JPH08228260A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image input device in which much time is not required till the user starts image reading and an original is easily and surely mounted. CONSTITUTION: The input device is provided with a lighting means 11 lighting an original 1, a photoelectric conversion means 18 reading the image of the lighted original 1, an original support means 60 supporting the original 1, and a placing means 47 placing the original support means 60, and also with a lock means locking the original support means 60 to the placing means 47 to position and to fix the means 60, a lock detection means detecting locking by the lock means and providing the output of a lock detection signal, and moving means 6, 7 moving the placing means 47 up to a position at which the photoelectric conversion means 18 reads the image of the original 1 in response to the lock detection signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device for reading an image of a reflective original or a transparent original.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional example of an image input device, a so-called 35 mm slide film scanner is shown in FIG.
It shows in FIG. In these figures, a film 1 as a transparent original is held by a mount portion 3 of a slide 2.

The slide 1 is detachably held on a holder 5 provided on a stage 4 by a leaf spring (not shown). The stage 4 is driven by the stage drive mechanism. The stage drive mechanism includes a lead screw 6, a stage motor 7, a guide bar 8 and a guide member 9. The lead screw 6 is screwed onto the stage 4.
The stage motor 7 is for rotating the lead screw 6. The guide bar 8 engages with the guide member 9 and guides the horizontal movement of the stage 4.

The film 1 is a light source 1 such as a halogen lamp.
It is irradiated by the light flux emitted from the heat ray absorption filter 12, the diffusion plate 13, the color filter 14, and the condenser lens 15 from 1. The transmitted light that has passed through the film 1 has its optical axis bent in the vertical direction by the mirror 16 and the lens 17
An image is formed on the CCD 18, which is a line-type image sensor. In this way, the image on film 1 is CCD1
8 read. The CCD 18 photoelectrically converts the image and outputs the image signal to an image processing unit (not shown).

The color filter 14 has three colors of red, blue and green.
A color filter is provided, and a color image is input by alternately irradiating the same image. The lens 17 and the CCD 18, which is a line-type image sensor, are fixed and held on the image-forming-portion support member 21 at regular intervals. Further, the image forming unit support member 21 is driven by the focusing drive mechanism.

The focusing drive mechanism comprises a lead screw 22, a focusing motor 23, a guide bar (not shown) and a guide member (not shown). The lead screw 22 is screwed onto the imaging unit support member 21. Focusing motor 23
Is for rotating the lead screw 22. The guide bar (not shown) engages with the guide member (not shown),
It is for guiding the lens 17 and the CCD 18 in the optical axis direction.

In the image processing unit (not shown), in addition to image input processing, processing such as automatically performing the focusing operation while driving the focusing driving mechanism to perform contrast calculation is performed. The case 24 serving as a storage means has a recess 24 a forming a moving space of the stage 4, and a recess 2
Projections 24b and 24c are formed on both sides of 4a, respectively. The light source 11, the diffusion plate 13, the color filter 14, the condenser lens 15, and other illumination units and the power supply 25 are housed in the one convex portion 24b. An image forming unit such as the mirror 16, the lens 17 and the CCD 18, and a drive mechanism of the stage 4 are housed in the other convex portion 24c.

The recess cover 30 can be manually moved,
It is opened when the slide 2 is set on the stage 4, and closed when the image is read. FIG. 9 shows the recess cover 30.
Shows a closed state and FIG. 11 shows an open state. Convex 24
On the side surface of b, an air intake hole 26 as an air suction means is provided at a side surface position of the condenser lens 15. An exhaust fan 27 as an air exhausting unit is provided near the light source 11 on the convex portion 24c. The exhaust fan 27 discharges the heat generated from the light source 11 and the power supply 25 to the outside of the case 24.

When reading an image, the reading range is specified on the host computer. The amount of light and the accumulation time of the CCD are adjusted according to the density of the original,
During that time, the setting of the reading range is stored.

[0010]

In the image input device constructed as described above, the user performs the following operations when setting a document. First, the recess cover 30
Is manually opened, and the slide 2 is inserted into the leaf spring portion (not shown) of the holder 5. Then, it was necessary to manually close the recess cover 30 again to shield the light. Further, the image reading cannot be started unless the stage 4 is moved to a position where the CCD 18 can read the image by a command from the host computer side or manually by the user. The above operation is troublesome for the user, and it takes time to start reading the image.

Further, in the conventional image input device, the image reading may be executed even when the original is not completely attached to the holder 4. Therefore, there are cases where only part of the original can be read. Therefore, the user has to reset the original and read the image again. Image reading is generally a time-consuming process, and the user may waste time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an original can be easily and surely attached.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus in which it takes no time for a user to start reading an image.

[0013]

In order to solve the above problems, in the apparatus of the present invention, the illumination means 11 for illuminating the original 1 is used.
And photoelectric conversion means 1 for reading the image of the illuminated original 1.
8, an original holding means 60 for holding the original 1, and a placing means 47 for placing the original holding means 60. In the image input device, the original holding means 60 is locked to the placing means 47 and positioned and fixed. Locking means 100, 67, 97, 98
And a lock detecting means 105 for detecting lock by the lock means 100, 67, 97, 98 and outputting a lock detection signal,
In response to the lock detection signal, the photoelectric conversion means 18 has moving means 6 and 7 for moving the placing means 47 to a position where the image of the original 1 can be read.

[0014]

In the device of the present invention, the locking means 100, 67, 9
Lock detection means 105 that detects the lock by 7, 98 and outputs a lock detection signal, and up to a position where the photoelectric conversion means 18 can read the image of the document 1 in response to the lock detection signal. Since the moving means 6 and 7 move the placing means 47, the original can be attached easily and surely, and it does not take time for the user to start image reading.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image input device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following figures, parts corresponding to those of the conventional example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view for explaining an embodiment of an image input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the image input apparatus according to the present invention, showing a document holder. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a document holder used in the embodiment of the image input apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining a method of using a document holder used in the embodiment of the image input apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the image input apparatus according to the present invention, showing a main part of the stage. FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view for explaining an embodiment of the image input apparatus according to the present invention, showing a state in which the document holder is positioned on the stage. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the image input device according to the present invention, and is a diagram schematically showing the positions and states of the document holder, the stage and the like with respect to the image input device.

First, the image input device of the embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1, the case 31 is formed in a box shape, and an insertion opening 32 for inserting and removing the film holder 60 is provided on one front surface of the case 31. A door 34 that rotates around a shaft 33 is attached to the insertion port 32. The inside of the case 31 is composed of almost three layers. The three layers include an illumination unit 35 and a document scanning unit 36 in order from the top.
And an image forming unit 37.

The illumination section 35 is a light source 11 such as a halogen lamp arranged on the right side in FIG. 1, a heat absorption filter 12, a diffusion plate 13, a color filter 14, and a first condenser lens 4.
1, a first mirror 42, a second mirror 43, a third mirror 44, a second condenser lens 45, and the like. The light emitted from the light source 11 has its optical paths bent vertically by the first, second, and third mirrors, and irradiates the surface of the film 1 in the vertical direction. Therefore, since the optical path is folded and arranged parallel to the surface of the film 1,
The illumination unit 35 has a thin structure.

The original scanning unit 36 is composed of a film holder 60, a stage 47, a drive mechanism including the lead screw 6 and a stage motor 7. The lead screw 6 and the stage 47 are arranged substantially parallel to the illumination optical path from the light source 11 to the first mirror. The image forming unit 37 includes a mirror 46, a lens 17, a CCD 18, and the like. In order that the optical path after the reflection by the mirror 46 is substantially parallel to the illumination optical path from the light source 11 to the first mirror,
The mirror 46 is arranged. Since the image on the film 1 is read by the line type CCD 18,
The illuminated area on the film 1 may be linear corresponding to the CCD 18. That is, since the Fresnel type condenser lenses 41 and 45 and the mirrors 42, 43 and 44 which form the illumination unit 35 may be linear, the optical path of the illumination optical system can be arranged by folding as described above. Therefore, the illumination unit 35 can be made thin.

On the lower left side of the case 31 in FIG. 1,
An air intake hole (not shown) is formed at a position facing the CCD 18. An exhaust fan 27 is provided on the upper right side of the case 31 in FIG. The CPU 48 is for controlling each part of the image input device. The interface 49 is for connecting the image input device to a host computer, and is a part for outputting or inputting various signals such as image signals. The switch 50 is a mechanical switch that can be operated by the user, and its function will be described later.

The color filter 14 has three colors of red, blue and green.
A color filter is provided, and a color image can be input by alternately irradiating the same image.
The lens 17 and the CCD 18 are fixed and held on the imaging unit support member 21 at a constant interval. Further, the image forming unit support member 21 is driven by the focusing drive mechanism.

The focusing drive mechanism comprises a lead screw 22, a focusing motor 23, a guide bar (not shown) and a guide member (not shown). The lead screw 22 is screwed onto the imaging unit support member 21. Focusing motor 23
Is for rotating the lead screw 22. The guide bar (not shown) engages with the guide member (not shown),
It is for guiding the lens 17 and the CCD 18 in the optical axis direction.

In the image processing unit (not shown), in addition to image input processing, processing such as automatically performing the focusing operation while driving the focusing driving mechanism to perform contrast calculation is performed. During operation of the above image input device, heat is generated by driving the stage motor 7, turning on the light source 11, and the power supply 25 for driving the circuit. However, outside air is sucked in from an air intake hole (not shown) arranged near the CCD 18 below the case 31. Further case 31
After absorbing the heat generated from the stage motor 7, the light source 11, the power source 25, and the like, the exhaust fan 27 discharges the heat to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ambient temperature of the CCD 18 from rising.

Next, the details of the film holder 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Film holder 6
0 is a frame 61 and a frame 6 that form the outer shape of the frame.
1 and a turntable 62 that is rotatably held in the center. The frame and turntable are made of resin.

The film holder 60 is formed in a rectangular thin plate shape having a right cutout portion 63 and a left cutout portion 64 at the front end in the insertion direction. The right cutout portion 63 and the left cutout portion 64 have an asymmetrical shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the right cutout 63 has a front side wall 74a. Further, the left cutout portion 64 has a front side wall 74b. There is a right side wall 75a on the right side of the frame 61, and a left side wall 7 on the left side.
There is 5b. A groove portion 65 is provided on the upper rear portion of the frame 61 to facilitate insertion and removal operations. A slope 66, a positioning hole 67, and a convex-shaped sliding portion 68 are provided on the left and right sides of the front portion, following the cutout portion. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of claws 69 are formed around the turntable 62. The turntable 62 is rotatably held on the frame 61,
Even if it is upside down, it will not come off. Turntable 6
The lower surface of 2 has an opening (not shown).

An angle index 7 is provided on the outer circumference of the turntable 62.
1, the frame 61 is provided with an angle scale 72. A grid scale 73 is provided around the turntable 62. The slide portions 68 at the positions corresponding to the left and right of the turntable 62 are formed in a staircase shape and have a scale similar to the grid scale 73. Turntable 62
An opening (not shown) is formed at the bottom of the glass plate, a glass plate 80 is fixed to the upper surface of the opening, and a mask 81 corresponding to the size of the film 1 is attached. The mask 81 is positioned by the shaft 82 and can be replaced according to the size of the film 1.

A hinge 83 is provided at one end of the turntable 62.
A glass plate 85 is openably and closably supported via the frame member 84. At the other end of the turntable 62, a pressing portion 86 for locking the tip portion 84a of the frame member 84 is provided. In order to load the film 1 into the film holder 60, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the pressing portion 86 of the film holder 60 is displaced to move the tip portion 84 of the frame member 84.
Open a. The mask 81 on the glass plate 80 is replaced with a mask corresponding to the size of the film 1, and the film 1 is placed in alignment with the alignment portion 87 of the mask 81. The frame member 84 integrated with the glass plate 85 is closed and fixed by the pressing portion 86. The film 1 is two glass plates 8 on the mask 81.
It is sandwiched between 0 and 85 and held, and flatness is maintained. The film 1 as a transparent original is sandwiched between the glass plates 80 and 85 and can be observed in the frame member 84 and the opening, and can be read by a scanner as an image input device.

The mask 81 is for suppressing the influence of light from a portion without an image so as to obtain so-called fog-free good read data. If the mask 81 is not used, the alignment portion 87 cannot be used, but the film 1
The position and angle can be determined by using the grid and angle scale of the frame 61.

As shown in FIG. 6, the film holder 60
Below there are a plurality of legs 76. The leg portions 76 are formed to have the same distance from the surface of the glass 80 on which the film 1 is placed. Next, using FIG. 5 and FIG.
The details around the stage 47 will be described. A stage 47 guided by a guide bar 91 is movably supported behind the door 34 having the shaft 33 as a rotation axis. Note that FIG. 5 and FIG.
The drive is not shown inside.

An opening 92 corresponding to the reading range of the film is provided at the center of the stage 47. A pair of side walls 93 having a tapered portion 93a are provided on the left and right of the stage 47. When the film holder 60 is attached to the stage 47, the side wall 93 of the stage 47 is attached to the film holder 6
It is configured to contact the side wall 75 of 0. By this contact, the film holder 60 is positioned with respect to the stage 47 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction.

A leaf spring 94 is located slightly above and in front of the side wall portion 93.
Is provided as a set. The leaf spring 94 is for urging the film holder toward the stage 47. As shown in FIG. 6, the leaf springs 94 are the leg portions 76 of the film holder 60.
The part corresponding to is urged toward the stage 47. Therefore, the film holder 60 can be biased more stably.

A shaft 95 and an elongated hole 96 are provided on the side wall 93 slightly rearward.
Returning member 9 guided by and biased by a tension spring 97
One set of 8 is provided. The return member 98 has arms 98a and 98c protruding inside the side wall 93. Arm 98
The a and 98c are arranged at positions where they abut the front side wall 74 in front of the film holder 60 when the film holder 60 is inserted.

A seesaw member 99 is installed on the rear side. A positioning shaft 100 is provided at the front end of the seesaw member 99.
Is attached. An arm portion 99a is attached above the center of the seesaw member 99. Seesaw member 9
9, the positioning shaft 100 is urged downward by a spring behind the shaft 9 as a rotation shaft.

A rail portion 101, whose height from the guide bar is accurately controlled, is formed at the portion where the stage 47 contacts the leg portion 76. The portion of the upper surface of the stage 47 other than the rail portion 101 is lower than the rail portion 101, and is configured not to come into contact with the film holder 60. When the film holder 60 is attached to the stage 47, the leg portion 76 of the film holder 60 and the rail portion 101 of the stage 47 are in contact with each other. As described above, the leg portions 76 are precisely shaped so that they have the same distance from the surface of the glass 80 on which the film 1 is placed. Therefore, the film 1 surface and the stage 47 surface are parallel. The distance between the film 1 surface and the stage 47 surface can be uniquely determined.

The portion of the film holder 60 with which the leaf spring 94 abuts is more convex than the other portions, and is accurately molded so that the distance from the bottom surface of the leg portion 76 to the convex portion is equal. . Further, the film holder 60 is supported on the stage 47 with a uniform force surrounding the screen center of the film holder. Therefore, one film and stage 4
The 7th plane becomes parallel.

A protrusion 102 is formed inside the seesaw member 99 on the left rear side of the stage. A female screw 103 is formed in the center of the rear side of the stage in the sub-scanning direction. The right side return member 98 has a light reflecting portion 9 on the outside of the stage 47.
8b is formed. The set of fixing members 104 is fixed to the image input apparatus main body independently of the stage 47.
The fixing member 104 is arranged so as to drive the arm portion 99a of the seesaw member 99 when the stage 47 moves forward of the film holder insertion standby position. The insertion standby position will be described in detail in the description of insertion and ejection of the film holder 60.

The reflective photoelectric sensor 105 is fixed independently of the stage 47. The reflective photoelectric sensor 105 is
When the film holder 60 is inserted into the stage 47 at the film holder insertion standby position, the right side return member 98
This is for detecting the light reflection portion 98b. A male screw 106 is rotatably supported on the back surface of the case. The male screw 106 and the female screw 103 of the stage 47 are arranged so that their axes match. In the moving range of the stage 47 during reading, the male screw 106 and the female screw 103 are located apart from each other,
Do not screw. When the stage 47 is moved further rearward of the reading range, the male screw 106 can be screwed into the female screw 103 of the stage 47 to fix the stage 47 to the case 31.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, insertion and discharge of the film holder 60 and movement of the stage 47 to the fixed position will be described. 7A to 7F, the left side of the figures is the front of the image input device. A shaft 33 and a door 34 are provided on the left side in FIG. 7. A male screw 106 for fixing the stage is provided on the right side in FIG. The center line indicated by the alternate long and short dash line is the image reading position. 7A to 7F, the components having the same numbers have the numbers omitted.

In FIG. 7A, the stage 47 has a film holder 6
It shows a state in which the insertion standby position is 0. FIG. 6 shows the state where the film holder 60 is locked.
Since the position 7 is the same as the insertion standby position, it will be described with reference to FIG. When the film holder 60 is not inserted, the stage 47 of the main body of the image input device is in the insertion standby position of the film holder 60. In this embodiment, when the stage 47 is at the insertion standby position, the seesaw member 9
The distance between the arm portion 99a of 9 and the fixing member 104 is 1.5 mm
Is.

The film holder 60 has not been inserted yet, and the door 34 is closed. In this state, there is nothing at the image reading position, and the shading data of the illumination unit is set. FIG. 7B shows a state during the insertion operation of the film holder 60. First, the stage 4 in the insertion standby position
The user manually inserts the film holder 60 with respect to 7. Then, the film holder 60 is inserted into the case 31 while pressing the door 34. When it is further inserted, the slide portion 68 of the film holder 60 is biased by the leaf spring 94, and the leg portion 76 advances while sliding on the rail portion 101. Next, the slope 66 advances while lifting the positioning shaft 100.
Then, the positioning shaft 100 falls into the positioning hole 67.
During this time, the film holder 60 keeps the arm 9 of the return member 98.
A force is applied in the direction of being pushed back to the front of the stage by 8a. When the hand is released, the position of the film holder 60 in the insertion direction is determined by the positioning shaft 100, the stepped portion 107, and the positioning hole 67 due to this pushing back force.
Further, the film holder 60 is pressed downward with respect to the stage 47 by the leaf spring 94 at the rear end of the sliding portion 68 and the step 107 of the seesaw member 99 at the front end, and the vertical position is determined. In this way, the film holder 60 is locked on the stage 47 as shown in FIG.

The positioning hole 67 is an elongated hole.
Therefore, even after the film holder 60 is inserted and the engagement between the positioning shaft 100 and the positioning hole 67 is completed, there is room to move the film holder 60 further in the back. The movement of the film holder 60 after reaching this engagement state,
The reflection type photoelectric sensor 105 detects the reflection of the reflection portion 98b and outputs a lock detection signal to the CPU 48. With this detection, the CPU 48 confirms that the film holder 60 has been loaded.

The CPU 48 drives the stage motor 7 in response to the lock detection signal from the reflective photoelectric sensor 105.
The driving force of the stage motor 7 is transmitted to the stage 47 via the lead screw 6, and the stage 47 is moved to the image reading start position (state of FIG. 7C). During the process of moving the stage 47 to the image reading position, the film holder 6
The door 34 is closed in association with the release of the contact between 0 and the door 34.
In this example, the door was closed by using gravity. Instead, an appropriate force such as a coil spring, a torsion spring, a leaf spring, an electromagnetic force of a solenoid or a motor may be used.

In this embodiment, as soon as it is confirmed that the film holder 60 has been loaded, the stage 47 is moved to the image reading position. Therefore, the user can immediately start reading the image without performing a troublesome operation. In addition, in this embodiment, the film holder 60 moves the stage 47 to the image reading position after the locking of the stage 47 is detected by the reflective photoelectric sensor 105. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the failure that only part of the original 1 can be read due to the incomplete setting of the original 1.

The reflection type photoelectric sensor 105 is the stage 4
It functions when 7 is in the insertion standby position. The position of the stage 47 is managed by a stage position detection member (not shown), the number of drive pulses of the stage motor 7, and the like. Figure 7
C indicates a state in which the film holder 60 is at the reading start position. FIG. 7D shows a state in which the film holder 60 is at the reading end position.

When an image reading command is input from the host computer in the state of FIG. 7C, the CPU 48 starts the image reading process. First, the CPU 48 issues a drive command to the stage motor 7. Then, the stage 47 is driven by the drive mechanism to move backward, and the sub-scan for reading the image of the film 1 is performed.

Further, the CPU 48 gives an instruction to turn on the light source 11, and the light source 11 is turned on. Then, the reading position of the film 1 is illuminated by the illumination unit 35. The light transmitted through the image on the film 1 passes through the mirror 46 and the lens 17 to C
The image is formed on the CD 18. Then, the CCD 18 reads an image of one line. By repeating this reading operation in the main scanning direction while sequentially moving in the sub scanning direction, that is, the moving direction of the film 1, the image of the film 1 can be two-dimensionally input.

The CCD 18 reads the image on the film 1, photoelectrically converts it, and outputs the image signal to an image processing unit (not shown). Then, when the film holder shown in FIG. 7D finishes reading all the images up to the reading end position, the above-described image reading process is ended. The door 34 is maintained in the closed state from FIG. 7C to FIG. 7D. for that reason,
When reading an image, it is not affected by dust or light outside the image input device. Further, since the door 34 is decided to be closed in association with the movement of the document 1 to the image readable position, the door 34 is never forgotten to be closed. Therefore, good image reading can be performed without degrading the image quality.

FIG. 7E shows a state in which the film holder 60 is being ejected. When the CPU 48 detects a discharge signal from the switch 50 provided in the image input device or a discharge command from the host computer, the CPU 48 starts the discharge process. The switch 50 outputs a signal as soon as it is operated by the user. The CPU 48 determines that the input signal is the ejection signal and instructs the stage motor 7 to drive. The driving force of the stage motor 7 is transmitted to the stage 47 via the lead screw 6,
7 moves to the front of the image input device.

When the stage 47 moves forward, the fixing member 104 contacts the arm portion 99a of the seesaw member 99.
When the stage 47 further moves, the fixing member 104 moves the arm 9
9a is pressed to the rear of the stage to cause the seesaw member 99 to move clockwise in FIG. That is, the seesaw member 99 rotates in the direction in which the positioning shaft 100 is released from the positioning hole 67. Then, when the stage 47 moves from the insertion standby position to the ejection side by 5 mm, the positioning shaft 10
0 is released from the positioning hole 67. Then, the film holder 60 is pushed back by the arm portions 98a and 98c of the returning member 98. Then, as shown in FIG. 7E, the rear end of the film holder 60 pushes the door 34 open and comes out of the insertion portion 32. Therefore, the user can pinch the rear end of the film holder 60 and pull it out from the insertion opening 32. When the stage 47 reaches the insertion standby position, CP
U48 stops driving the stage motor 7.

Since the switch 50 for outputting the discharge signal is provided in the image input device, the original 1 can be taken out even when the power of the host computer is turned off. Since it is not necessary to restart the host computer, it takes no time to take out the original 1. FIG. 7F shows the stage 47 in a fixed position. When the image input device is transported, it is preferable to fix the stage in order to prepare for inadvertent vibrations during transportation. In response to a fixed position signal output from the switch 50 provided in the image input device or a fixed position movement command from the host computer, the CPU 48
The process of moving the film holder 60 to the fixed position is executed.

When the switch 50 continues to output the signal for 3 seconds or more, the CPU 48 determines that the input signal is the fixed position signal. Then, the CPU 48 commands the stage motor 7 to drive. The driving force of the stage motor 7 is transmitted to the stage 47 via the lead screw 6,
7 moves to the rear of the image input device. When the stage reaches the fixed position shown in FIG. 7F, the CPU 48 stops driving the stage motor 7, and the stage 47 stops at the fixed position. The fixed position of the stage 47 in the apparatus of this embodiment was set so that the document 1 was out of the image reading range of the CCD 18.

With the stage 47 in the fixed position, the male screw 106 is screwed to the female screw 103 of the stage 47, whereby the stage 47 is fixed to the case 3 of the image input device.
It becomes integral with a fixing member such as 1. When the image input device is used after transportation, the stage 47 moves to the insertion standby position of the film holder 60 by loosening the male screw 106 and then turning on the power of the image input device to perform the initialization operation. .

Since the switch 50 for outputting the fixed position signal is provided in the image input device, the stage 47 can be driven to the fixed position even when the power of the host computer is turned off. The stage 47 can be moved to a fixed position without having to wait for the time to start up the host computer. Therefore, it does not take time to move to the fixed position.

As shown in FIG. 7F, when the stage 47 is in the fixed position, the stage 47 is out of the image reading range. Therefore, when the image input device is transported, a slight impact is applied, and the guide bar 91 and the stage 47 are
Even if there is a deformation or the like in the portion where and come into contact with each other, it does not affect the image reading. In image reading at high resolution, if the stage 47 is not precisely moved in the sub-scanning direction, there arises a problem that sufficient image quality cannot be obtained. Especially when the guide bar 91 is deformed within the image reading range,
There is a high possibility that the image will deteriorate. In the apparatus of this embodiment, since the stage 47 is fixed at a position outside the image reading range, the above-mentioned problem can be prevented.

In normal transportation, all the connectors connected to the interface 49 are removed. As shown in FIG. 1, in the device of this embodiment, a male screw 1 for fixing is used.
06 is mounted on the same surface as the interface 49. Therefore, there is only one work surface, and it is easy for the user to work. By being on the same side, Stage 4
There is also an effect of preventing forgetting the screwing at the fixing position of 7.

In addition, the switch 50 is a film holder 60.
And the instruction for moving the fixed position of the stage 47. Therefore, there is an effect that the number of parts is reduced. Further, in the apparatus of the present embodiment, the CPU 48 determines whether it is a discharge instruction or a fixed position movement instruction based on the length of time that the switch 50 is operated. Therefore, if the user wants to convey the image input device after the user finishes reading the image, the user may continue to operate the switch 50. Then, first, the CPU 48 detects that the switch 50 has been operated, and the film holder 60 is discharged. Further, if the switch 50 is continuously operated for 3 seconds or more, the process of moving the fixed position of the stage 47 is performed. A series of processes can be easily executed by one operation of the user.

In the above embodiment, whether the discharge instruction or the fixed position movement instruction is CP is determined by the operation time of the switch 50.
U48 decided to judge. Switch 5 instead
The CPU 48 may determine that it is a discharge instruction when 0 is detected by one-clicking, and may determine that the CPU 48 is a fixed-position movement instruction when detecting that the switch 50 is double-clicked.

Although the image input device and the film holder 60 which handle the film 1 as the transparent original have been described so far, it goes without saying that the invention can be applied to a reflective original. In the embodiment described above, the positioning shaft 100 is attached to the seesaw member 99 of the stage 47, and the positioning hole 67 is provided on the film holder 60 side. Instead, a positioning shaft may be provided on the film holder 60 side and a positioning hole may be provided on the seesaw member 99 of the stage 47.

[0060]

In the apparatus of the present invention, the lock detecting means for detecting the lock by the lock means and outputting the lock detecting signal, and the photoelectric converting means in response to the lock detecting signal causes the photoelectric conversion means to image the original image. Since the moving means moves the placing means to the position where the document can be read, the document can be easily and surely attached, and it does not take time for the user to start reading the image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an embodiment of an image input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an image input device according to the present invention, showing a document holder.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a document holder used in an embodiment of the image input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining a method of using a document holder used in the embodiment of the image input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the image input device according to the present invention, showing a main part of the stage.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the image input device according to the present invention, showing a state in which a document holder is positioned on a stage.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing positions and states of a document holder, a stage and the like with respect to the image input device.

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing an internal schematic configuration of an example of a conventional image input device.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of an example of a conventional image input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 film (original) 2 slide 3 mount part 4 stage 5 holder 6 lead screw 7 stage motor 8 guide bar 11 light source 12 heat absorption filter 13 diffuser plate 14 color filter 15 condenser lens 16 mirror 17 lens 18 CCD 21 coupling part indicating member 22 Lead screw 23 Focusing motor 24 Case 25 Power supply 26 Air inlet 27 Exhaust fan 30 Recessed cover 31 Case 32 Insertion port 33 Shaft 34 Door 35 Lighting unit 36 Original scanning unit 37 Image forming unit 41 First condenser lens 42 First Mirror 43 Second mirror 44 Third mirror 45 Second condenser lens 46 Mirror 47 Stage 48 CPU 49 Interface 50 Switch 60 Film holder 61 Frame 62 Turntable 63 Right notch 6 Left notch 65 Groove 66 Slope 67 Positioning hole 68 Sliding part 69 Claw 71 Angle index 72 Angle scale 73 Grid scale 74 Front side wall 75 Side wall 76 Leg part 77 Front wall 80 Glass plate 81 Mask 82 Axis 83 Hinge 84 Frame member 84a Tip part 85 Glass plate 86 Pressing part 87 Positioning part 91 Guide bar 92 Opening 93 Side wall 94 Leaf spring 95 Shaft 96 Elongated hole 97 Tension spring 98 Return member 99 Seesaw member 100 Positioning shaft 101 Rail part 102 Projection part 103 Female screw 104 Fixing member 105 Reflective Photoelectric Sensor 106 Male Screw 107 Step 110 Leaf Spring 120 Opening 121 Leaf Spring 122 Tray 123 Solenoid

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An illumination unit for illuminating an original, a photoelectric conversion unit for reading an image of the illuminated original, an original holding unit for holding the original, and a placing unit for placing the original holding unit. In an image input device having, locking means for locking and positioning the document holding means with the placing means, and detecting locking by the locking means,
Lock detection means for outputting a lock detection signal, and moving means for moving the placing means to a position where the photoelectric conversion means can read the image of the document in response to the lock detection signal. An image input device comprising: 2. An accommodating means for accommodating the placing means, an opening portion provided in the accommodating means, wherein the document holding means can be inserted into the placing means from outside the accommodating means, and the opening. 2. An opening / closing means for opening / closing a section is further provided, wherein the opening / closing means closes the opening in connection with movement of the placing means to the original image readable position. The image input device described.