JPH0544865B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention Technical Field The present invention relates to an image reading device that reads images on paper, and particularly to an image reading device that can read images within an arbitrarily set area on paper. It is.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Image reading devices that read images (including characters) on paper are already known, but conventionally, in this type of device, by specifying the size of paper, an image of the entire surface of the specified paper is read. was supposed to be read.

Therefore, the present applicant has developed an image reading device that can read images only within an arbitrary area on a sheet of paper. This image reading device includes (a) a reading head that reads an image displayed on the paper surface, and (b) a reading head that moves at least one of the paper and the reading head relative to the paper surface. (c) a storage means for storing data indicating the positions of a plurality of points specifying an area to be read by the reading head; and (d) storing the positions of the plurality of points in the storage means. (e) a first area setting operation device that is operated to set the reading area by sequentially storing data for each point;
A reading command operating device operated to command the start of reading; and (f) storing position data of the plurality of points one point at a time in a storage means each time the first area setting device is operated. Accordingly, the present invention includes a first area setting for setting the reading area and a control device having a reading control means for causing the reading head to perform reading in accordance with the operation of the reading command operating device.

According to this image reading device, it is possible to read only the figures and graphs in a document and transfer it to another, or to create a single document by combining descriptions from multiple documents. The field of application of will become wider.

Defining the reading area generally requires defining the positions of multiple points. For example, if the reading area is rectangular, it is necessary to define the positions of two diagonal corners, such as the upper left corner and the upper right corner, or the upper right corner and the lower left corner. For this purpose, earlier developed image reading devices are equipped with a reading area setting operation device that includes cursor keys, margin set keys, etc. The reading head moves to each point defining the reading area by operating the cursor keys. The reading area is set by operating the margin set key and storing the position data of each point in the storage means.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention This point is the same even when it is necessary to read images of multiple areas whose reading areas have the same shape and size but differ only in position, and the same area setting operation is performed each time. I had to. but,
If the shape and size of the reading area are the same, but only the position of the reading area is different, it should be possible to set a new reading area by moving the already set reading area in parallel, which is a troublesome area. It is wasteful to repeat the setting operation every time.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made to provide an image reading device that can eliminate waste as described above, and its gist is as shown in FIG. The image reading device includes the (a) reading head, (b) reading head moving device, (c) storage means, (d) area setting operating device, (e) reading command operating device, and (f) control device,
The area setting operation device (first area setting operation device)
A second region setting operation device is separately provided, and the control device is configured to determine the specific point, which is one of the plurality of points, in accordance with the operation of the first region setting operation device. When the second area setting operation device is operated, data on the position of a point other than the specific point is determined to have a predetermined relative positional relationship with respect to the specific point, and the position data is stored in the storage means. This is because a second area setting means for storing is provided.

Although it is possible to provide the second area setting operation device completely independently of the first area setting operation device, it is possible to provide the second area setting operation device as a second area setting operation device by simply changing the operation method using the first area setting operation device. It is also possible to make it work. For example, if the first area setting operation device is equipped with multiple cursor keys, an upper left margin set key, and a lower right margin set key, if the upper left margin set key or the lower right margin set key is operated alone. In some cases, the function of the first region setting operation device can be obtained, and when two margin set keys are operated at the same time, it is also possible to obtain the function of the second region setting device. Further, by providing another operating member, for example, a code key, when this code key and either of the above two margin set keys are operated at the same time, it functions as a second area setting operating device. It is also possible.

Further, the second region setting operation device may be operated after the position data of the specific point is stored in the storage means by the operation of the first region setting operation device, and the second region setting operation device can be operated after the position data of the specific point is stored in the storage means. It is also possible to operate the reading unit in a state where the reading unit is only positioned on a specific point and the position data of the specific point is not yet stored in the storage means.
In the former case, the second area setting means determines the position data of the point other than the specific point and stores it in the storage means, and in the latter case, the second area setting means determines the position data of the point other than the specific point and stores it in the storage means.In the latter case, the second area setting means determines the position data of the point other than the specific point and stores it in the storage means. Both data and data are stored in the storage means. The expression "when the second region setting operation device is operated after the specific point has been determined" includes both of the above two cases.

In addition, it is only necessary to set the positions of points other than the specific point to have a predetermined relative positional relationship with respect to the position of the specific point, for example, set the position to be the same as the relative positional relationship in the area of the previous reading. It is possible to set the relative positional relationship in a predetermined reference reading area.

Actions and Effects If points other than the specific point are configured to have the same relative positional relationship as in the area of the previous reading,
When reading multiple reading areas having arbitrary shapes and sizes, the first reading area is set by operating the first area setting operation device to move the reading head to the plurality of points necessary to define the reading area. It is necessary to set the reading area while actually moving the reading area, but for the second and subsequent reading areas, one point out of the multiple points that define the reading area is set by operating the first area setting operation device. Setting can be made by simply setting the area and then operating the second area setting operation device. That is, it is not necessary to move the reading head to all of the multiple points necessary to define the reading area, thereby reducing the time required to set the reading area.

In addition, if the reference reading area is configured to be set according to the operation of the second area setting operation device, the second area setting operation device can be used from the initial reading area setting, and the reading Since there is no need to move the head to positions corresponding to a plurality of points, the efficiency of the reading area setting work is further improved.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows only the mechanical part of the image reading device with recording device. In this figure, 10 is the main body frame, and the main frame
A platen 12 is spanned between both side walls 11 of. A paper guide 14 is located behind the platen 12.
is provided integrally with the main body frame 10,
The paper guided by the paper guide 14 and inserted is sent in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the platen 12 by a paper feeding device 22 comprising a paper feeding motor 16, a feeding roller 18, and the like.

A guide rod 24 is arranged parallel to the platen 12, and a guide rail 26 is formed integrally with the main body frame 10, and a first carriage 28 is provided so as to be able to slide on these.
The first carriage 28 is moved along the platen 12 by a carriage drive device 40 that includes a carriage drive motor 30, a pinion 32, a gear 34, a timing pulley 36, a timing belt 38, and the like.

As is clear from Fig. 3, the first carriage 2
A notch is formed in the portion of 8 on the platen 12 side, and a second carriage 42 is accommodated within this notch. A thermal head 44 serving as a storage head and a reading head 46 are fixed to the second carriage 42. The thermal head 44 is provided with a recording section 48 in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged vertically, that is, parallel to the paper feeding direction, and the reading head 46 is similarly provided with a reading section 50 that is long in the paper feeding direction. . The reading unit 50 has a plurality of pairs (16 pairs in this embodiment) arranged vertically, with end faces of a light-emitting fiber and a light-receiving fiber forming pairs, and the end face of each fiber is connected to a thermal head. 44 by a short distance, for example, 0.15 mm. As schematically shown in Fig. 4, the light-emitting side fibers T ₁ to Tn and the light-receiving side fiber R ₁
The end surface of ~Rn on the reading unit 50 side is each reading point D ₁ on the paper.
~Dn, but the light emitting elements _L1 ~Ln and the light receiving element P are respectively faced on the opposite end face. The light emitting elements L ₁ to Ln, the driving circuits C ₁ to Cn for driving them, the light receiving element P and the amplifier A for amplifying their output signals are incorporated in the casing 52 of the reading head 46 shown in FIG. The input signals to the drive circuits C ₁ to Cn and the output signal from the amplifier A are guided by a belt-shaped flexible cable 54 . Further, input signals to each heating element of the thermal head 44 are guided by a flexible cable 56 which is overlapped with a flexible cable 54.

The second carriage 42 is the first carriage 28
The thermal head 44 and the reading head 4 are moved along the guide rod 24 together with the thermal head 44 and are also rotatable around the guide rod 24 by a spring (not shown).
6 is urged to rotate in a direction away from the platen 12. And the second carriage 4
The end opposite to the side supported by the guide rod 24 of No. 2 is pressed against a bar 58 shown in FIG. By being moved upward by the head pressing device 64, the second carriage 42 is rotated, and the thermal head 44 and reading head 46 are moved toward the platen 12 and pressed against the paper surface of the paper supported by the platen 12. It is becoming more and more popular.

As best seen in FIG. 3, a cursor 70 is secured to the first carriage 28. The cursor 70 is a plate-shaped member made of transparent synthetic resin and provided with notches for accommodating the thermal head 44 and the reading head 46, and is fixed to the first carriage 28. The cursor 70 is curved so that its upper end follows the surface of the paper as closely as possible, and a cross-shaped marker 72 is provided at that portion. This marker 72 is provided at a position a certain distance away from the reading section 50 of the reading head 46 in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the sheet of paper so that it can be easily seen by the operator.

The printing mechanism section configured as described above is housed in a case 74 as shown in FIG. 5, and this case 74 is provided with an operation panel 76 for the recording device and an operation panel 80 for the reading device. There is. As shown in FIG. 6, the reading device operation panel 80 is provided with a cursor key 82, an upper left margin set key 84, a lower right margin set key 86, an area check key 88, a mode selection key 90, a start key 92, etc. It is being cursor key 8
2 is operated to move the reading head 46 in four directions (up, down, left and right) relative to the paper, and the upper left margin set key 84 and the lower right margin set key 86 are used to set the upper left margin and the lower right margin, respectively. It is operated to set the The cursor key 82 and both margin set keys 84 and 86 constitute a first region setting operation device, but both margin set keys 84 and 86 can be operated simultaneously as described later to cause a second region setting operation device to be configured. It also functions as a region setting operation device. The area check key 88 is operated to check the reading area limited by the operations of the margin set keys 84 and 86, and constitutes a reading area check operation device. Furthermore, the mode selection key 90 is connected to the reading head 46.
The start key 92 is operated to select one of two modes in which the distance that the reading head 46 moves for each reading differs.The start key 92 is used to start reading. It is operated by That is, the start key 92 constitutes a reading command operation device. 94 is a light emitting diode.

FIG. 7 shows the control circuit of this image reading device. The main body of the control circuit is the CPU (central processing unit) 100,
ROM (read-on memory) 102 and RAM
(Random access memory) 104, and this CPU 100 is connected to the paper feed motor 16 and the carriage drive motor 30 via a paper feed drive circuit 106, a carriage drive circuit 108, a solenoid drive circuit 110, and a thermal head drive circuit 112, respectively. , solenoid 6
0 and thermal head 44. The CPU 100 further connects each drive circuit of the read head 46 via a multiplexer 114.
Sequentially send command signals to C ₁ to Cn to light emitting elements L ₁ to Ln
are made to emit light sequentially, and detection signals appearing at the amplifier A at that time are sequentially received. Further, the CPU 100 is configured to be able to exchange information with other devices such as a word processor and a computer via an interface (not shown).

The RAM 104 constitutes a storage means for storing data indicating the positions of a plurality of points specifying the area to be read by the reading head 46 and the read data. Also, the above ROM
102 stores various control programs including the program shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.
2 and RAM 104 constitute the first and second reading area setting means and the reading control means, and this point will be explained below along with the operation of the entire image reading apparatus.

When it is necessary to read the image displayed within the rectangular reading area 118 of the paper 116 as shown in FIG. The device 40 is activated to align the center of the marker 72 of the cursor 70 with the upper left corner of the reading device 118, and then the upper left margin set key 84 is operated. In response to this operation, the CPU 100 executes steps S1 to S4, and stores the data of the upper left margin position, that is, the left margin position and the upper margin position, in the buffer memory of the RAM 104. Similarly, the operator positions the marker 72 at the lower right corner of the reading area 118 and presses the lower right margin set key 86.
If you operate , the CPU 100 will perform steps S1, S2,
Run S3, S5 and S6, bottom right margin position,
That is, the data of the right margin position and the bottom margin position are stored in the buffer memory of the RAM 104. Note that the determinations in steps S1, S3, and S5 are made in step S8 along with the determinations in steps S7 and S8.
Since the process is repeated until the determination result becomes YES, that is, until the setting of the upper left margin and lower right margin is completed, it is also possible to set the lower right margin before the upper left margin.

Once the position data of the upper left margin and lower right margin have been stored in the buffer memory in this way, the CPU 100 repeatedly executes step S9,
The system waits for the start key 92 to be operated.

Therefore, when the operator operates the start key 92, the CPU 100 executes step S10. That is, it is determined whether or not both the upper left and lower right margin position data are stored in the buffer memory, and if they are not stored, it is assumed that the operation of the start key 92 is incorrect and a buzzer is sounded in step S11. , program execution returns to step S1. Also, step
If the determination result in S10 is YES, step S12 is executed, and the upper left margin position data and lower right margin position data stored in the buffer memory are transferred to the margin position memory.

After that, step S13 is executed, and the reading head 4
The reading section 50 of No. 6 is moved to the upper left margin position. That is, since the marker 72 is provided at a position away from the reading section 50 of the reading head 46 as described above, the correction data for correcting the amount of deviation stored in the ROM 102 can be used to correct the amount of deviation.
As described above, the data of the upper left margin position and lower right margin position stored in the margin position memory is corrected to obtain true margin position data, and the reading head 46 is adjusted based on the true margin position data. It is moved to the upper left margin position, and in this state, the upper end of the reading section 50 is located at the upper left corner of the reading area 118.

Subsequently, step S14 is executed, and reading is performed from the left margin position to the right margin position.
That is, each time the reading unit 50 moves a distance of one pitch as the second carriage 42 moves, the light emitting elements L ₁ -Ln sequentially emit light by the driving circuits C ₁ -Cn, and as a result, light is reflected from the light receiving element P. Electrical signals emitted in response to the intensity of light are amplified by amplifier A, and sequentially stored in predetermined addresses of RAM 104 by CPU 100.

When reading from the left margin position to the right margin position is completed, it is determined in step S15 whether reading has been performed up to the bottom margin position, and if it has not been read yet, step S16 is performed.
is executed, the second carriage 42 is returned to the left margin position, and at the same time, the paper 116 is fed in the forward direction by an amount corresponding to the length of the reading section 50. Then, steps S14 and S15 are executed again, and when the reading of the entire reading area 118 is completed by this repetition, the determination result of step S15 becomes YES, and step S17 is executed.
The buzzer will sound several times to notify you that reading is complete.

The above is a normal reading procedure, and if it is necessary to read images of multiple areas with different shapes and sizes, the above steps will be repeated, but if the shapes and sizes of multiple reading areas are the same. If only the position is different, the reading area can be set more easily. This point will be explained below.

After reading one area is completed, if the next area to be read has the same shape and size as the previous area but differs only in position, the operator operates the cursor keys 82 as appropriate in the same manner as in the above case. to position the marker 72 at the new upper left margin position you wish to set, and then press the upper left margin set key 8.
4 and the lower right margin set key 86 at the same time. Then, the determination result in step S7 becomes YES, and step S18 is executed. That is, it is determined whether or not the margin position data of the previous reading area is stored in the margin position memory.
If it is not memorized, press both margin set keys 84.
Simultaneous operation of 86 and 86 is considered to be an error, and a buzzer sounds in step S19, and the program execution returns to step S1. Normally, however, the judgment result in step S18 is YES, and the process returns to step S19.
In S20, the upper left margin position data and the lower right margin position data are automatically stored in the buffer memory. To explain in more detail, if the previous reading area is the area shown by the solid line in FIG. 10 and the next area to be read is the area shown by the broken line, the previous reading area is the area shown by the broken line, and the previous reading area is the area shown by the _broken line. It is only necessary to move the point S ₁ by the same amount in the same direction, so the upper left margin position data of the point T ₁ stored in the margin position memory and the upper left margin of the newly set point T ₂ By calculating the movement direction and movement amount from the position data and correcting the movement direction and movement amount calculated above to the lower right margin position data of point S ₁ , the lower right margin position data of point S ₂ in the new reading area is obtained. can be found. By simultaneously operating the upper left margin set key 84 and the lower right margin set key 86, the upper left margin position data is stored in the margin position memory, and the lower right margin position data is also determined as described above. The setting of the upper left margin and lower right margin is completed at once, and the CPU 100 enters a standby state waiting for the start key 92 to be pressed. The following reading operation is the same as that described above, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

The data of the image read in the above manner is
Since the image is stored in the RAM 104, the thermal head drive circuit 112 of the CPU 100 is controlled based on this memory, and the heating element of the thermal head 44 is made to generate heat as appropriate, so that the read image can be stored on another sheet of paper. can. Of course, in this case, the same paper feeding device 22, carriage drive device 40, head pressing device 64, etc. used for reading the image are operated. Also,
The image data stored in RAM104 is
It can also be transferred to other devices via the CPU 100 and an interface (not shown).

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above,
This is literally an example, and the present invention may be implemented in other embodiments. For example, it is not essential to provide the cursor 70 with the marker 72; it is also possible to attach the marker to an easily visible position on the reading head 46, or to allow the reading section of the reading head itself to function as a marker. be.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the shape and size of the plurality of reading areas are the same, the reading head 46 is moved to the upper left margin and set, and the lower right margin is set by moving the reading head 46 to the upper left margin. It used to be set by calculation so that the same relative positional relationship as in It is also possible that both are possible.

Further, in the above embodiment, the upper left margin set key 84 and the lower right margin set key 86 are used for the first area setting operation for setting the upper left margin position or the lower right margin position when each is operated individually. functions as part of the device,
When both margin set keys 84 and 86 are operated at the same time, they function as a second area setting operation device that sets the lower right margin even though the reading head is not at the lower right margin position. By providing a dedicated key that functions as a second area setting operation device, or by providing a code key or the like that functions as a second area setting operation device by being operated at the same time as the upper left margin set key 84 or the lower right margin set key 86. It is also possible to provide one.

I won't give any other examples, but
It goes without saying that the present invention can be practiced with various modifications and improvements made to mechanical parts such as the reading head and reading head moving device, control circuits, control programs, etc. based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing only the mechanical part of an image reading device equipped with a recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a reading head and a recording head in the apparatus shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the structure of the reading head. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the image reading device. FIG. 6 is a front view of the operation panel of the image reading device. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the image reading apparatus. Figure 8 is the 7th
This is a flowchart that extracts and shows only the portions deeply related to the present invention from among the programs stored in the ROM shown in the figure. FIGS. 9 and 10 are explanatory diagrams showing a method of setting a reading area. 10: Main frame, 12: Platen, 22:
paper feed device, 28: first carriage, 40: carriage drive device, 42: second carriage, 46:
Reading head, 50: Reading unit, 64: Head pressing device, 70: Cursor, 72: Marker, 82: Cursor key, 84: Upper left margin set key, 8
6: Lower right margin set key, 88: Area check key, 92: Start key, 116: Paper,
118: Reading area.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A reading head that reads an image displayed on the paper surface, and a reading head movement that moves the reading head relatively along the paper surface by moving at least one of the paper and the reading head. an apparatus; a storage means for storing data indicating the positions of a plurality of points specifying an area to be read by the reading head; and causing the storage means to sequentially store data indicating the positions of the plurality of points one point at a time. a first area setting operating device that is operated to set the reading area; a reading command operating device that is operated to instruct the start of reading; and each time the first area setting operating device is operated. a first area setting means for setting the reading area by storing the position data of the plurality of points one by one in the storage means; In the image reading apparatus, a second region setting operation device is provided, and the control device is configured to control the plurality of points according to the operation of the first region setting operation device. After one of the specific points is determined, when the second area setting operation device is operated, the position data of points other than the specific point is changed to a predetermined relative position with respect to the specific point. 1. An image reading device capable of setting a reading area, characterized in that a second area setting means is provided for setting a reading area such that the reading area is in a relationship and storing the position data in the storage means.