JPH04315362A - Portable picture reader and its original carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the read operation and labor by loading an original carrier to the portable picture reader, driving a follower roller of the original carrier mechanism by the drive of a roller of a self-running mechanism and reading the original while being carried. CONSTITUTION:An original carrier 200 is loaded/removed to/from the portable picture reader 100, and it is loaded when lots of sheet originals are read. A timing pulley 27 is fixed to a follower roller 25 fitted opposite to a drive roller 1 turned around a shaft 26. A follower roller 28 is arranged opposite to an encoder 10 at the side of the portable picture reader 100 in a way of press contact thereto and fitted with a timing pully 30 and it is connected through a timing belt 31. Then the drive of the drive roller 1 of the portable picture reader 100 turns the follower rollers 25,28 of the original carrier mechanism and the original is read while the original being read. Thus, in the case of reading lots of original sheets, the operator has only to load the originals.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable image reading device.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image reading devices such as facsimile machines have come to occupy an important position in the field of office automation, and there is a demand for downsizing and cost reduction of the devices. The portable image reading device is used in many fields because it can easily read not only sheet-like originals but also book-like originals.

However, since the document is manually moved in the sub-scanning direction, there is a problem in that operability is poor due to effects such as meandering due to the weight of the main body case, the presser pressure of the hand, or shaking of the hand. To solve these problems, a self-propelled handy scanner has been proposed in which a motor is built into the main body case, and the motor rotates a traveling roller to minimize the effects of meandering during sub-scanning movement.

0004

However, when reading a large number of sheet documents using a self-propelled hand scanner, a large space is required to two-dimensionally arrange the sheet documents one by one. In addition, when reading sheet-like originals in a bundle, the operator has to work to remove the scanned sheet-like original and position the portable image reading device to the reading starting position each time the sheet-like original is read. This was a heavy burden on operators.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable image reading device and its document conveying device that can simplify the work of reading a large number of documents.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve such an object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a detachable mechanism for attaching and detaching a portable image reading device, and a detachable mechanism for attaching and detaching the portable image reading device to the portable image reading device. The portable image reading device is characterized in that it includes a transport mechanism for transporting the original along the image reading surface of the portable image reading device.

In a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the portable image reading device is a self-propelled image reading device, and the conveying mechanism serves as a drive source for conveying the document. The present invention is characterized in that a drive source for self-propulsion of the portable image reading device is used.

A third aspect of the present invention is a self-propelled portable image reading device, in which a document conveying device for conveying a document along the image reading surface of the portable image reading device is detachable. The apparatus is characterized in that it has a detachable mechanism for transporting the document, and that the document is also conveyed by a self-propelled mechanism for self-propelled movement.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a document detecting means for detecting insertion of a document when the document conveying device is installed in the third aspect, and a control means for starting reading of the document in response to the detection. It is characterized by further features.

[0010] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the document detection means of the fourth aspect detects the insertion of the document by detecting a member that is displaced by contacting the inserted document and the amount of displacement of the member. The control means temporarily stops conveyance and reading of the document when the amount of displacement of the member exceeds a permissible range.

[0011]

[Operation] In the first and third embodiments of the present invention, by attaching the document conveying device to the portable image reading device, the operator only has to perform the operation of inserting the document, and does not need to move the portable image reading device itself. There's no need.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, since the self-propelled drive source of the portable image reading device is used as the drive source for document conveyance, the structure of the document conveyance device can be simplified.

[0013] In the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the document feeder is attached, the insertion of the document into the portable image reading device is detected and the reading operation is automatically started, so that the operator does not have to give instructions regarding reading. There is no need to do this, just insert the original.

In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the document detecting means is also used to detect a jam (paper jam), thereby contributing to miniaturization of the apparatus.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional structure of a portable image reading device and its document conveying device to which the present invention is applied.

A. A gear 3 is fixed to a drive roller 1 which is rotatably mounted around a shaft 2 of the portable image reading device 100. The rotation of gear 5 of motor 4 is transmitted to gear 6 and then to gear 3 via gear 7.

The motor 4 is a direct current (DC) motor, and after being decelerated by a deceleration unit (not shown), a large driving torque is obtained by rotating a motor gear 5. axis 1
Encoder roller 1 is rotatably mounted around 1.
A gear 12 is fixed to the 0 and transmits its rotation to a gear 13. The gear 13 is connected to an encoder unit 14, and as the encoder roller 10 rotates, a pulse signal is emitted from the encoder unit 14 to control the reading timing.

A self-propelled mechanism is formed by the above components.

The image of the original illuminated by the light emitting element (LED) array 15 is transmitted to the CCD by the SELFOC lens 18.
An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 19. 24 is an electric board on which the CCD line sensor 19 and a circuit for storing read image signals are mounted.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an actuator, which acts as a sensor for detecting the loop curved surface of an original when the portable image reading device is moved in a sub-scanning manner on the original surface to read the image.

That is, when the document is moved in the sub-scanning direction, the document may be formed on a loop. The actuator 20 comes into contact with the surface of the document, and the loop is detected by actuation of the actuator.

The actuator 20 is rotatably mounted around a fulcrum 21, and detects not only the loop of the document but also the leading and trailing edges of the document by shielding the photosensor 22 from light.

When light is blocked, the photosensor 22 emits a detection signal Sa. Reference numeral 23 denotes a first case that houses these parts, and has a shape suitable for being held by hand.

B. Document Conveying Device 200 The document conveying device 200 is detachable from the portable image reading device 100 using a fitting member (not shown), and is attached when reading a large number of sheet-like documents.

In the figure, 25 faces the drive roller 1, and the shaft 2
This is a driven roller that is rotatably mounted around 6, and a timing pulley 27 is fixed to it.

Reference numeral 28 is disposed so as to be able to come into contact with the encoder roller 10 on the side of the portable image reading device 100.
This is a driven roller rotatably mounted around 9. A timing pulley 30 is fixed to the driven roller 28 and connected via a timing belt 31. Here, the driven pulleys 25 and 28 are configured to rotate at the same circumferential speed.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a second case that houses these parts, houses the document transport mechanism having the above-described structure, and has an opening 33 for the actuator 20.

FIG. 2 shows the circuit configuration of the portable image reading device 100.

In the figure, a control circuit 34 consisting of a CPU operates a motor 4, an LED 15, and a CCD 19 according to signals from an encoder 14 and a photosensor 22.
The image data read in is sent to the external device 101.

The control circuit 34 also determines whether or not the document conveying device 200 is attached, based on the output signal of the state detection sensor.

A pulse counter 35 counts the number of output pulses from the encoder 14 and sends out a count value N.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the operating state of the state detection sensor 40 for determining whether the original is read by self-propelled or by the original transport mechanism.

FIG. 3 shows the state before the first case 23 is placed on the second case 32, and FIG. 4 shows the state after it is placed. Portable image reading device 10
The actuator 41 of the state detection sensor 40 provided in the first case 23 on the 0 side is pressed, and the pressing operation of the actuator 41 causes the document conveying device 200 to be attached.
That is, reading of an image by the paper feed mechanism is detected.

As shown in FIG. 6, the convex member 36 is provided at a position where it does not interfere with paper feeding outside the image reading area.

Furthermore, the actuator 41 does not come into contact with the surface of the document, and maintains its initial position when it is in a self-propelled state.

A fifth example shows a state in which the document conveying device 200 having the above structure is attached to a portable image reading device.

In the figure, a reading start button 37 is arranged on the top surface of the first case 23 of the portable image reading device 100. A workstation 101 is an external device, and is equipped with a display 102 and a keyboard 103, and is connected by a cable 104. A document image read by portable image reading device 100 is sent to workstation 101 and displayed on display 102 .

FIG. 6 shows a usage state in which the document conveying device 200 is removed and the first case 23 of the portable image reading position 100 is moved in the sub-scanning direction on the book-type document 202 in the direction of the arrow 203 to read the document.

The image reading operation in this embodiment will be explained in more detail.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional structure of this embodiment in the document reading state shown in FIG.

In the figure, when the leading edge of a document 201 is inserted in the direction of an arrow 204, the actuator (document detection means of the present invention) 20 rotates in the direction of an arrow 205 about a fulcrum 21. As a result, the actuator 20 blocks light between the light emitting section and the light receiving section of the photosensor 22, and a signal Sa indicating that the leading edge of the document has been detected is generated.

After the signal Sa is generated, a predetermined period of time, that is, the document 2
When the leading edge of 01 reaches the image reading position 206, image reading is automatically started.

When the trailing edge of the document 201 passes through the actuator 20, the signal Sa stops, and a predetermined time elapses, that is, the trailing edge of the document 201 reaches the image reading position 206, the image reading operation is automatically terminated.

FIG. 8 shows the cross-sectional structure of this embodiment in the document reading state shown in FIG.

In the figure, when the first case 23 is placed on a desired page of the book-type original 202, the actuator 20 rotates about the fulcrum 21 in the direction of the arrow 205, and the light emitting section of the photosensor 22, A signal Sa is generated as a read preparation completion signal by blocking light between the light receiving sections.

When the operator presses the reading start button 37, the motor 4 is driven, and the drive roller 1 starts rotating in the direction of moving the first case 23 in the direction of the arrow 203.

At this time, the operator places his hand on the device housing and relies on the device's self-propulsion to scan and read the document, but the speed of the device may be restricted or even stopped due to an operational error during scanning. There is a possibility that For example, as shown in FIG.
Even if the operator tries to stop the sub-scanning movement while sub-scanning 02 in the direction of arrow 203 and reading the document image, the document will advance because the roller 1 is driven.

Since only one sheet 206 on the front side of the original 202 advances, the original 206 forms a loop as shown in the figure. In this initial state, the original advances and the reading operation is performed normally, but as the loop progresses, the original is damaged or the roller 1 slips due to the load of the loop, making it impossible to read images correctly.

In this device, when a loop is formed, the actuator 20 is pushed up beyond the allowable range, the light shielding of the photosensor 22 is released, the loop is detected, and the signal Sa is stopped.

When the signal Sa stops, the drive of the motor 4 is controlled to be cut off by the control circuit (control means of the present invention), and the growth of the loop is stopped. If the drive is turned off and manual scanning continues, the loop may be resolved, in which case the motor 4 is driven again.

The execution processing means of the control circuit 34 for carrying out the above-described reading operation are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Next, the control operation of the control circuit 34 will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 and 11.

When the control circuit 34 detects the position below the reading start button 37 (step S1), it turns on the LED 15 (step 2).

Next, the control circuit 34 detects the state detection sensor 40.
Check the output signal level of the device and determine whether the device is in document feed scanning mode or self-propelled scanning mode, that is,
The state shown in FIG. 5 or the state shown in FIG. 6 is detected. (Step S3).

Here, when the control circuit 34 determines that the state of document feeding and reading is as shown in FIG.
4 loop processing), wait for the input of the tip detection signal Sa,
The motor 4 is driven (step S5).

Next, the control circuit 34 controls the encoder 14
When it is detected that the number of pulses N has reached n1, that is, that the leading edge of the document 201 has reached the reading position (reference numeral 206 in FIG. 7) (step S6), the CCD 19 starts reading the image. Start (step S7).

That is, the control circuit 34 monitors the level change of the Sa signal while storing the read image signal from the CCD licensor 19 in the internal memory (step S7→
loop processing of S8). When the Sa signal is turned off, that is, when it is detected that the rear end of the document 201 has passed the actuator (symbols in FIG. 7) (step S2), the control circuit 3
4 starts counting the output pulses from the encoder 14.

[0058] The number of pulses N for counting is n2, that is, original 2
When it is detected that the rear end of 01 has reached the reading position (206 in FIG. 7) (step S9), the image reading is finished (step S10) and the LED is turned off (step S11).

Next, the control circuit 34 drives the motor 4 for a predetermined period of time, and after the trailing edge of the document is ejected from the apparatus by the rollers 10 and 28 (step S12), the motor 4 is stopped to complete the series of operations.

Next, when it is detected in the determination process of step S3 in FIG. 10 that the reading state shown in FIG. 6, that is, the self-propelled reading state is detected, the control circuit 34 shifts to the procedure shown in FIG. The control circuit 34 uses the Sa signal to confirm that the first case 23 is placed on the document (step S14),
The driving of the motor 4 is started (step S15).

When the generation of the output pulse from the encoder 14 is confirmed (step S16), the control circuit 34 starts image reading control (step S17). When it is detected that the reading start button 37 is turned off (step S1
8) The control circuit 34 ends the image reading control (step S19) and turns off the LED (step S20).
After that, the motor 4 is stopped and the series of operations is completed (step S21).

On the other hand, when the Sa signal cannot be received in the self-running state, that is, when it is detected that the actuator 20 is lifted by the loop 206 and the light is not shielded between the emitting part and the light receiving part of the sensor 22 as shown in FIG. circuit 3
4, the motor 4 is in a stopped state (steps S14→S22→S
16→S14 loop processing).

When the operator moves the first case in the direction of the arrow 203, the loop 206 disappears and the reading state as shown in FIG. S1 in Figure 11
4), the control circuit 34 drives the motor 4 again (step S15).

In addition to this embodiment, the following embodiments can be implemented.

(1) First case 3 as shown in FIG.
The rollers 1 and 10 in the second case 302 are synchronized by the timing bet 303, and the rollers 25 and 2 in the second case 302 are synchronized by the timing bet 303.
8 are each free.

(2) The rollers 25 and 28 provided in the second case 302 in FIG. 12 are abolished, and the second case 302 shown in FIG.
Two protrusions 305 provided on the exterior of the case 304,
306 replaces the two rollers 25 and 28, and the surfaces of the protrusions 305 and 306 are plated or coated with resin to reduce the coefficient of friction with the paper. .

(3) In this embodiment, the portable image reading device 1
Although the mechanism for attaching and detaching the document transport device 200 and the document conveying device 200 has not been described in detail, a well-known attaching and detaching mechanism using a fitting or locking member can be used.

(4) In this embodiment, a self-propelled portable image reading device is used as an example, but a document conveying device may be attached to a manual portable image reading device. In this case, a manual or electric transport drive source is provided on the document transport device side.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, when reading a book-type original, a portable image reading device can be used alone as in the conventional case.

In addition, when reading multiple sheets of originals, the operator only needs to insert the originals after installing the original transport device, which simplifies the operator's operating effort, especially when reading multiple sheet originals. be converted into

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a side sectional structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a separated state of the document conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the document conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the mounting state of the document conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a separated state of the portable image reading device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the reading state of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the reading state of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the reading state of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control processing procedure of the control circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control processing procedure of the control circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing another structure of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing another structure of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Portable image reading device 1 Roller 4 Motor 3, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 gear 10 Encoder unit 11 axis 14 Encoder roller 15 LED array 19 CCD 20 Actuator 21 Fulcrum 22 Photo sensor 23 First case 200 Original transport device 25 Followed roller 26 Axis 26 27 Timing pulley 28 Driven pulley 30 Timing pulley 31 Timing belt 32 Second case 34 Control circuit 37 Start reading button 40 Status detection sensor

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A detachment mechanism for attaching and detaching a document to a portable image reading device; and a conveyance mechanism for conveying a document along an image reading surface of the portable image reading device when attached to the portable image reading device. A document conveying device for a portable image reading device, comprising: 2. The portable image reading device is a self-propelled image reading device, and the transport mechanism serves as a drive source for transporting the document. 2. The document conveying device for a portable image reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive source for a portable image reading device. 3. A portable image reading device that is self-propelled as a standalone device, and has a detachment mechanism that allows detachment of a document conveying device that conveys a document along an image reading surface of the portable image reading device. . A portable image reading device characterized in that the document is also conveyed by a self-propelled mechanism for self-propelled movement. 4. The apparatus further comprises a document detecting means for detecting insertion of a document when the document conveying device is attached, and a control means for starting reading of the document in response to the detection. The portable image reading device according to item 3. 5. The document detecting means is a member that is displaced when it comes into contact with the inserted document, and means for detecting the insertion of the document by detecting the amount of displacement of the member,
5. The portable image reading device according to claim 4, wherein the control means temporarily stops conveying and reading the document when the amount of displacement of the member exceeds a permissible range.