JPH07231378A - Scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the deviation of an optical path between the case of reading a normal original and the case of reading a transmission original without raising a cost in a scanner for which a transmission unit provided with a unit side light source for reading the transmission original is attached on a scanner main body. CONSTITUTION:A position display means 20 for displaying the position is mounted to a first main body side carriage 13 inside the scanner main body. In the meantime, an unit side carriage 25 driven by a motor 30 is provided inside the transmission unit 11, the unit side light source 26 is mounted to the unit side carriage 25 and also a position detection sensor 35 is mounted. Then, at the time of reading the transmission original, when the position display means 20 is not detected by the position detection sensor 35, the motor 30 is appropriately driven by a control circuit and the unit side carriage 25 is moved to the position for detecting the position display means 20 and is matched to the position of the first main body side carriage 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scanner device applicable to a facsimile / copier and the like. For more information,
The present invention relates to a scanner device for reading the contents of a document by reflecting the light from a light source on a reading surface of the document and entering the reading means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in addition to a normal original that reflects light, an original is called a transparent original such as a film original that transmits light. Therefore, conventionally, there is a scanner device of this type configured to read a transparent document in addition to a normal document.

In the scanner device, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, a transparent unit 2 is detachably mounted on a scanner body 1 as an option. Although not shown, the scanner main body 1 is equipped with a main body side light source, a plurality of mirrors, and a reading unit on a carriage. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the transmissive unit 2 has a unit-side light source 3 built-in, and is attached so as to be able to travel on the document table 1a in the reading direction indicated by arrow a in FIG.

When reading a normal original, the normal original is set on the original table 1a, the carriage is moved in the reading direction B, and the light from the main body side light source is reflected by the reading surface of the set normal original. The content of the original is read by inserting the reading means through a plurality of mirrors. On the other hand, when reading a transparent original, the transparent unit 2 is assembled on the scanner body 1.
Then, the transparent original is set on the original table 1a, the transparent unit 2 is moved in the reading direction (a), the light from the unit side light source 3 is applied to the set transparent original from the back side, and the light is transmitted through the plurality of mirrors. The contents of the original were read by inserting them into the reading means via the.

By the way, in such a scanner device, if the positions of the unit side light source 3 and the carriage on the side of the scanner main body 1 are deviated, the light quantity varies and the image quality deteriorates. Therefore, the unit side light source 3 is connected to the scanner body 1
It is necessary to always move in synchronization with the side carriage.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, brackets 4 and 4 are provided at both ends of the transmissive unit 2, and the transmissive unit 2 is attached to the carriage via the brackets 4 and 4 so as to be able to travel integrally with it.

[0006]

However, in the conventional scanner device, it is necessary to provide a large motor capable of driving the carriage in which the transmissive unit 2 is assembled even if the transmissive unit 2 is not assembled. However, there was a problem of high cost.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is, in a scanner device in which a transmissive unit having a unit-side light source for reading a transmissive document is mounted on a scanner body, when a normal document is read and when a transmissive document is read without increasing the cost. This is to eliminate the deviation of the optical path when reading.

[0008]

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 1, when a normal document is read, for example, as shown in the following embodiments, the scanner body 1
The main body side carriage 13 such as the first main body side carriage 13 or the second main body side carriage 14 is moved along the set normal original and the light from the main body side light source 15 mounted on the main body side carriage 13 is set. Is reflected by the reading surface of the set ordinary document and is inserted into a reading means such as a camera 19 through a plurality of mirrors 16, 17, 18 mounted on the carriage on the main body side. The transparent unit 11 is assembled on the scanner body 10, the transparent original is set on the original table 12, the unit side carriage 25 is moved along the set transparent original, and the light from the unit side light source 26 mounted on the unit side carriage 25 is moved. Is applied to the set transparent original from the back side, penetrates it, and is inserted into the reading means through the plurality of mirrors 16, 17, 18 of the main body side carriage, In the scanner device for reading the contents, the position display means 20 is provided on either one of the main body side carriage and the unit side carriage 25, and the position detection means such as the position detection sensor 35 is provided on the other side, and the position detection means is used to detect the position. A control means such as a control circuit 36 for moving the unit side carriage 25 to a position to be detected when the position display means 20 is not detected is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, for example, in the scanner device of the first aspect, at the time of reading, one of the main body side carriage and the unit side carriage 25 is used. Is moved to the home position, and then the other is moved to a position where the position display means 20 is detected by the position detection means.
It is characterized by

According to a third aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, in the scanner device according to the first aspect, the light from the unit side light source 26 is transmitted to enter the reading means. A white reference member 40 serving as a white reference when reading a transparent original is provided, and the white reference member 40 is detachably attached to the transmission unit 11.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, when a normal document is read, it is set on the document table 12 of the scanner main body 10 and the normal document is set along the set document. A main body side carriage such as the first main body side carriage 13 or the second main body side carriage 14 is moved, and the light from the main body side light source 15 mounted on the main body side carriage 13 is reflected on the reading surface of the set normal document and the main body side When the transparent original is read through a plurality of mirrors 16, 17, and 18 mounted on the carriage, the transparent unit is mounted on the scanner body 10 by inserting the transparent unit 11 into the reading unit. Is set on the original table 12, the unit side carriage 25 is moved along the set transparent original, and the light from the unit side light source 26 mounted on the unit side carriage 25 is Against the back side Tsu preparative transparent original, the body-side plurality of mirrors 16 of the carriage is transmitted through it
.In the scanner device for reading the contents of the original by inserting it into the reading means via 17 and 18, the scanner body 10
The home position display means 45 is attached to either one of the transparent unit 11 and the home position detecting means such as the unit side home position sensor 50 on the other side, and one is fixed and the other is attached on the carriage, for example, the unit side carriage 25. And a control means such as a control circuit 36 for moving one carriage at the home position to the other carriage up to a position where the home position detecting means 45 detects the home position display means 45. It is characterized by

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the position detecting means does not detect the position display means 20 during the reading of the transparent original, the unit side carriage 25 is moved to the position for detecting the position display means 20, and the main body side is moved. Align it with the carriage.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the main body side carriage or the unit side carriage 2 is used when reading a transparent original.
After moving one of 5 to the home position,
The other is moved to the position where the position detecting means 20 is detected by the position detecting means, and is adjusted to one home position.

According to the third aspect, the white reference member 4
When cleaning the 0, remove it from the transmission unit 11.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the transparent original is read, the other carriage is moved with respect to the one carriage at the home position until the home position detecting means 45 detects the home position display means 45. Adjust to one home position.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a scanner device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view thereof.

This scanner device includes a scanner body 10
And a transmissive unit 11 mounted on the scanner body 10 so as to be openable and closable.

The scanner body 10 is, as shown in FIG.
A glass platen 12 made of glass is attached to the upper side. Below the document table 12, the first and second main body side carriages 13 are provided.
.14 is provided, of which the first main body side carriage 13
Further, the main body side light source 15 and the mirror 16 which are elongated in the reading width direction perpendicular to the reading direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure are mounted, and the mirrors 17 and 18 are mounted on the second main body side carriage 14. Then, the first and second main body side carriages 13 and 14 are
It is movable in the reading direction A by a main body side carriage drive mechanism (not shown). For example, a timing belt is spanned between left and right pulleys in FIG. 1, the carriages 13 and 14 are attached to the timing belt, the pulleys are driven by a motor to rotate the timing belts, and the carriages 13 and 14 are moved. Then, the optical path L on the right side in the figure
A camera (reading means) 19 is fixed on the top.

Further, the scanner main body 10 comprises a first main body side carriage 13 and a position display means 20 such as a light emitting element for displaying the position thereof. Although not shown, the scanner main body 10 includes a main body side home position sensor that detects the home position of the first main body side carriage 13.

On the other hand, the transmissive unit 11 has a glass plate-shaped document retainer 24 attached to the lower side thereof. A unit-side carriage 25 is provided above the document retainer 24, and the main-unit-side light source 15 is attached to the unit-side carriage 25.
Similarly, an elongated unit-side light source 26 is mounted. Then, the unit-side carriage 25 is attached to the timing belt 29 that spans between the left and right pulleys 27 and 28 in FIG. Then, the pulley 27 on the left side is
To rotate the timing belt 29 so that the unit side carriage 25 can move in the reading direction A.

Further, in the transmissive unit 11, a position detecting sensor (position detecting means) 35 such as a light receiving element is mounted on the unit side carriage 25. And
As shown in FIG. 3, the position detection sensor 35 is connected to a control circuit (control means) 36, and the control circuit 36 is connected to the motor 30. When the position detection sensor 35 does not detect the position display means 20, the motor 30 is appropriately driven so that the unit side carriage 25 can be moved to a position where the position display means 20 is detected.

For example, when reading a normal document, the transmissive unit 11 is opened as shown in FIG. 2 and the normal document is set on the document table 12. Then, when the first main body side carriage 13 is not at the home position when the power is turned on, the first main body side carriage 13 is moved to a position detected by the main body side home position sensor. Then, the first and second main body side carriages 13 and 14 are moved in the reading direction A at a speed ratio of 2: 1. Then, the light from the light source 15 on the main body side is reflected on the reading surface of the set normal document and enters the camera 19 through the mirrors 16, 17 and 18 to read the original content of the normal document.

On the other hand, when reading a transparent original, the transparent unit 11 is opened and the transparent original is set on the original table 12. Also in this case, when the power is turned on, the first
If the main body side carriage 13 is not at the home position, up to the position detected by the main body side home position sensor,
The first main body side carriage 13 is moved.

When the position detection sensor 35 does not detect the position display means 20 along with the movement, the motor 30 is driven by the action of the control circuit 36 to move the position display means 20.
The unit-side carriage 25 is moved to a position where the position is detected and is aligned with the first main body-side carriage 13.

The movement control of the unit side carriage 25 at that time will be described below with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference symbol F indicates the forward movement of the unit side carriage 25 and reference symbol R.
Indicates reverse. Further, the flag indicates normal F.
Now, when the position detection sensor 35 is turned on, that is, when the position detection sensor 35 detects the position display means 20, the unit side carriage 25 is in the home position in line with the first main body side carriage 13, Start reading. That is, the unit side carriage 25 is moved in synchronization with the first main body side carriage 13 by appropriately sending pulses at the same time.

On the other hand, when the position detection sensor 35 is off,
That is, when the position detection sensor 35 does not detect the position display means 20, the unit side carriage 25 is moved forward or backward in the direction indicated by the flag. Next, if the position detection sensor 35 still does not turn on, the unit-side carriage 25 is moved in the opposite direction by the flag and stops at the turned-on position for the first time. In this way, when the position detection sensor 35 does not detect the position display means 20, the unit-side carriage 25 is moved to the position where it is detected.

Then, after the unit side carriage 25 is aligned at the home position, it moves in the reading direction A in synchronization with the first main body side carriage 13. Then, the light from the unit side light source 26 is applied to the set transparent original from the back side and transmitted therethrough to the mirrors 16, 17, 18
The original content of the transparent original is read by inserting it into the camera 19 via the.

Thus, in this scanner device, the movement of the unit side carriage 25 is controlled by the control circuit 36 at all times during the reading so as to follow the position of the first main body side carriage 13, and the positions of both carriages 13 and 25 are kept. Always match.

By the way, the above-mentioned scanner device includes, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, an elongated plate-shaped white reference member 40 below the unit side light source 26 of the transmissive unit 11 and in parallel therewith. The white reference member 40 is made of glass having the same transmittance as that of a transparent original such as a film. Then, the white reference member 40 is provided so as to be freely taken in and out from the side with respect to the transmissive unit 11, as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

Therefore, in the illustrated scanner device, before moving the carriages 13, 14, and 25 from the home position to start reading the transparent original, the unit-side light source 26 irradiates the white reference member 40 with light. Is transmitted to enter the camera 19, the transmitted light is read by the camera 19, and the reference waveform is used as the white reference when reading the transparent original.
Then, the carriages 13, 14, and 25 are moved to start reading.

Further, if the white reference member 40 is soiled, streaks or the like are generated in the image depending on the soiled portion, and the image quality is degraded. Therefore, in the illustrated scanner device, when the white reference member 40 is dirty, as shown in FIG. 6, the white reference member 40 is pulled out from the transmissive unit 11 and cleaned. After cleaning, the white reference member 40 is put back in the transmission unit 11.

The white reference member 40 described above is provided with screws 41.4 on the transmissive unit 11 as shown in FIG. 7, for example.
It may be configured to be detachably attached with 1.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, one of the first
Although the position display means 20 is provided on the main body side carriage 13 and the position detection sensor 35 is provided on the other unit side carriage 25, on the contrary, for example, the position detection sensor 35 is provided on the one first main body side carriage 13 and the other one is provided. The position display means 20 may be provided on the unit side carriage 25.

Next, referring to FIG.
A scanner device as an embodiment of the invention described in 1) will be described.

In addition to the configuration of the scanner device shown in FIG. 1, for example, this scanner device has a predetermined home position on the left side of the document table 12 of the scanner body 10 in the figure as shown in FIG. The home position display means 45 to be displayed is fixed. On the other hand, the transmissive unit 11 has the unit side carriage 2 on the side opposite to the position detection sensor 35.
A unit side home position sensor (home position detecting means) 50 is attached on the unit 5. Although not shown, the home position detecting means 50 is connected to the above-mentioned control circuit 36, and the control circuit 36 is connected to the motor 3
Connected to 0.

Then, for example, when reading the transparent original, when the power is turned on, and the first main body side carriage 13 is not at the home position, the main body side home position sensor detects the home position display means 45 to detect the first position. The main body side carriage 13 is moved to its home position.

On the other hand, along with the movement, the unit side home position sensor 50 causes the home position display means 4
When 5 is not detected, the motor 3 is operated by the control circuit 36.
0 is driven, and the unit side carriage 25 is moved to a position where the home position display means 45 is detected. Then, the unit side carriage 25 is aligned with the first main body side carriage 13 at the home position.

After the alignment, the unit side carriage 25 is moved in the reading direction A in synchronism with the first main body side carriage 13 by sending an appropriate pulse at the same time to read the transparent original.

Further, in this scanner device, during the reading, the movement of the unit side carriage 25 is always controlled by the control circuit 36 to follow the position of the first main body side carriage 13 as in the case shown in FIG. 4 described above. Let both carriages 1
The positions of 3 ・ 25 are always the same. Accordingly, even after the unit side carriage 25 is moved in synchronization with the first main body side carriage 13, the positions of the carriages 13 and 25 are prevented from being displaced.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the home position display means 45 is fixedly provided on one scanner body 10 and the home position sensor 35 such as the home position sensor 35 is provided on the unit side carriage 25 of the other transmissive unit 11. Although the position detecting means is provided, on the contrary, for example, the home position detecting means is provided on the first main body side carriage 13 of the one scanner main body 10, and the other transmissive unit 11 is provided.
Alternatively, the home position display means may be fixedly provided.

[0041]

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the scanner apparatus in which the transmissive unit having the unit side light source for reading the transmissive original is mounted on the scanner main body, the main body side carriage is mounted above the scanner unit. Since the transmission unit is not mechanically mounted on the main body carriage to move, the main body side carriage and the unit side carriage are moved separately and the unit side carriage is made to follow the position of the main body side carriage. It is possible to eliminate the deviation of the optical path between the case of reading a normal document and the case of reading a transparent document, without causing the conventional adverse effect of requiring a motor and increasing the cost.

According to the second aspect, at the time of reading,
Either the main body side carriage or the unit side carriage is moved to the home position, and the other is moved to a position where the position display means is detected by the position detection means to perform alignment, whereby the main body to the home position is moved. It is possible to align the side carriage and the unit side carriage without misalignment.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the white reference member is detachably attached to the transmissive unit, which makes it possible to easily clean the white reference member. It is possible to prevent the image quality from being deteriorated due to stains on the members.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in the scanner device in which the transmissive unit having the unit side light source for reading the transmissive original is mounted on the scanner body,
Home position display means is provided on either one of the scanner body and the transmissive unit, and home position detection means is provided on the other, and at the time of reading, the home position display means detects the home position display means, and the home position is one of the home positions. The other carriage is moved and aligned with respect to the carriage of No. 1, so that the home position of the unit side light source and the home position of the main body side carriage can be matched without any variation, and a normal original and a transparent original can be read. The deviation of the optical path can be eliminated more reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a scanner device which is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1. FIG.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the scanner device with a transmissive unit opened.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection configuration for controlling movement of a unit-side carriage included in the scanner device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a movement control method for the unit-side carriage.

5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a scanner device which is another embodiment of the invention according to claim 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the scanner device in a state in which a transmissive unit is opened and a white reference member is pulled out.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of a scanner device in which a white reference member is screwed to a transmissive unit.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a scanner device that is an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional scanner device.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a transmission unit of the scanner device with a part thereof cut away.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Scanner Main Body 11 Transmission Unit 12 Original Plate 13 First Main Body Side Carriage (Main Body Side Carriage) 14 Second Main Body Side Carriage (Main Body Side Carriage) 15 Main Body Side Light Sources 16-18 Mirror 19 Camera (Reading Means) 20 Position Display Means 25 Unit side carriage 26 Unit side light source 35 Position detection sensor (position detection means) 36 Control circuit (control means) 40 White reference member 45 Home position display means 50 Unit side home position sensor (home position detection means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. When reading a normal original, the main body carriage is moved along the set normal original by setting it on the original plate of the scanner main body, and the light from the main body side light source mounted on the main original carriage is set to the set normal original. When the transparent original is read through a plurality of mirrors which are reflected on the reading surface of the original and are mounted on the main body side carriage, and when the transparent original is read, a transparent unit is mounted on the scanner main body, and the transparent original is read. The unit side carriage is moved along the set transparent original after being set on the original table, and light from the unit side light source mounted on the original is applied to the set transparent original from the back side and transmitted therethrough to the main body side. In a scanner device for reading the contents of an original by inserting it into the reading means through a plurality of mirrors of a carriage, the main body side carriage and the unit side carry are included. The position display means is provided on either one of the positions, and the position detection means is provided on the other side, and a control means for moving the unit side carriage to a position to be detected when the position detection means does not detect the position display means is provided. Become a scanner device. 2. When reading, one of the main body side carriage and the unit side carriage is moved to a home position, and then the other is moved to a position where the position display means is detected by the position detection means. The scanner device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A white reference member that transmits light from the unit-side light source and enters the reading means to serve as a white reference when reading a transparent original, and the white reference member is detachable from the transmission unit. The scanner device according to claim 1, which is provided for. 4. When reading a normal document, the document is set on the document table of the scanner body, the main body side carriage is moved along the set normal document, and the light from the main body side light source mounted thereon is set as the set normal document. When the transparent original is read through a plurality of mirrors which are reflected on the reading surface of the original and are mounted on the main body side carriage, and when the transparent original is read, a transparent unit is mounted on the scanner main body, and the transparent original is read. The unit side carriage is moved along the set transparent original after being set on the original table, and light from the unit side light source mounted on the original is applied to the set transparent original from the back side and transmitted therethrough to the main body side. In a scanner device for reading the contents of a document by inserting it into the reading means through a plurality of mirrors of a carriage, whichever of the scanner body and the transmission unit is used. The home position display means is provided on one side and the home position detection means is provided on the other side, one is fixed and the other is mounted on the carriage, and the home position is detected up to the position where the home position display means is detected. A scanner device comprising control means for moving the other carriage with respect to the other carriage.