JPH077257U - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] One light source is moved to enable switching of reading between a transparent original and a reflective original, the structure of the image reading apparatus is simplified, and cost reduction and space saving are achieved. [Structure] A pair of left and right light source support plates 6 are rotatably provided on a device body 1 via a support shaft 5, a light source 7 is mounted between a pair of light source support plates 6, and the light source support plate 6 is moved onto the device body 1. The transparent original 26 placed on the light source table 3 via the cassette 4 is illuminated from the side opposite to the optical system, and the reflective original 23 is illuminated from the optical side.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus which illuminates an original with light emitted from a light source as an illuminating unit and reads light transmitted through the original or reflected from the original by a charge-coupled device (CCD) as a photoelectric conversion unit.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In a conventional image reading apparatus, when a cassette as a holding means for holding a document is placed on a document table and the document is illuminated by light emitted from a light source to read a document image by a CCD, the document is a transparent document. Each had its own light source, depending on whether it was a reflection original or a reflection original. The light from the light source for the transparent original is transmitted through the transparent original, the light from the light source for the reflective original is reflected from the reflective original, and the light is received by the CCD through the optical system.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the conventional image reading apparatus configured as described above, since two light sources, one for the transparent original and the other for the reflective original, are used as the light source, a lighting circuit for each light source is required. . As a result, the number of parts increases, the structure becomes complicated, a large space is required, and the device becomes large and costly. Further, when the transmissive original and the reflective original are exchanged for reading, it takes a long time for the amount of light after lighting to stabilize because different light sources are used.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and a single light source can read a transmissive original and a reflective original, which simplifies the structure of the apparatus, reduces cost, and saves space. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus capable of shortening the waiting time for stabilizing the light amount when different kinds of originals are selected.

[0005]

An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus includes a cassette 4 as a holding unit that holds the originals 23 and 26, and an illumination unit that illuminates the originals 23 and 26 held by the cassette 4. And a CCD 8 as photoelectric conversion means for photoelectrically converting reflected light or transmitted light from the originals 23, 26 illuminated by the light source 7 to read the images of the originals 23, 26. In the image reading apparatus, the light source 7 is movable between the CCD 8 side and the opposite side with respect to the cassette 4.

The image reading apparatus according to a second aspect is characterized in that the light source 7 is supported by a light source supporting plate 6 as a pair of supporting means rotatably provided on the apparatus body 1.

An image reading apparatus according to a third aspect is characterized in that a motor 14 is provided as a driving unit that rotationally drives the light source support plate.

An image reading apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the cassette 4 is of two types, one for a transparent original and the other for a reflective original, and the cassette 4 is provided with a notch 27 as a determination means for determining the type. And

[0009]

[Action]

 In the image reading device according to the first and second aspects, the light source 7 supported by the light source support plate 6 is placed on the cassette 4 by moving the light source 7 to the side opposite to the CCD 8 with respect to the cassette 4. By irradiating the transparent original 26 with light, the original image can be read by the transmission destination. Further, by moving the light source 7 to the CCD 8 side, the reflection original 23 placed on the cassette 4 can be irradiated with light, and the original image can be read by the reflected light. That is, by moving one light source 7, it is possible to switch the reading between the transparent original 26 and the reflective original 23.

In the image reading apparatus according to the third aspect, the light source 7 can be automatically moved by rotationally driving the light source support plate 6 supporting the light source 7 by the motor 14.

In the image reading apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the notch 27 serving as a discriminating means is provided in one of the transparent original cassette 4b and the reflective original cassette 4a. By using 27, the type of the cassette 4 can be discriminated when the cassette 4 is mounted on the apparatus.

[0012]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the image reading apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 show the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2, a pair of left and right guide rails 2 are provided in parallel on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and a document table 3 is movable on the guide rails 2 in the directions of arrows AB. It is installed. A cassette 4 described later is placed on the original table 3, and the original table 3 is moved in the direction of arrow AB by rotating a pinion by a motor (not shown) by a rack and pinion mechanism (not shown).

A pair of left and right support shafts 5 are fixed to the outer side of the guide rail 2 at right angles at the center of the upper part of the device body 1, and a fan-shaped light source support plate 6 is rotatably attached to each of the support shafts 5. Has been installed. A cylindrical light source 7 is supported between the pair of left and right light source support plates 6 in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail 2. Further, when the light source 7 is supported by the light source support plate 6 and rotates, a notch 2a is formed in the guide rail 2 at a portion through which the light source 7 is transmitted.

Inside the apparatus main body 1, an optical system including mirrors 9 and 10 and a lens 11 for guiding light emitted from a light source 7 to a CCD 8 after transmitting or reflecting an unillustrated original mounted on a cassette 4, An electric circuit 12 is provided. Further, the apparatus body 1 is provided with limit switches 13a and 13b for restricting the rotation range of the light source support plate 6 and detecting when the rotation end is reached. Further, a motor 14 that rotationally drives the light source support plate 6 is fixed to one side of the device body 1. Reference numeral 15 shown in FIG. 2 is a cover provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 1 and covering the image reading section.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an arc gear 6 a having the support shaft 5 as a center is formed on one outer circumference of the fan-shaped light source support plate 6, and the drive shaft of the motor 14 is provided with the gear 6 a. The gear 14a meshing with the gear 6a is fixed. The light source support plate 6 is rotated by the motor 14, and the light source 7 passes through the notch 2a of the guide rail 2 and is positioned above or below the guide rail 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, a detection switch 3 a is provided at one corner of the document table 3. Further, the cassette 4 includes a reflective original cassette 4a as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and a transparent original cassette 4b as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. 7, the reflective original cassette 4a includes an opaque plate 21 and a transparent plate 22 such as a glass plate, and a reflective original 23 is held between the opaque plate 21 and the transparent plate 22. To be done. As shown in FIG. 9, the transparent original cassette 4b is formed by laminating two transparent plates 24 and 25 such as glass plates, and the transparent original 26 is held between the transparent plates 24 and 25. When the transparent original cassette 4b is mounted at a predetermined position on the original table 3, a notch 27 as a discriminating means is formed at one corner of the cassette 4b facing the detection switch 3a. In this structure, the detection switch 3a is pressed when the reflection original cassette 4a is mounted on the original table 3, and the detection switch 3a is not pressed by the cutout portion 27 when the transparent original cassette 4b is mounted. Either one of the cassettes 4a and 4b can be discriminated by the detection switch 3a.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the electric circuit 12. The signal of the type of the cassette 4 detected by the detection switch 3a provided on the document table 3 is detected by the document type detection circuit 31. The signal of the type of the cassette 4 detected by the detection circuit 31 and the signals from the limit switches 13a and 13b for detecting the moving end of the light source support plate 6 are input to the CPU 32 and processed. The signal processed by the CPU 32 is input to the drive control circuit 33, and the drive control circuit 33 controls the motor 14 that rotationally drives the light source support plate 6 to move the light source 7.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. First, the reflection original 23 is held between the opaque plate 21 and the transparent plate 22 of the reflection original cassette 4a, and the transparent original 26 is held between the two transparent plates 24 and 25 of the transparent original cassette 4b. I'll do it. When the reflection original 23 is held in the reflection original cassette 4a, the image surface of the reflection original 23 is directed to the transparent plate 22 side. Then, the cassette 4a or 4b is mounted at a predetermined position on the document table 3 and the operation is started.

In step S 101, it is determined whether the original placed on the original table 3 via the cassette 4 is the reflective original 23 or the transparent original 26. If the cassette 4 mounted at this time is the transparent document cassette 4b, the notch 27 is formed, so the detection switch 3a is not pressed, but if it is the reflective document cassette 4a, the detection switch 3a is pressed. Since the pressure is applied, the type of the cassette 4 can be detected by the document type detection circuit 31.

If the cassette 4 is the transparent original cassette 4 b, in step S 102, the detection signal input to the CPU 32 is processed, the motor 14 is rotationally driven through the drive control circuit 33, and the light source support plate 6 is passed through. As a result, the light source 7 rotates above the guide rail 2 as shown by the broken line in FIG.

If the cassette 4 is the reflective original cassette 4a, in step S103, the light source 7 similarly rotates below the guide rail 2 as shown by the solid line in FIG.

Next, in step S104, it is detected whether or not the light source 7 is rotated up or down within a predetermined rotation range. At this time, by pushing the limit switch 13b provided on the upper part of the guide rail 2 or the limit switch 13a provided on the lower part by the light source support plate 6, it is possible to detect whether or not the rotation is completed. When it is detected that the rotation is completed, the rotation of the motor 14 is stopped via the CPU 32 and the drive control circuit 33. If the rotation is not completed, the rotation of the motor 14 is continued until it is completed.

After the light source 7 is rotated to a predetermined position, the original image is read by the CCD 8 in step S105. At this time, if the original placed on the original table 3 via the cassette 4 is the transparent original 26, the light source 7 is located above the guide rail 2 with respect to the optical system, and the light emitted from the light source 7 is the original. An image is formed on the CCD 8 via the mirrors 9 and 10 and the lens 11 after passing through 26. By moving the document table 3 in the direction of arrow A, the document screen can be read by the CCD 8.

When the original is a reflective original 23, the light source 7 is on the optical system side, the light emitted from the light source 7 is reflected from the original 23, and the original screen can be similarly read by the CCD 8. According to the present embodiment, the transparent original 26 and the reflective original 23 can be read by rotating one light source 7, so that only one lighting circuit is required and the circuit configuration is simplified. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the space can be saved. Moreover, when the transparent original 26 and the reflective original 23 are switched and read, only one light source is provided, so that waiting for stabilizing the light quantity can be achieved. You can save time.

In the above embodiment, the case where the original document is the transparent original document 26 or the reflective original document 23 is detected by the detection switch 3a and the light source 7 is automatically rotated by the electric circuit 14 has been described. The rotation of the motor 14 may be switched. Alternatively, the light source supporting plate 6 may be provided with a knob without using the motor 14, and the light source 7 may be moved by manually moving the knob. Further, the means for detecting the type of the original is not limited to the detection switch 3a, and for example, a photo sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element may be used. By using this photo sensor, it is possible to prevent erroneous attachment of a document to a predetermined cassette 4a or 4b. Further, the driving means for moving the light source 7 is not limited to the motor 14, and may be, for example, a solenoid. Further, it can be applied to a case where the original table 3 is fixed and the light source 7, the light source support plate 6 and the optical system are moved to read an original image.

[0027]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to read the transmissive original and the reflective original by moving one illuminating unit, so that only one lighting circuit is required. Will be easier. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the space can be saved, and the waiting time for stabilizing the light amount of the light source when selecting different kinds of originals can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an image reading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a drive mechanism of the light source support plate of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG.

5 is a plan view showing the configuration of the document table of FIG. 1. FIG.

6 is a plan view showing the configuration of the reflective original cassette of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG.

8 is a plan view showing the configuration of the transparent original cassette of FIG. 1. FIG.

9 is a side view of FIG.

10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electric circuit of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device Main Body 4 Cassette (Holding Means) 6 Light Source Supporting Plate (Supporting Means) 7 Light Source (Illuminating Means) 8 CCD (Photoelectric Converting Means) 14 Motor (Drive Means) 23, 26 Originals 27 Notch (Discriminating Means)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location H04N 1/107

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A holding unit for holding a document, an illuminating unit for illuminating the document held by the holding unit, and photoelectric conversion of reflected light or transmitted light from the document illuminated by the illuminating unit. An image reading apparatus comprising: a photoelectric conversion unit that reads the image of the original; and the illumination unit is movable between the photoelectric conversion unit side and the opposite side with respect to the holding unit. Image reading device. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating unit is supported by a pair of supporting units rotatably provided on the apparatus main body. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising drive means for rotationally driving the support means. 4. The holding means is of two types, one for a transparent original and the other for a reflective original, and the holding means is provided with a discriminating means for discriminating the type. Image reading device.