JPH0548838A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To scan a book, a three-dimensional material, or the like through a document supporting unit by constituting an image scanning means like an electronic copying machine as such device on which an original is set upward and is read by a camera and the signal is outputted as a digital signal. CONSTITUTION:In a reader, 1 an upper frame 5 is arranged on a lower frame 30, on which the document is placed, through a supporter 10 provided with the vertical movement mechanism, and a camera 2 in which the auto focus mechanism is built in is provided to the supporter 10. The supporter 10 acts to adjust the optical path length between the document and the camera 2 and is provided with a means which fixes them in the set state. The lower frame 30 is provided with a detaining means so that a document supporting unit 40 to support a book, a three-dimensional material, or the like can be placed on this frame, and the document stored in the document supporting unit 40 is pressed by a platen 45, and the camera is focused on the document to scan it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is to read an image by using a camera with the image side of a document faced up and output the image information as a digital signal to form an image on an electronic copying machine or the like. The present invention relates to an image reading device used as a reading device of an apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine, a scanning device is arranged above the device to scan an image of a document, and image information obtained by the scanning device is arranged. Is transmitted to the recording paper creating unit using the electrophotographic method to create the recording paper. The scanning device provided in the image forming apparatus uses a unit in which a document is set face down on a platen, and light is emitted from a lower surface of the platen by a lamp. And
The light reflected on the original is reflected via a plurality of mirrors, and is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum in a state of being imaged via a lens,
A means for writing an image is used.

In the scanning device used in the above-mentioned general electronic copying machine, there is provided a means for scanning the image by setting the image portion of the document with respect to the positioning mark of the document set on the platen. I am using. Then, when the image is read using a document on which an image is formed on one sheet, the document can be set relatively easily. On the other hand, when a book such as a book is used as a document and the book is set on the platen with the book open, it is troublesome to position the book accurately with respect to the platen. Therefore, miscopy often occurs.

Therefore, when a recording sheet is prepared by using a document such as a book as a manuscript, for example, the actual development method of 61-
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 41242, etc., there may be a case where a scanning means is used with the document surface of the book facing upward. In the scanning device shown in the above-mentioned conventional example, the scanning means is arranged on the upper part of the image forming apparatus, and the moving member for supporting the book in the opened state is reciprocally moved in the scanning means part to scan the image of the original. I'm trying to do it. Further, the scanning device shown in the conventional example can be used not only for scanning a book but also for scanning an ordinary sheet as a document, and has an advantage that the scanning position of such a document can be accurately set. You can also let it.

However, the above-described scanning device has a problem that it cannot scan a three-dimensional object or the like. Therefore, in order to scan a three-dimensional object or the like, it is also possible to use means as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-154951. In the scanning device, means for detecting the upper surface of the object to be scanned is provided, and the means for focusing the scanning device on the basis of the information from the detecting means so that defocusing or the like does not occur in the read information is used. Then, by properly using the various scanning means as described above according to the type of the target document, it is possible to create a recording sheet using an arbitrary target object.

[0006]

The various scanning devices described above are effective for reading the image surface of a sheet, scanning a book image, and scanning a special three-dimensional object. Is used for. However, in the above-described various scanning devices, there is a problem that the reading efficiency is extremely poor when scanning is performed using other undesired originals. For example, in a device used as a reading device for scanning an image with a book open, the scanning efficiency is not good for an ordinary document on which an image is formed on one sheet of paper, and an ordinary document is used. In the electronic copying machine targeted for, it is almost impossible to scan an image of a three-dimensional object, and there is a problem in that even when scanning a book or the like, a miscopy or the like is likely to occur.

Further, in the scanning device for books and three-dimensional objects as described above, the main body of the device is formed to be larger than that of a general image forming device. In addition to the problem that it cannot be used easily, installing a plurality of devices in an office or the like is often restricted in terms of space. Further, in an image reading apparatus provided in a general electronic copying machine or the like, since the image surface of a document is set face down, the position of the document is not accurately set when making an enlarged or reduced copy. However, there is a problem that miscopy is likely to occur. However, such a problem depends only on the proficiency level of the user and cannot provide a fundamental solution.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of image forming apparatuses in conventional electronic copying machines and the like.
For the purpose of providing an apparatus capable of easily scanning an image using a camera with a document set face up, and also capable of easily scanning a book, a three-dimensional object, or the like. There is.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a document supporting means for supporting a document reading surface upward.
A column is arranged via a lower frame provided with the document supporting means, a camera is provided for the column, and a lamp and a mirror are arranged on an upper frame that supports up and down movement through the column, The present invention relates to a device for forming an image of light emitted from a document from the lamp on a camera via a mirror and outputting the image as a digital signal by a scanning unit provided in the camera. In the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the support pillar for supporting the upper frame is composed of a fixed support member provided on the lower frame and a movable support member for supporting the upper frame, and means for driving the movable support member. , And a stopper device for holding the fixed position. Further, in the present invention, the camera is provided with means for automatically setting a focus position, and a focus driving signal detected by the camera is used to operate the drive device for the column,
A means for indicating a normal focus position for the object to be read can be set in the vicinity of the mounting position of the camera.

Further, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the document supporting means provided on the lower frame has the document supporting surface formed as a non-mirror surface, and the document supporting surface formed as the non-mirror surface is transparent. It is possible to dispose such original pressing means and to open and close the original pressing means. Further, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, a separate document supporting unit is supported by the lower frame, and means for supplying power to the document supporting unit is arranged in the lower frame, and is supported by the document supporting unit. The document can be scanned using a camera, and a lamp can be independently provided in the document supporting unit to illuminate the document.

In addition to the above structure, a plate member for supporting the original document and a transparent plate member for pressing the upper surface of the original document to perform positioning are arranged in the original document receiving portion of the original document support unit. It is possible to perform scanning while the upper surface of the original is regulated by using a plate member. In addition, the plate member arranged in the document accommodation portion of the document supporting unit is
The plate member is divided into two parts, and each of the divided plate members is provided with a biasing means, and a handle is provided for the plate member to adjust the height of the plate member. It can be manually adjustable. Then, the image information scanned by the image reading apparatus of the present invention configured as described above can be output to an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine to be used as a means for producing recording paper.

With the above-mentioned configuration, the image reading apparatus of the present invention can scan an image by setting the image surface of the original on the upper side of the original table with the image surface of the original facing upward. Therefore, the scanning efficiency can be improved because the position of the image on the document can be easily confirmed. Further, since the image reading apparatus of the present invention does not need to move the scanning apparatus along the original unlike the reading apparatus used in the conventional electronic copying machine or the like,
The apparatus can be constructed in a small size and can be easily used as an image reading apparatus for a general electronic copying machine or the like. Further, according to the present invention, an image can be easily read on a book, a three-dimensional object, or the like, and image information can be easily obtained by the same operation as that for a general original.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The image reading apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. The reader 1 shown in FIG.
The upper frame 5 is arranged on the lower frame 30 via the column 10, and the camera 2 is attached to the column 10 so as to be vertically movable. In the reading device 1, the upper surface of the lower frame 30 is set as a document table 35, and the image surface of the document is set upward with respect to the document table 35, and the image surface of the document is displayed by a lamp provided on the upper frame 5. The lighting method is used. Further, the camera 2 has a lens 3 arranged toward a mirror provided on the upper frame 5, and is provided with a light emitting section 3a and a light receiving section 3b constituting an autofocus mechanism.

A control panel 34 is arranged on the front surface of the lower frame 30, and power supply connecting means 33 for supplying power to other accessory devices is arranged on the side surface thereof. Further, in the reading device of the present invention, a plurality of insertion holes 31, 31a, ... Are provided in order to mount other document supporting units and the like on the lower frame 30. The camera 2 used in the reading apparatus of the present invention uses a photoelectric conversion means such as a line CCD or the like instead of a film in a general camera, and scans an original to input optical information into the camera as a digital signal. The means for outputting is used.

In the reading apparatus 1 of the present invention comprising the above-mentioned constituent members, the optical path as shown in FIG.
The scanning light of the document is input to the camera. In the embodiment of the present invention, the image surface of the document P set on the document table 35 is illuminated by the lamp 6 provided on the upper frame 5. When the reflected light from the original document is input to the lens 3 of the camera 2 via the mirror 7, the distance between the center A1 of the light that illuminates the original document P and the central portion A2 of the mirror 7. Let L1 be the center of the mirror 7 and the lens 3
The optical path length is set on the assumption that the distance between them is L2. The lengths of the optical paths L1 and L2 are set as focal lengths in the camera 2, and the position corresponding to the optical path length (L1 + L2) is set as the home position of the camera 2.

In the reading apparatus of the present invention constructed as described above, the focal position may differ depending on the thickness of the original placed on the original table 35. Therefore, in the apparatus of the present invention, a mechanism for moving the upper frame 5 up and down is used, and the optical path length is changed by moving the upper frame up and down by using the driving means provided on the support column to change the image of the original. Be able to focus on the surface.
In the apparatus of the present invention, a signal from the autofocus mechanism provided in the camera 2 is used as the information for moving the upper frame up and down. In addition, in the present invention, the column 10 is configured as shown in FIG.
A drive device 15 that is activated by a focus detection signal from the autofocus mechanism and a stopper device 20 are arranged on the support column. Each of the above devices is a fixed support member 11
The movable strut member 12 is arranged so as to act on the actuated portion of the movable strut member 12 via a notch hole provided in the.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the column 10
Is a fixed column member 11 fixed to the lower frame 30.
And a movable strut member 12 that slides on the fixed strut member 11. The drive device 15 and the stopper device 20 provided on the fixed strut member 11 set the action of moving the moving strut member 12 up and down, and the state in which the moving strut member 12 is fixedly held, and the image of the document is set. The original document can be scanned while the camera is focused on the surface. The drive mechanism 15 arranged on the column 5 of the present invention is provided with a drive gear 17 driven by a motor 16 and a pinion gear 18, and the pinion gear 18 meshes with the rack 13 provided on the movable column member 12. It Further, the stopper device 20 includes a solenoid 21
And the spring 21a, the stopper members 23 and 23a are respectively arranged at the ends of the links 22 and 22a that are swingably provided around the support shaft, and the two stopper members 23 and 23a are moved to the movable column member. It is constructed so that it can be pressed against 12 and released.

Corresponding to the above-mentioned two types of actuating mechanisms, in the moving strut member 12 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, a non-driving rack 13 and a stopper V groove 14 are provided.
And are provided. As shown in the side view of FIG. 5 and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, the stopper member 23 engaged with the V-shaped groove 14 is provided with a V-shaped protrusion 24 and is not provided with it. And a portion 25. And the V
By pressing the protrusions 24 in the shape of a arrow toward the movable strut member 12, the movable strut member 12 can be fixedly held by the frictional load of both members. Further, when the stopper member is set in the inoperative state, the drive mechanism 15 causes
The moving support member 12 can be moved up and down.

In addition to the above-mentioned structure, in the apparatus of the present invention, a mark member 4 as shown in FIG. 6 can be arranged with respect to the camera 2 as means for indicating the focal position corresponding to the camera 2. .. Then, for example, when scanning a three-dimensional object, the operator can visually set the reading position for the three-dimensional object document Pa, and manually move the upper frame to read the document.
When scanning one document, the mark member 4 is set at a position corresponding to the upper surface of the document table 35 as shown in FIG. There is no. The mark member 4 is used for the camera 2
In addition to projecting the plate member, etc. at a predetermined position of, the operator writes the arrow etc. on the side of the camera and the operator can move the upper frame with the arrow etc. as a target. You can do it.

In the reading apparatus 1 of the present invention configured as described above, when the document P is set on the document table 35 and a scanning command is input through the control panel 34, the autofocus provided on the camera 2 is set. The mechanism is activated and outputs information to the control device to activate the drive mechanism. Then, from the control device, the drive mechanism 15
Is output, and an operation of moving the upper frame 5 between the document P and the camera 2 to a position where an appropriate optical path length is obtained is performed, and thereafter, the stopper device 20 is operated to move the upper portion. The frame 5 and the camera 2 are held in a fixed position. In this state, the lamp 6 is turned on, the reflected light of the document P is input to the camera 2 via the mirror 7, the image of the document is read by the camera 2, and the image information is output as a digital signal. When the scanning of the image is completed, the stopper device 20 returns to the non-operating state, the driving device is operated in the reverse direction, is returned to the home position, and stands by for scanning the next document.

Further, in the reading apparatus 1 of the present invention, on the surface of the document table 35, when a document in which an image is written on one sheet is used, the light reflected by the document table is input to the camera. In order to prevent this, a non-mirror-finished product can be used. In order to set the document table as a non-mirror surface, for example, the surface of the metal plate may be processed by sandblasting or the like, and a black coating may be applied to the surface. It is possible to use, for example, a plastic plate member that has been subjected to minute unevenness processing.

(When the document support unit is attached to the lower frame) In the above embodiment, the document is directly supported by the document table provided on the lower frame and the image of the document is scanned. However, in the present invention,
As shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to use a means for mounting the document supporting unit on the lower frame. In the document supporting unit shown in FIG. 8, a unit 40 configured separately is attached to the lower frame 30, so that the document supported by the document supporting unit 40 can be scanned. As shown in FIG. 9, the document supporting unit 40 is provided with a platen 45 on the upper surface of a frame 41, and one side of the platen 45 is hinged 46.
The frame 41 is supported so as to be openable and closable, and a power supply connection portion 44 and a handle 59 are provided on a side portion of the frame 41. Also,
At the bottom of the body frame 41, the legs 4 are provided on both sides.
2 and 42 are provided so as to hang down.
As shown in FIG. 3, the original supporting unit 40 is positioned on both sides of the lower frame 30 and positioned.

As shown in FIG. 10, the document supporting unit 40 has a document receiving section 5 inside the body frame 41.
0 is set, and the two plate members 51 and 51a of the document storage portion 50 are arranged so that the document can be held. The plate members 51, 51a include a plurality of springs 5 between the spring pressing members 52, 52a and the bottom plate.
3, 53a are arranged so that each plate member can be vertically moved independently. Further, handles 54 and 54a are provided for the plate member respectively, and the handles are provided so as to project to the outside of the main body frame, and the operator holds the handle by hand to increase the height of the plate member 51. Can be regulated.

Also, at the lower portion of the main body frame of the document supporting unit 40, the leg portions 42, 4 on both sides as described above are provided.
In addition to 2a, middle legs 43, 43a are provided on the inner side thereof. The middle legs 43 and 43a are inserted into the insertion holes 31 and 31a of the lower frame shown in FIG. 1, and when the document support unit 40 is set on the lower frame 30 as shown in FIG. The middle legs 43, 43a ...
Are inserted into the corresponding insertion holes 31, 31a ..., And the portions on both sides of the lower frame are connected to the legs 42, 42a.
Will be pinched. Then, in the state shown in FIG. 8, the power supply connection portion 33 of the lower frame is connected to the power supply connection portion 44 of the document support unit so that power can be supplied to a lamp or the like provided in the document support unit. To

Further, in the document supporting unit 40 of the present invention, auxiliary lamps 55 and 55a are arranged to illuminate the image surface of the document Pb such as a book accommodated in the document supporting unit. As shown in FIG. 11, the auxiliary lamps 55 and 55a are arranged inside a lamp frame 56 that is open toward the document pressed by the platen 45, and are reflected on the inner surface of the lamp frame 56. A method of irradiating the original with the generated light is used. Further, as the auxiliary lamp 55, as shown in FIG.
A semi-transparent curtain member 57 may be arranged in the opening on the side of the document to constitute means for indirectly irradiating light.

In addition to the structure described above, a fixing member 47 as shown in FIG. 13 can be used to support the platen 45. In the example shown in FIG. 13, a magnet 45a is provided at the end of the platen 45 opposite to the hinge side, and the magnet 45a is connected to the link 4
The holding portion 48a of No. 8 is suction-held. The link 48 is provided so as to be swingable via a support shaft (not shown), and has a claw member 48b at the end opposite to the holding portion.
Is provided, and the claw member 48b is locked and held in the recess 41a formed in the frame 41.

A plunger 49 is arranged with respect to the frame 41 in order to cancel the holding state by the fixing member. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the link 48 is operated by pushing the plunger 49 or the like.
Can be swung to separate the claw member 48b from the concave portion 41a of the frame, and the upper fixed portion 48a from the magnet 45a, thereby releasing the locked state of the platen 45. As described above, the platen 45
After releasing the locked state with respect to the platen, hold the end of the platen by hand and open it through the hinge 46 so that the document can be mounted toward the document supporting unit or the document can be replaced. To do.

In the document supporting unit 40 of the present invention constructed as described above, as shown in FIG. 10, the document Pb such as a book is supported by straddling the two plate members 51 and 41a. The copy side of the book is platen 45
The operation of reading the image can be performed with the button pressed. On the other hand, for example, if a small document is
If you want to make a large size copy using one sheet,
As shown in FIG. 5, the image surface of the original P is placed on the two plate members respectively, and when the reading operation is completed, the platen 45 is opened and the next page of the original is set again. , Read it.

Further, in the document supporting unit of the present invention, a fixing means can be provided for the handle 59 so that the height of the document in the document storing portion can be manually adjusted. When such plate member fixing and moving means is provided, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, a three-dimensional object Pa and a document P whose description and the like are described on a piece of paper are arranged side by side. In this state, an image reading device can be configured. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, it is possible to easily perform an operation such that an IC substrate and a description are combined and read in one scan, and one copy is created using an electronic copying machine or the like. You can

As described above, the document supporting unit 40 is provided to scan an image of a special document, and in the reading apparatus of the present invention, the document supporting unit is provided as shown in FIG. In such a state, the platen 36 can be opened and closed on the document table 35, and a means for scanning an image can be configured while the document is pressed by the platen 36. In the lower frame 30 of the reading device shown in FIG. 17, as described above, the platen 36 formed of a transparent glass plate or the like via the hinge 37 is placed on the document table which is not mirror-finished. The platen is opened, the document is placed on the upper surface of the document table, and the camera can be scanned with the platen closed. When the document is scanned as described above, the image surface of the document can be pressed by the platen so that the image surface does not have unevenness. Therefore, when the pressing means by the platen is used, the position of the document with respect to the camera is in focus and the read image information can be obtained clearly.

Further, with respect to the lower frame of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 18, two platens 36 and 36a can be opened and closed through respective hinges 37 and 37a corresponding to a small-sized document. It can also be installed in.
In the lower frame shown in FIG. 18, it is possible to scan the image of a small-sized original document while pressing a small-sized original document against the original platen by the respective platens. The sex can be retained. Note that, also in the example of the structure of the lower frame shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, as in the case of the lower frame shown in FIG. 1, an insertion hole for mounting the document supporting unit is provided, and a book or a stereoscopic frame is provided. When reading an object or the like as an object, the document supporting unit can be arranged above the document table and the image information of the document accommodated in the document supporting unit can be read. Also in the above embodiment,
The upper surface of the document table can be subjected to a non-mirror finish or the like, and it is possible to prevent light from being reflected on the surface of the document table and disturb the scanned image to obtain image information.

[0032]

Since the image reading device of the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, the reading device can be constructed as a small device and can be used as a scanning device for an electronic copying machine or the like, or , And can be used in combination with other devices as an arbitrary image information input device.
Then, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the document is set on the upper part of the document table with the image surface of the document facing upward,
Since the image can be scanned and the position of the image on the document can be easily confirmed, the scanning efficiency can be improved. Further, the image reading device of the present invention does not require the scanning device to be moved along the original unlike the reading device used in the conventional electronic copying machine or the like, so that the device is made compact. Therefore, it can be easily used as an image reading apparatus for a general electronic copying machine or the like. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily read an image on a book or a three-dimensional object,
Image information can be easily obtained by the same operation as that for a general document.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a reading device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an optical path in the reading device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a support mechanism that supports an upper frame and a drive mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship between a movable support member and a stopper.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a structure of a stopper.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a three-dimensional object is supported on a document table.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a normal document is supported on a document table.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state in which a document supporting unit is attached to the lower frame.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the shape of a document supporting unit of the present invention.

10 is a sectional view of the document support unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an auxiliary lamp.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration of the auxiliary lamp.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a locking member of the platen.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the platen is released.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which two small-sized originals are lined up and supported by the original supporting unit.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for reading a three-dimensional object.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view when the platen is separately provided on the document table of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view when two platens are provided on the document table of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 reading device, 2 camera, 5 upper frame, 10 columns, 11 fixed column members, 12
Moving column member, 13 racks, 15 driving device, 20 stopper device, 30 lower frame,
31 insertion hole, 35 platen, 36 platen,
40 document support unit, 43 middle leg, 45
Platen, 50 document storage section, 51 plate member, 54 handle, 55 auxiliary lamp.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A camera in which an original support means for supporting an original reading surface upward and a support via a lower frame provided with the original support, and an autofocus mechanism incorporated in the support. An upper frame that is provided so as to be vertically movable via the columns,
A lamp and a mirror are arranged, the light irradiated on the original by the lamp is imaged on the camera through the mirror, the scanning means provided in the camera outputs the digital signal, and the column is provided on the lower frame. An image reading apparatus comprising: a fixed strut member; and a moving strut member that supports the upper frame, and means for driving the moving strut member, and a stopper device that holds the moving strut member at a fixed position. 2. The camera is provided with means for automatically setting a focal position, and a driving device for the support is operated by using a focusing signal detected by the camera, and at the same time, an object to be read is read. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for indicating a normal focus position is set near the mounting position of the camera. 3. A document supporting surface provided on the lower frame is configured as a non-mirror surface, and a transparent document pressing means is arranged on the document supporting surface, and the document pressing means is provided so as to be openable and closable. The image reading device according to claim 1 or 2. 4. A document supporting unit, which is a separate body, is supported by the lower frame, and means for supplying power to the document supporting unit is arranged in the lower frame, and a document supported by the document supporting unit is attached to a camera. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original document supporting unit is independently provided with a lamp to illuminate the original document while scanning is performed by using. 5. A plate member supporting the document and a transparent plate member for pressing the upper surface of the document to perform positioning are arranged in the document receiving portion of the document supporting unit, and the transparent plate member is provided. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein scanning is performed while the upper surface of the original is restricted by using the original.