JPH0494258A - Reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent dirt of a picture due to read through a print on a rear of double side printing in the case of a thin original by selecting a white color for a background color in the case of one side print and a readable color other than the white color for the background color in the case of double side print and reading the original by a read means. CONSTITUTION:A background color selection command button 120 is depressed in the case of read when an original 1a is printed on both sides, a pulse motor M4 is driven by a command of a switching control section 19c, a retaining belt 8e is moved and a black backing part 82e is opposed to a read glass face 2. Then the retaining belt 8e is lifted up to set the original 1a toward the read glass face 2, the belt 8e retains the original and a read start button is depressed to read the original 1a while a black color of the black backing part 82e is used for the background color. Thus, the reading of print on the rear is prevented by using the black color for the background color when the original 1a of double side print is read to obtain high picture quality.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Table of Contents] Overview Industrial Application Fields Conventional Technology Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems Actions Examples Effects of the Invention [Summary] Determination of single-sided printing or double-sided printing The scanning device can automatically change the background color of a document to read it, and even in the case of a double-sided document, it can easily prevent the back side printing from being read without any complicated operations, and can produce high-quality image data. In order to provide a background color to at least the reading position of the document by the reading means, the present invention aims to provide a reading device that can read an image of a document, and a region of a readable color other than white to give a background color to at least the reading position of the document by the reading means. Based on the determination result of the determination means, it is possible to read colors other than white when printing on one side and colors other than white when printing on both sides. The device is provided with a switching means for switching the area of the reading guide to a color, and the reading means reads an image of the document between the reading guide and the reading means, which are switched to white or a readable color area other than white by the switching means.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a reading device used in a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as FAX) device, etc., and more particularly to a reading device that can determine whether printing is on one side or both sides and automatically changes the background color of a document when reading the document. It is.

Recently, devices 9 equipped with image scanners such as FAX machines and optical reading devices (O
Physical Character Reader (hereinafter referred to as ocR) and the like are widely used. For this reason, usage conditions are rapidly diversifying depending on the paper quality of the original, thickness, color, surface condition, etc. Regardless of this situation, there is an increasing demand for image scanners with higher image quality and simpler operation.

In particular, if the back side of a double-sided printed document is read when the paper thickness of the document is thin, the image quality deteriorates, so a method for preventing this is desired.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 8(a) is a block diagram of a reading device incorporated in a FAX machine, etc., where (a) is a side view, and (b) is an enlarged side view of the automatic paper feed section and the reading section.

In FIGS. 8(a) and (c), 2 is a transparent reading glass surface, 3 is a presser plate that holds down the original 1a set on the reading glass surface 2, and 4 is an inclined upper surface of the end of the presser plate 3. The attached set table 5 indicates the set table 4 and an automatic document feeding mechanism (hereinafter referred to as "Automatic Document") inside.
An automatic paper feeder (referred to as ADF) 50, 6 a stacker, and 7a an optical unit 40 indicate a conveyance path. The ADF 50 is composed of a roller R1, a separator 51, and the like. Also R2. R3 indicates a feed roller.

The optical unit) 7a includes a light source 70. Mirror 71. lens 7
2 and an image sensor 73, and is disposed in the device below the automatic paper feeder 5, facing the reading guide 8a, and is moved along the lower surface of the reading glass surface 2 by a moving mechanism (not shown). Arrow A, B between the position indicated by the dotted chain line
Move back and forth in the direction.

The reading guide 8a is made of white silicon. When the optical unit) 7a reads the original 1a, the light source 70
The light from the document 1a is diffusely reflected by the white parts of the surface of the document 1a, and is hardly reflected by the black parts such as prints.

The reflected light is collected by a lens 72 and converted into image data by an image sensor 73. Further, for the same purpose, the presser plate 3 is also made of a visible white resin material.

Therefore, there are two methods: setting the original 1a on the setting table 4, feeding it one by one using the ADF 50, and reading it with the optical unit 7a; Reading is performed using the method (2).

The method (2) is used when there are many originals 1a, and the method (2) is used when there are few originals 1a or when reading a center-open original 1a such as a book.

Further, FIG. 9 shows a control block diagram of the reading device.

In the figure, reference numeral 9 denotes an optical unit 7a, an analog/digital (hereinafter referred to as A/D) converter 90, and a binarization circuit 9.
1 is a reading unit, and 10 is a feeding roller R of the ADF 50.
1, and a conveyance control unit that drives the feed rollers R2 and R3 by rotation of the motor M1; 11, a movement mechanism control unit that controls a movement mechanism that moves the optical unit (7a); 12, an operation panel; 13, a compression unit; 14; is a data file, 1
5 is an expansion section, 16 is a transmission section, and 17 is a main control section.

With this configuration, when automatically feeding and reading the original 1a, when the original 1a is set face down on the setting table 4, a sensor (not shown) detects the original 1a, and the reading start button on the operation panel 12 is pressed. When pressed, the ADF 50 is driven under the control of the conveyance control unit 10, and the document la is fed out one by one by the feeding roller R1 and the separator 51, and is conveyed through the feeding path 40 by the feeding roller R2. The original 1a is read while passing between the optical unit 7a and the reading guide 8a. The read data is A/D converted and binarized, compressed by a compression unit 13, and stored in a data file 14.

When the original 1a is placed on the reading glass surface 2 and read, when the original 1a is placed face down on the reading glass 2, a sensor (not shown) detects the original 1a, and the original 1a is held down with the presser plate 3, and the operation panel 1 When the reading start button is pressed, the image sensor 7a is controlled by the moving mechanism control section 11.
moves from the home position in the direction of arrow A to document 1a.
Read. The read data is stored in the data file 14 in the same manner as described above.

The read data stored in the data file 14 is outputted as required by pressing a transmission instruction button on the operation panel 12, and is transmitted from the transmission section 16 to, for example, a recording device or OCR.

In this case, by making the reading guide 8a and the holding plate 3 white, when the image sensor 7a reads the original 1a, the outer area of the original 1a is also read as white, eliminating the outline of the original 1a and improving the appearance of the reading result. In addition, since the outer area is also read as white, there is an advantage that there is no large change in the compression ratio of the binary data even if processing such as cutting out the range of the document 1a is not performed during black and white binary reading.

Making the reading guide 8a and the presser plate 3 white has the advantage that when reading a single-sided printed original 1a, the outline of the original 1a becomes unclear as described above, but when reading a double-sided printed original 1a, When reading the original 1a, if the paper thickness of the original 1a is thin, the printing on the back side will be read and the image quality will be smudged. That is,
The light transmitted through the original 1a is transmitted to the reading guide 8a or the holding plate 3.
The light is reflected by the light, passes through the original 1a again, and is converted into image data in the same way as the reflected light. Therefore, the desired image on the front side of the original 1a and the unnecessary image on the back side coexist, making it impossible to obtain a high quality image.

To deal with this, as shown in Figure 10,
The backing of the original 1a is made black, for example, so that the printing on the back side cannot be read through. That is, reading guide 8
a is black, and the presser surface of the presser plate 3 is black.

There is also a device in which the reading guide 8a is a roller.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

According to the above conventional method, in order to handle double-sided printed originals, a reading guide made of black or other material that does not reflect the transmitted light of the original is used as the backing material. However, in the case of a white background or a gray area close to white on the original, the black of the reading guide or presser plate on the back is visible, reducing the overall output of the image sensor, resulting in signal/noise (S/N). The ratio becomes poor, and as a result, it is not possible to obtain high quality images.

■When scanning using a presser plate, you can change the backing of the original to white or black depending on whether the original is printed on one side or on both sides, but it is not necessary to change it each time. is complicated and troublesome to operate.

There is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reading device that can easily prevent the back side printing from being read without complicated operations even in the case of double-sided printed documents, and can obtain high-quality image data. .

(Means for solving problems) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a document, 7 is a reading means for reading the image of the document 1, and 8 is a reader having a white area and a readable color area other than white to give a background color to at least the reading position of the document 1 by the reading means 7. A guide 18 is a determining means for determining whether the document 1 is printed on one side or double-sided; 19 is a result of the determination by the determining means 18; when it is printed on one side, it is white; when it is printed on both sides, it is possible to read colors other than white. This is a switching means for switching the area of the reading guide 8 depending on the color.

Therefore, the reading guide 8 and the reading means 8 are switched to white or a readable color area other than white by the switching means 19.
The reading means 7 is configured to read the image of the document 1 between the two.

[Operation] The determining means 18 determines whether the original 1 is printed on one side or on both sides, and as a result, when the original 1 is printed on one side, the original 1 is printed on one side.
By switching the background color of a to the white area of the reading guide 8 or, in the case of double-sided printing, to the readable color area of the reading guide 8 other than white by the switching means 19, and reading the original 1 by the reading means 7, If document 1 is printed on one side, the backing is white to avoid deterioration of the S/N ratio, and if it is double-sided printing, the backing is black to eliminate the influence of transmitted light on the image data on the back side of the document. You can get high quality image quality.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures.

The optical unit 7a and switching control section 19a shown in FIG. 2 are similar to the reading means 7a shown in FIG. and the switching means 19, respectively, and the optical sensors S1, S2 and the determining section 18a in FIG. 2 correspond to the determining means 18 in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the reading device described in the conventional example.

As shown in the side view of the second [ff1(a)], reflective optical sensors St and S2 are arranged between the feed roller R1 and the feed roller R2 to detect the presence or absence of printing from both sides of the document 1a. Also, in place of the reading guide 8a described in the conventional example, facing the home position of the optical unit 7a,
A reading guide 8b is provided.

The reading guide 8b has a cylindrical cross section with four opposing sides, and is rotatably held around a central axis 80. As shown in the main part perspective view of FIG. 2(b), the four sides are color-coded alternately into white and black, with white backing parts 81a, 81b and black backing parts 82a, 8.
2b is provided. Pulley 83 at one end of central shaft 80
A belt 85 is placed between the shaft 84 and the pulse motor.

Further, the control block diagram in FIG. 2(C) shows only the parts related to the present invention, and in the figure, the determination unit 18a detects the presence or absence of printing on the front and back sides of the original 1a using optical sensors Sl and S2. Then, it is determined whether double-sided printing or single-sided printing is performed depending on whether both optical sensors Sl and S2 detect the presence of printing or whether optical sensor S1 detects the presence of printing. Also, when only the optical sensor S2 detects the presence of printing, the original 1 with one-sided printing
Since a is set upside down and cannot be read, the main control unit 21 is notified to that effect.

The switching control unit 19a stores whether the current backing color of the reading guide 8b is white or black (however, it is normally white), and determines whether switching is necessary based on the signal of the determination result from the determining unit 18a. When switching is necessary, a command to rotate the reading guide 8b by 90 degrees is sent to the motor driver 20 to drive the pulse motor M2, and the reading guide 8b is rotated in the direction of arrow B to rotate the white backing portion 81a.

81b or black backing part 82a, 8
2b.

The main control section 17a has the same functions as the main control section 17 described in the conventional example, and further controls the above-mentioned sections to control switching to a background color corresponding to single-sided printing or double-sided printing, respectively.

Since it has such a configuration and function, the operation will be explained next with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

(1) First, for example, a plurality of originals 1a are set on the setting table 4 with the side to be read facing downward, a start button on the operation panel 12 is pressed, and the originals 1a are fed out by the feeding roller R1.

(2) Then, the optical sensors Sl and S2 detect whether or not there is printing on the front and back sides of the original 1a, and the detection signal is sent to the determination section 18a.

■The determining unit 18a determines that printing is on one side when a detection signal is received only from the optical sensor S1, and as double-sided printing when a detection signal is received from both optical sensors St and S2. It is determined that there is no printing on the reading surface, and the main control unit 17a is notified.

■When it is determined that the printing is on one side, the white backing part 8
1a or 81b, the document 1a is fed out by the feeding roller R.
1 and feed rollers R2 and R3 and read by the optical unit 7a.

■When it is determined that double-sided printing is required, the switching control unit 19a is notified, and since it is necessary to use a color different from the stored background color, the pulse motor M
1 is driven to rotate the reading guide 8b by 90 degrees so that one of the black backing parts 82a and 82b becomes the background color. The switching control unit 19a stores that the backing is currently black.

■Then, the document 1a is fed out by the feed roller R1 and the feed roller R.
2. Optical unit 7 sent by R3 with black background color
read by a.

(2) When the reading is completed, the trailing edge of the original 1a is detected by a sensor (not shown), and if there is any remaining original 1a, the next original 1a is fed out, and the flow from (2) onwards is repeated.

(2) When there is no remaining document left, the reading guide 8b rotates 90 degrees and returns to either the white backing portion 81a or 81b.

In the above, the originals 1a set in multiple sheets at a time are usually printed on one side or both sides, same as the first original 1a, and in that case, the background color of the reading guide 8b is not changed each time. Even if single-sided printing and double-sided printing are mixed, you can switch to a background color that corresponds to each.

A different embodiment (]) is shown in FIG. The difference between the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and the embodiment explained in FIG. 2 is that the reading guide is formed into a plate shape having a white area and a black area, and
It is possible to move the image so that it becomes the background color for each reading position.

That is, as shown in the side view of FIG. 4(a), the reading guide plate 8c has a white backing part 81c and a black backing part 82c of a predetermined width over the reading length of the original 1a, and has one end. is connected to a plunger magnet (hereinafter referred to as PM) 21 and a recovery spring 22.

The reading guide plate 8c is normally located opposite the reading position of the optical unit 7a with the white backing part 81c at the home position, and is moved in the direction of arrow C by the excitation of the PM 21, so that the black backing part 82c It is located opposite the reading position of the optical unit 7a.

The control block diagram in this case is omitted because the pulse motor M2 and motor driver 20 in FIG. 2(C) are simply replaced with PM21 and a magnet driver.

Therefore, in the same way as in the embodiment described above, the determination unit 1 detects whether or not there is printing on both sides of the fed document 1a using the optical sensors S1 and S2.
8a determines whether it is one-sided printing or double-sided printing, and when switching is necessary based on the determination result, the switching control section 19a switches to the white backing section 81c or the black backing section 82c, and the background color for reading the original 1a is changed. do.

In this case, with the reading guide plate 8c fixed, the optical unit 7a is moved to the white backing part 81c for single-sided printing, and to the black backing part 82c for double-sided printing, and the document 1a is moved to the position of the black backing part 82c for double-sided printing. It can also be used as a way to read.

Further, a different embodiment (2) is shown in FIG. 5, which shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and the different embodiment (1) shown in FIG.
The difference is that the reading guide is formed into a belt shape having a white backing part and a black backing part and is used as a conveyor belt, and the leading edge of the original 1a has a background color corresponding to single-sided printing or double-sided printing of the fed original 1a. Synchronize the leading edge of the document 1a.
is conveyed to the reading position of the optical unit 7a.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the conveyor belt 8d is
A white backing part E)ld of a white area and a black backing part 82d of a black area, each having approximately half the total length at least the length of the original 1a, are hung on a pulley 84.85, and are not shown in the drawings at a shaft 86.87. It is rotatably supported by a frame. The shaft 86 of the pulley 84 is a pulse motor M3.
is connected to. Further, a presser roller R4 is provided opposite to the position of the pulley 85 and rolls into contact with the conveyor belt 8d. An optical sensor S3 that detects the tip of the white backing portion 81d or the black backing portion 82d of the conveyance bell l-8d is arranged near the presser roller R3.

The control block diagram in FIG. 5 et al. shows only the parts related to the present invention.
Based on the signal of the determination result from the determining section 18a, the controller 18 instructs the motor driver 22 to drive the pulse motor M3 in order to switch between the white backing section 81d and the black backing section 82d.

The main control section 17b has substantially the same functions as the main control section 17a described in the embodiment, and further controls the above-mentioned sections to control the optical sensor S1. At the position where S2 detects the presence or absence of printing on the document 1a, the conveyance control section 10 temporarily stops conveyance of the document 1a, and based on the detection signal from the optical sensor S3, the conveyance control section 10 is instructed to move the feeding roller R1 and the conveyance control section 10. feed roller R2,
The white backing portion 81d is switched by driving R3.
Alternatively, control is performed so that the leading edge of the black backing portion 82d and the leading edge of the original 1a are conveyed in synchronization.

Since it has such a configuration and function, the operation will be explained next with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(1) First, the original 1a set on the setting table 4 is fed out by the rotation of the feeding roller R1.

(2) Then, the optical sensors Sl and S2 detect whether or not there is printing on the front and back sides of the original 1a, and the detection signal is sent to the determination unit 1.
Sent to 8a.

■The determining unit 18a determines that printing is on one side when a detection signal is received from only the optical sensor S1, and as duplex printing when a detection signal is received from both optical sensors S1 and S2, and notifies the main control unit 17b to transport the document 1a. , and also light sensor S.
When a detection signal is received only from 2, it is determined that there is no printing on the reading surface, and the main control section 17b is notified.

(2) When it is determined that there is no printing on the reading surface of the original 1a, the transport belt 19b is designated and the transport belt 8d is driven, and the original 1a is transported as is.

■When it is determined that printing is on one side, the belt conveyance control section 19b
When the leading edge of the white backing portion 81d is detected by the optical sensor S3 at a position synchronized with the leading edge of the document 1a, the transport control unit 10a is activated and the motor is activated. The feed roller R1 and the feed rollers R2 and R3 are driven by the rotation of the original 1a, and the original 1a is transported with white as the background color along with the drive of the transport bell 8d.

■When it is determined that it is double-sided printing, a bell)! Sending control section 19b
When the leading edge of the black backing part 82d is detected by the optical sensor S3 at a position synchronized with the leading edge of the original 1a, the transporting control part 10a is activated and the motor is rotated. The rotation drives the feeding roller R1 and the feeding rollers R2 and R3, and the original 1a is transported with black as the background color along with the driving of the transport belt 8d.

(2) Then, the image of the original 1a is read by the optical unit 7a. However, when ■, the white side is read.

(2) When the reading is completed, the trailing edge of the original 1a is detected by a sensor (not shown), the next original 1a is fed out, and the flow from (2) onwards is repeated.

Further, an application example of the present invention is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a method for double-sided printing when an original 1a is set on the reading glass surface 2 of the reading device described in the conventional example.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, boots 1730 and 31 are provided at both ends of the lower side of the presser plate 3a, and are rotatably supported by shafts 32 and 33 on the side plates of the presser plate 3a. The shaft 32 of the pulley 30 is connected to a pulse motor.

A presser belt 8e is hung on the pulleys 30 and 31, and the presser belt 8e is color-coded into a white backing part 81e for a white area and a black backing part 82e for a black area in the length range facing the reading glass surface 2. ing. Under normal conditions, white backing part 8
1e faces the reading glass surface 2.

The operation panel 12a is the operation panel 12 described in the conventional example.
A background color switching instruction button 120 has a function similar to that of the original 1a and inputs the fact that the document 1a is double-sided printed when the document 1a is printed on both sides and has overlapping pages, such as a book, placed on the reading surface 2 to be read. It is equipped with

The switching control section 19c rotates the pulse motor 1 by the number of steps until the black backing section 82e of the presser bell 1-8e faces the reading surface 2 based on the pressing of the background color switching instruction button 120.

With such a configuration and function, when reading a document 1a with double-sided printing, the background color switching instruction is first issued! When 0120 is pressed, the pulse motor M4 rotates in response to a command from the switching control section 19c, the presser belt 8e moves, and the black backing section 82e faces the reading glass surface 2.

Then, by lifting the presser belt 8e, setting the document 1a facing the reading glass surface 2, pressing the reading start button after pressing the document 1a with the presser belt 8e, the document 1a is set with the black of the black backing part 82e as the background color. Read.

In this way, by using black as the background color when reading the double-sided printed original 1a, it is possible to prevent the printing on the back side from being read, and it is possible to obtain a high quality image.

In the above example, a case has been described where black is used as the background color when the document 1a is double-sided printed, but the readable color 1 other than white may be used, such as gray or red.

Further, even when the back side of the double-sided printed original 1a is printed in a readable color other than black, the same effect can be obtained by switching the background color.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the determining means determines whether the original is single-sided or double-sided printing, and the switching means selects white for single-sided printing and non-white for double-sided printing. By switching the background color of the document to a readable color and then reading it with the reading means, it is possible to prevent the image quality from becoming dirty due to the print on the back side of double-sided printing being read through when the document is thin, etc. This has the effect that high image quality can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a principle block diagram of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the embodiment, Fig. 4 is a side view showing a different embodiment (1), and Fig. 4 is a side view showing a different embodiment (1). FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a different embodiment (2), FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a different embodiment (2), FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an application example of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a different embodiment (2). FIG. 9 is a control block diagram of a conventional example, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example. In the figure, 1.1a is a document, 7a is an optical unit, 8c is a reading guide plate, 8e is a presser belt, 18a is a determination unit, 19a is a switching control unit, 7 is a reading means, 8.8a and 8b are reading guides, 8d is a conveyor belt, 8 is a determination means, 19 is a switching means, and 5l-53 is an optical sensor. Tori Aro of the present invention, Figure 1 of 7 ((1) I rule surface V; ko
) agonist slant 1 (C”) Control allo, 77 diagrams Side view Fig. 4 ((1) J side Fig. Stomach TX 5 mating row (2 dwelling T configuration Fig. 5 (Quantity 1) 32 CD) Control hole flow, 7 F Fig. Cumulative T roller actual girder Second・I (2)
) Example of use of the present invention :E6 Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A reading means (7) for reading the image of the original (1), and a white or non-white color to give a background color to at least the reading position of the original (1) by the reading means (7). a reading guide (8) having a readable color area; a determining means (18) for determining whether the document (1) is printed on one side or on both sides; As a result, it is provided with a switching means (19) for switching the area of the reading guide (8) to a readable color other than white when printing on one side and white when printing on both sides. The image of the document (1) between the reading guide (8) which has been switched to a readable color area other than the reading means (7) and the reading means (7)
A reading device characterized by reading by. 2) The reading guide (8) is formed in a flat plate shape having areas of the white and readable colors other than white on the same plane, and the switching means (19) is configured to adjust the reading guide (8) according to the determination result by the determining means (18). Based on this, the reading guide (8) or the reading means ( 7) The reading device according to claim 1, further comprising moving means for relatively moving the reading device. 3) The reading guide (8) is configured to at least read the original (1).
) comprises a belt having white and readable color areas other than white corresponding to the length of the belt, and a drive means for driving the belt; and the belt is driven by the drive means in synchronization with the leading edge of the document (1) to be fed out, so that the leading edge of the readable color area is white in the case of single-sided printing and other than white in the case of double-sided printing. The reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that: