JPH0691597B2 - Image reader - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus in an image editing apparatus such as a digital copying machine, and more particularly, it can display image information of an original even when the image surface of the original is faced up. The present invention relates to an image reading device configured to be readable.

(Prior Art) In an apparatus such as a copying machine which has been generally used conventionally, when an image of a document is read, the image surface of the document is brought into close contact with a platen, and the document is optically read through the platen. . That is, in the conventional copying machine as shown in FIG. 6, the original 2 is set on the platen glass 1 as the original adhering means with the image surface thereof facing downward, and the original 2 is placed on the platen. The cover 3 is pressed to read the image of the original.

In this case, a reading device of an optical system provided on the lower surface of the platen glass 1 scans the image surface, transmits the image information to a photosensitive drum or the like, and can constitute a means for making a copy. . However, in the case where the image information is formed on a sheet or sheet of paper which is separated one by one as a manuscript, the copying operation can be performed very easily, but a thick manuscript such as a book is used. When copying, there are many problems in handling the original. In other words, when copying a book or the like, the book is reversed page by page and the pages are turned over.
With the book turned over again, the copy surface is pressed against the platen glass for positioning, and the platen cover 3 presses it.
It is necessary to make a copy. Therefore, when using the above-mentioned ordinary copying machine, especially when the original is a thick one such as a book, it is relatively inefficient.

In recent years, there has been proposed a copying machine which solves the above-mentioned problems and makes a copying operation easily in order to make a copy using a document such as a book. For example, JP-A-58
In the examples disclosed in -141075 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-182367, the image surface of the original is set upward, and the image surface can be read from above. The copying machine has a structure as shown in FIG. 7. An original table 4 is provided on the upper surface of the main body of the copying machine, and an openable / closable frame body 6 is provided above the original table 4 via a hinge. It is provided. A platen glass 5 is provided on the lower surface of the frame body 6 so that the image surface of the document can be pressed by the platen glass 5 and an image reading means 7 is movably provided inside the frame body 6. In the state as shown in FIG. 7a, the image surface of the original is scanned, and the image information is transmitted to the toner image forming portion such as the photosensitive drum of the copying machine main body so that a copy is obtained. There is.

In the copying machine as described above, since the image surface of the original 2 can be set with the image surface facing upward, when the continuous copying is performed using a thick original such as a book, the frame body 6 is used.
It is used very effectively in that it is possible to copy efficiently while opening and closing and checking the copy surface.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional device as described above,
If the original is larger than the original table, it may be difficult to align the original and the hinge portion of the frame body 6 may be an obstacle, so that the pressing operation may not be properly performed.
Further, in the case of a document such as a large drawing, it has a drawback that it cannot be set at the image reading position unless it is folded. In addition, when reading a part of a three-dimensional object, it is difficult to bring the object into close contact with the platen glass, and the distance between the platen and the frame is regulated. In the case of a three-dimensional object having a height, there is a drawback that the reading cannot be performed well.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventionally used apparatus, and enables the copying operation to be performed in a state in which the frame body provided with the image reading means is inverted. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus configured to read an image of a document in a special state.

(Means and Actions for Solving Problems) In the image reading apparatus of the present invention, a document table arranged on the upper surface of the apparatus main body and a hinge movable along a slide member are arranged on a side portion of the document table. , A frame that can be swung through the hinge is arranged, and a platen glass that presses the image surface of the document and an image reading unit that reads the image information of the document while traveling in the sub-scanning direction are arranged in the frame. is doing. Then, the image surface is placed upward on the document table, the operation of scanning the image of the document, and the frame body is inverted via a hinge,
It is configured so that the operation of scanning the image of the original can be performed with the image surface of the original facing downward.

Further, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, when reading an image of an original such as a normal book, it is possible to carry out with the original image surface facing upward, and the image is provided on the frame body. When the size of the original is larger than that of the platen glass, the copying operation can be performed with the frame body inverted and the platen glass facing upward. Therefore, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to set two kinds of copy modes, that is, a case of copying with the original facing upward and a case of copying with the original facing downward. In particular, not only can it be used conveniently when a copy is obtained from a book or the like, but it can also be used in the same manner as in the case of a conventionally used copying machine.

(Embodiment) The configuration of the image reading apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus main body 16 of the present invention is provided with a document table 4 on its upper surface, and the frame body 6 is covered with the hinge 13 so as to cover the document table 4. , Is swingable. The frame 6 of the present invention is provided with a platen glass 5 as a document contact means on the lower surface thereof, and an image reading means 7 is provided along the platen glass 5 so as to be movable in the arrow A or B direction. . The structure of the image reading means 7 will be described later in the description of FIGS. 4 and 5.

The document table 4 is made of an elastic material such as a sponge and has a predetermined thickness. When a thick document such as a book is placed and pressed by the platen glass 5, the document of the book or the like is placed. The image surface to be copied is compressed so that it can be held flat. Further, the hinges 13 for supporting the frame body 6 of the present invention are held by the movable portions of the slide members 14 provided on both sides of the document table 4, and the frame body 6 is inverted through the hinges 13 and Frame 6
Can be slid to the operator side (front side in the figure). In addition, the image reading device body 16
An input member for image reading or copying, such as a ten-key pad and a start button 15, is provided at a predetermined position in the same manner as in a normal copying machine.

When an image of a book-type original is read by the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the image surface of the original is placed on the original table 4 and the frame 6 is placed on the original to read the image. Platen glass 5 by reading means 7
You will be able to read through. On the other hand, when reading an image of only a part of a three-dimensional object or a part of a document having a large area, as shown in FIG.
The frame body 6 is rotated about, and the platen glass 5 is directed upward. After that, as shown in FIG. 2a, the frame body 6 is slid on the document table 4, and the preparation for image reading is completed. In this state, the image surface of the original is set on the platen glass 5 and a start button 15 is pressed in the same manner as in a normal copying machine or the like, so that copying or image reading is performed.

Further, in the apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the signal / power supply line 17 is passed through the hinge 13 and the signal / power supply line 17 is coupled to the main body 16. As the signal / power line 17, as shown in the figure,
By configuring the central portion of the hinge 13 as a guide portion of the electric wire, it is not affected by the twist due to the rotation of the frame body 6, but in addition, a conductive member such as a bus duct is provided in parallel with the slide member 14. It is also possible to use another method such as transmitting a signal via the conductive member.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the main scanning direction of the image reading means 7 is the same direction with respect to the original when the frame body 6 is oriented upward and downward, The signal can be processed without changing the scanning direction of the sensor.

Next, the structure of the image reading means 7 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In the example shown in FIG. 4, an illumination means 8, a reflection mirror 9, an imaging lens 10 and a sensor 12 are provided inside the image reading means 7. Then, the platen glass 5 is moved by a moving means such as a wire or a pulley (not shown), the image surface of the original 2 is illuminated by the illuminating means 8, and the reflection image obtained thereby is formed via the reflecting mirror 9. It is transmitted to the image lens 10, and is transmitted from the image forming lens 10 to the sensor 12 via the reflection mirror 9.

In the embodiment described above, it is possible to use, as the imaging lens 10, a light focusing optical system (for example, SELFOC lens: trade name) which is usually used in a copying machine or the like. Further, as the sensor 12, a member such as a CCD or an amorphous silicon image sensor capable of converting an optical signal into an electric signal is used. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a spherical lens 11 is used in place of the light focusing optical system shown in FIG. Then, the spherical lens 11 forms a reflection image, and the sensor
Communicate to 12.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the image reading means 7 is used for reading the image of the original, but the image reading device of the present invention is configured as a device for simply reading image information. However, the present invention is not limited to use as an image input device, and can be naturally configured as a device such as an electronic copying machine. Therefore, in that case, the main body of the image reading device
It is naturally possible to provide a copying member similar to the electronic copying machine inside the apparatus 16 and form the apparatus as an electronic copying machine.

(Advantages of the Invention) Since the image reading apparatus of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, it can exert a particular effect on a book-type document, but in addition, it is difficult to copy. It enables copying in a good condition even for a large original or a copy in a special condition. Further, the image reading apparatus of the present invention can efficiently copy a book or the like with the copy surface of the original faced upward, and also has two types of copy modes for other originals. It can be applied and the performance as a general-purpose machine can be fully exhibited.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an image reading apparatus of the present invention,
2 is an explanatory view showing the operation of reversing the frame of the image reading device, FIG. 2a is an explanatory view when the platen glass is set upward, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hinge portion, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the structure of the image reading means of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a copying machine conventionally used, and FIG. 7 is an image reading method in which a conventional frame is provided with the image reading means. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device, and FIG. 7a is a sectional view thereof. Reference numeral 1 in the drawing 1 ... Platen glass, 2 ... Original, 3 ... Platen cover, 4 ... Original plate, 5 ... Platen glass, 6 ... Frame, 7 ... Image reading means, 8 ... Illumination Means, 9 ... Reflective mirror, 10 ... Imaging lens, 11 ... Spherical lens, 12 ...
… Sensor, 13 …… Hinge, 14 …… Sliding member, 15…
… Start button, 16 …… Image reader body, 17 ……
Signal / power line.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A document table 4 arranged on an upper surface of an image reading apparatus main body 16, and a hinge 13 movable along a slide member 14 on a side portion of the document table 4 and swinging through the hinge 13. A movable frame body 6 is arranged, a platen glass 5 for pressing the image surface of the original document, and an image reading means 7 for reading the image information of the original document while traveling in the sub scanning direction are arranged on the frame body 6. An operation of scanning the image of the original by placing the image surface upward on the original table 4, and an operation of reversing the frame body 6 via the hinge 13 and scanning the image of the original with the image surface of the original facing downward. An image reading apparatus characterized in that it is configured to perform the following.