization circuit 82 based on a predetermined threshold level. .

Reference numeral 84 denotes a signal drawing section, which is composed of a two-person gate 85. Reference numeral 86 denotes a timing generator. This timing generator 86 is composed of a program pull counter, etc., and outputs a shift pulse SH and a control clock CL for image reading to the scanner 13, and also outputs a gate control signal to the signal drawing unit 84. Output G.

The control clock CL is also output to the normalization circuit 82 and the image processing section 83 for synchronous control. The image signal processed by the image processing unit 83 and output to the signal rendering unit 84 is output to the interface unit 87 only while the gate control signal G is being output to the signal rendering unit 84. 8
A host machine 8 exchanges information with an interface section 87.

90 is an input/output circuit, and this input/output circuit 90 includes the motor 33 of the moving mechanism 25, the home sensor 36, and the detection sensor sections 77.7 of the first and second document detection sensors 73.74.
8. The original sensor 79 and ADF motor 91 are connected,
Furthermore, it is connected to a control circuit 95 as a control section, outputs detection information from each sensor to the control circuit 95, and drives each motor according to instructions from the control circuit 95.

Reference numeral 92 denotes a fluorescent lamp driver, which is connected to a control circuit 95, and is configured to turn on and turn off the fluorescent lamp 16 under control from the control circuit 95.

The control circuit 95 is composed of a microprocessor, etc., and includes a normalization circuit 82, an image processing circuit 83, a timing generator 86, an interface section 87, and an input/output circuit 9.
0, is connected to a fluorescent lamp driver 92, etc. This control unit Pi95 sends a setting signal for setting the output timing of the gate control signal G to the timing generator 86, and outputs the image signal output from the signal rendering unit 84 to the host machine 88 via the interface unit 87. It is designed to control the entire image scanner.

Next, the operation of the image scanner of this embodiment will be explained.

First, when using a wide document 24, rotate the narrow rotation guide plate 53 in the h direction in FIG.
The document 24 is stored in a position where it comes into contact with the wide fixed kite plate 52, and the movable guide plate 54 is moved to support the original 24 together with the wide fixed kite plate 52 from both sides. Also, when using a narrow original 24,
Rotate the narrow-width rotation guide plate 53 in the direction of arrow g in FIG. The movable guide plate 54 is moved to support the document 24 from both sides together with the narrow rotation guide plate 53. As a result, the paper feed roller 6
1 is placed approximately at the center of the document 24.

The control circuit 95 drives the motor 33 via the input/output circuit 90 to move the scanner 13 to a position where the detection lever 35 aligns with the home sensor 36 (home position), and connects the reading window 14 and the reading opening of the scanner 13. 38. When an image reading instruction is received from the host machine 88 via the interface section 87, the reading operation is started.

The document sensor 79 detects whether or not the document 24 is set on the document tray 41 via the input/output circuit 90. If the document 24 is set, the ADF motor 91 is driven to move each roller 61, 62, 63, Rotate 64.65. The original 24 set on the original tray 41 is pressed against the original pressing plate 66.
The paper is pressed against the paper feed roller 61 by the paper feed roller 61, separated into sheets one by one by the separation roller 62, and fed by the paper feed roller 61. Further, the input/output circuit 90 turns on the fluorescent lamp 16 via the fluorescent lamp driver 92.

The fed original 24 hits the original detection levers 75.7 of the first and second original detection sensors 73.74 at the guide plate 68.
6 is rotated, and this rotation is detected by the detection sensor sections 77 and 78.

At this time, the two detection sensor sections 77 and 78 mainly detect the document 2.
4 is detected, the control circuit 95 instructs the bending document 24 to come into contact with the fixed guide plate 52 for wide width.

The gate control signal G1 is determined to be high level by the amount corresponding to the reading mX&J from the reading origin Q to the timing georator 86 as shown in FIG. 10(e). do. Further, the detection sensor section 77 of the first document detection sensor 73 does not detect the document 24, and only the detection sensor section 78 of the second document detection sensor 74 detects the document 24.
4 is detected, it is determined that this original 24 is a narrow original that has been instructed to come into contact with the narrow rotation guide plate 53,
As shown in FIG. 10 (f), the timing generator 86 generates a signal corresponding to a reading width x1 . The gate control signal G2 is set to be higher than that of the gate control signal Gl.
G2 is output to the two-person gate 85 of the signal drawing section 84.

When the leading edge of the document 24 reaches the reading opening 38 and is brought into close contact with the reading opening 38 by the blank roller 64, the timing generator 86 starts a timing generator 86 to determine the timing for starting the reading operation of the scanner 13. A shift pulse SH shown in FIG. 10(b) and a control clock CL shown in FIG. 10(C) are output. Then, when the shift pulse SH is input to the scanner 13, as shown in FIG. 10(a),
The photoelectric conversion element 21 of the scanner 13 is activated at time T. Afterwards, the image signal is serially outputted to the amplifier 81 in synchronization with the control clock CL in the main scanning direction X. In addition, time T. The total number of pixels co of the photoelectric conversion element 21 is a value determined by the characteristics of the photoelectric conversion element 21.

) The image signal from the photoelectric conversion element 21 is subjected to predetermined processing in an amplifier 81, a normalization circuit 82, and an image processing section 83, respectively, and an output signal 8 shown in FIG. 10(d) is obtained.
3a is output to one of the two-person cages 85 of the signal drawing section 84. Note that the time (width) xNI'5ffi of the output signal 83a outside the reading range of the scanner 13 from the position where the gate control signal G1 changes from high level to low level is:
The image processing unit 83 processes the image so as to output a white level signal. Furthermore, the two-man gate 85 of the signal rendering section 84 does not output the output signal 83a to the interface section 87 unless the gate control signal 01 or G2 is input in a high level state together with the output signal 83a.

For this reason, the control circuit 95 controls the width of the document 2, for example.
When it is determined that the paper No. 4 has been fed, the timing generator 86 outputs the gate control signal G1, and the output signal 83a is transmitted to the post machine 88 via the interface section 87 only from the reading origin Q to the period XJ.

Further, when the control circuit 95 determines that the narrow original 24 has been fed, the timing generator 86 outputs the gate control signal G2, and the white level is adjusted from the original origin P, which is a position XP later than the reading origin Q. The output signal 83a is transmitted to the host machine 88 via the interface section 87 only during the signal output position (XW-XN).

In this way, the image of the original 24 is read as a single line, and the same reading operation is repeated while feeding the original 24, and the read portion is transferred to the original stacker 42 via the guide plate 69 and ejection roller 66. It is ejected and the series of reading operations is completed.

As described above, the first and second document detection sensors 73 and 74
detects the size of the original 24, outputs the gate control signal G1 or G2 to the two-man gate 85 of the signal drawing section 84 depending on the size of the original 24, and outputs the gate control signal G1 or G2 to the scanner 13 depending on the size of the original 240. Since the read image signal from the reading origin Q or the original origin P is transmitted to the host machine 88 via the interface section 87, the reading starting point can be automatically selected according to the size of the original 24. can.

Thereby, it is possible to automatically cut out only the necessary portions of the read image, and it is possible to omit reading of unnecessary areas, thereby improving the efficiency of image reading work.

Furthermore, since the narrow-width rotation guide plate 53 is stored in the storage groove 55 when it is not needed, the narrow-width rotation guide plate 53 is
It does not get in the way when setting the image and can improve image reading work efficiency.

Note that whether the original 24 is set on the fixed kite board 52 for wide widths or the rotating kite board 53 for narrow widths can be detected only by the first original detection sensor 73; When setting a narrow original 24, the feeding amount to the reading opening 38 is determined, and even if the original 24 is fed, the second original detection sensor 74 does not detect the original 24, thereby preventing paper jams, etc. It is also necessary to let you know what is happening.

Further, in this embodiment, the document detection sensor 73.74 having the document detection lever 75.76 inserted into the sensor insertion hole 71.72 is provided to detect the presence of the document 24. may be other means such as a photosensor.

Further, although the present embodiment has been described using an image scanner as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to any device that converts an image into a digital signal and reads it, such as a digital copy, fax, electronic blackboard, etc. By applying the present invention, the same functions and effects as those of the above embodiment can be achieved.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, the image reading device of the present invention provides the following effects.

The original set in the specified position by the original guide mechanism is
The width of the original is detected by the original detection sensor, and the control unit adjusts the reading start point of the image reading mechanism according to the width of the original, so the reading starting point is automatically selected according to the width of the original. , it is possible to automatically cut out only the necessary part of the read image, and to omit reading of unnecessary areas, making it possible to improve the efficiency of image reading work.

Furthermore, since the narrow-width rotation guide plate is stored in the storage groove when it is not needed, it does not get in the way when setting wide originals, and image reading workability can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an image scanner of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a conventional image scanner, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a document loaded in the image scanner of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an ADF of the image scanner of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the main body of the image scanner, Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the document tray with the document guide mechanism attached, and Fig. 7 is the narrow rotation guide plate. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing the document tray with the narrow rotation guide plate set, and FIG. 9 shows the circuit configuration of the image scanner. The block diagram and FIG. 10 are timing charts of each part of FIG. 9. ]1...Main body, 13...Scanner (image reading mechanism)
, 38... Reading opening, 41... Document tray, 43
. . . Paper feeding mechanism section, 51 . . . Document guide mechanism, 52.
... Fixed guide plate for wide width, 53... Rotating guide plate for narrow width, 54... Movable guide plate, 55... Storage groove, 73
．． 74...first and second document detection sensors, 95...
Control circuit (control section). Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A document tray for setting the document, a document guide mechanism provided on the document tray to adjust the reference setting position according to the width of the document, and a document guide mechanism for feeding the document set in the document tray. A paper feeding mechanism, a document detection sensor that detects the width of the fed document, an image reading mechanism that reads the image on the surface of the document, a main body containing this image reading mechanism, and a main body side facing the image reading mechanism. a reading opening for reading the image of the document that is automatically fed; and a control section that changes the reading start point by the image reading mechanism according to the width of the document detected by the document detection sensor; The document guide mechanism is fixed to the document tray and functions only when supporting and guiding one side edge of a wide document and a wide fixed guide plate that is normally stored and supporting and guiding one side edge of a narrow document. It is composed of a rotary guide plate for narrow widths and a movable guide plate that slides to support and guide the other side edge of the document according to the difference in width. An image reading device comprising: a first sensor section that does not operate on original documents; and a second sensor section that operates on each original document. (2) The narrow width rotation guide plate is rotatably attached to the document tray, and when setting a narrow document, it is rotated to one side to support this document, and when setting a wide document, the plate is rotatably attached to the document tray. 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is rotated in the other direction and stored in a storage groove provided in the document tray.