JPH10164297A - Original reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning cartridge that surely cleans an entire contact glass plate with a simple operation and to prevent occurrence of problems such as a fault and destruction of a device due to an improper operation of the cleaning cartridge. SOLUTION: A cleaning cartridge 43 has a cleaning member 43b such as a sponge or a felt that is in contact with an upper face of a contact glass plate 28 and is supported movably in a lateral width direction. Moreover, a storage part is provided on an upper face of the reader main body at a storage position at the outside of the contact glass 28 in the lateral width direction and the storage part is formed to be a recessed part lowered by one step from the face of the contact glass 28 and the cleaning cartridge 43 moving from the upper face of the contact glass 28 to the stored part is engaged with the recessed part of the storage part, where the cartridge 43 receives a holding force and its movement is restricted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document reading apparatus which is applied to a facsimile apparatus or the like and scans a document conveyed on a contact glass and reads an image thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a facsimile apparatus to which a conventional document reading apparatus is applied, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 9, reference numeral 1 denotes a paper feed tray supported by the apparatus main body 2 and loaded with a bundle of originals for reading an image, and 3 denotes a paper feed tray supported by the apparatus main body 2 so as to be openable and closable. An upper opening / closing unit having a paper feed port 3a into which a leading end is inserted. Reference numeral 4 denotes an operation / display panel on which various switches, buttons, LEDs (light emitting diodes), liquid crystal panels, speakers, and the like are arranged. 2 is a paper discharge tray for receiving recording paper discharged from a paper discharge port 2a opened on the side surface of the sheet 2; The upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 is configured as a document discharge unit 2b that receives a document discharged from the upper opening / closing unit 3.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 11 denotes a reading control unit for controlling an image reading unit to be described later, 12 an encoding / decoding unit having a function of converting an image signal input from the reading control unit 11 into a digital signal, and 13 Is a system memory that stores a program for controlling the entire apparatus and data such as control conditions, and 14 generates command signals, data, and the like corresponding to operations on the operation / display panel 4, and further includes an LED, a liquid crystal panel, and a speaker. An operation / display control unit for controlling light emission / display / audio by a computer, 15 is a recording control unit for controlling a printer unit (not shown) for forming an image on recording paper, and 16 is an operation / display control unit 14
A system control unit 17 for controlling the entire apparatus in accordance with the command signal, data, etc. generated by the image processing unit 17; and an image control unit 17 for storing image signals and the like output from the reading control unit 11 and digitized by the encoding / decoding unit 12. An information memory 18 is a communication control unit that receives image information and the like from an external line (not shown) via a modem 19 and outputs image information and the like to the external line.20 is a member 11 to 18 that constitutes a control system. Is a data bus connected to the data bus.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a conventional document reading apparatus applied to the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 9, and FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory view showing an open state of an upper opening / closing unit in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. is there. In FIG. 11, 21
Is a pickup roller having a part of the outer peripheral surface formed as a chord-wise flat surface, 22 and 23 are feed rollers and reverse rollers forming a roller pair, and 24 and 25 are arranged along a U-shaped document conveying path 26. A pair of transport rollers, 27 is a pair of paper discharge rollers arranged near the exit of the document transport path 26, 28 is a contact glass fitted on a portion of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 that forms a part of the document transport path 26, 29 is A slide plate which is arranged in the upper opening / closing unit 3 and is supported at a position facing the contact glass 28 when the upper opening / closing unit 3 is in the closed position, and 30 is an image reading unit arranged below the contact glass 28. . The image reading unit 30 includes a light source 31 that illuminates the original D on the contact glass 28, a line image sensor 32 including a CCD (charge coupled device), and the like, and reflects light reflected from the original D to a light receiving surface of the line image sensor 32. It has a 1 × optical system 33 for imaging.

Next, the reading operation of the document D by the document reading apparatus configured as described above will be described. The pickup roller 21 makes one rotation at the same time as the start of the reading operation, thereby sending out one or more originals D including the uppermost one from the bundle of the originals D loaded in the original feed tray 1 in the transport direction. When only one document D is inserted into the nip portion, the feed roller 22 and the reverse roller 23 feed the document D into the document transport path 26, and the plurality of documents D are inserted. In this case, only the uppermost original D is separated from the other originals D and fed into the original transport path 26, and the other originals D
Back in the direction of the paper feed tray 1. The document D fed into the document transport path 26 is transported by the transport roller pairs 24 and 25 and moves on the contact glass 28 at a constant speed. At this time, the slide plate 29 forms a narrow gap with the upper surface of the contact glass 28 so that the document D approaches the upper surface of the contact glass 28 as much as possible.

The light source 31 illuminates the image surface of the original D on the contact glass 28, and the reflected light from the original D passes through the contact glass 28 and enters the equal-magnification optical system 33.
Thereby, an image is formed on the light receiving surface of the line image sensor 32.
The line image sensor 32 is configured to photoelectrically convert the image on the main scanning line in one scan, scans the original D at a cycle corresponding to the pixel density of the reproduced image, and outputs a line image signal for each scan. Output to the reading control unit 11. The line image signal is converted into a digital signal by the encoding / decoding unit 12 and then stored in the image information memory 17 to form image information corresponding to the entire image surface of the document D. The document D whose image has been read on the contact glass 28 is discharged onto the document discharge section 2b by the discharge roller pair 27.

Here, the upper opening / closing unit 3 is supported so as to be swingable about a swing shaft s fixed to the apparatus main body 2, and swings from a closed position shown in FIG. 9 to an open position shown in FIG. The document transport path 26 and the document transport path
The upper surface of the contact glass 28 facing inside is exposed. Therefore, by setting the contact glass 28 to the open position, the user can perform maintenance such as removal of the document D jammed in the document conveyance path 26 and cleaning of the upper surface of the contact glass 28.

[0008]

However, in the conventional document reading apparatus as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the user swings the upper opening / closing unit 3 to the open position and cleans the upper surface of the contact glass 28. In many cases, cloths, tissues, etc. that are readily available (hereinafter referred to as “cloths, etc.”) are often used,
If the cloth or the like is dirty, the contact glass 28 is rather dirty, and foreign matter such as dust and dirt that has fallen off the cloth or the like easily adheres to the upper surface of the contact glass 28. Further, when the maximum opening angle of the upper opening / closing unit 3 is narrow due to the layout of the apparatus, the workability when cleaning the upper surface of the contact glass 28 with a cloth or the like is poor, and the entire contact glass 28 is securely formed. A problem arises that it is difficult to clean.

The dirt and cloudiness of the contact glass 28 causes a deterioration in the image quality of the reproduced image. In particular, when foreign matter such as dust or dirt adheres to the contact glass 28, the contact glass 28 is located at a position corresponding to the foreign matter. A black line in the sub-scanning direction appears, resulting in remarkable image quality reduction.

In some cases, a special cleaning tool for cleaning the contact glass 28 is attached to the apparatus. However, even in this case, the place for storing the special cleaning tool is not fixed, so that it is easy to lose it. There is.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning cartridge capable of reliably cleaning the entire contact glass by a simple operation in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a document reading apparatus in which a problem such as a failure or device destruction is prevented from occurring.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an original reading apparatus, comprising: a contact glass formed to be wider than a maximum readable original; In a closed position covering the upper surface or an open position exposing the contact glass upper surface to the outside,
An upper opening / closing unit supported to be openable and closable by the apparatus main body, and an image reading unit that is arranged below the contact glass, scans a document conveyed in a gap between the contact glass and the upper opening / closing unit, and reads an image thereof. And a cleaning cartridge supported on the contact glass so that the glass cleaning member is in contact with the upper surface of the contact glass, and is movable in the width direction of the contact glass, and the maximum size of the image reading unit in the width direction. A storage unit that is provided outside the document scanning range for the document and stores the cleaning cartridge moved from the document scanning range and holds the cleaning cartridge at a storage position outside the document scanning range. The grip for the user to grip when operating the cleaning cartridge With the provision of a part, the storage part is formed with a concave shape in which a part of the cleaning cartridge can be engaged, and the cleaning cartridge moved to the storage position is engaged with the concave shape and is in the width direction. It is characterized by receiving a holding force for regulating movement.

According to the document reading apparatus of the first aspect, the cleaning cartridge is moved on the contact glass by holding the handle and applying an operating force while the upper opening / closing unit is open. The cleaning member of the cartridge slides on the upper surface of the contact glass, removes foreign matter and fogging attached to the contact glass by the cleaning member, and further, after the cleaning of the contact glass is completed, moves the cleaning cartridge from above the contact glass to the storage portion. By moving, a part of the cleaning cartridge engages with the concave shape and receives a certain holding force.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the document reading apparatus, a groove-shaped relief portion is formed on a surface of the upper opening / closing unit facing the contact glass along a movement locus of the cleaning cartridge moving in the lateral width direction. The relief portion prevents the upper opening / closing unit at the closed position from contacting the cleaning cartridge on the contact glass, and forms a guide groove in the apparatus main body along the movement locus of the cleaning cartridge. In addition, a guide portion is provided on the cleaning cartridge to support the cleaning cartridge body movably in the lateral width direction by supporting the guide groove.

According to the document reading apparatus of the second aspect, even when the upper opening / closing unit is closed, contact between the cleaning cartridge on the contact glass and the upper opening / closing unit is prevented. The vertical movement of the cleaning cartridge can be restricted to prevent the cleaning cartridge from easily falling off the apparatus main body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the document reading apparatus, a detecting means for detecting a position of the cleaning cartridge and the cleaning cartridge is in a non-storage position by a signal from the detecting means when the upper opening / closing unit is closed. Control means for determining that the cleaning cartridge is in the non-storage position when the control means determines that the cleaning cartridge is in the non-storage position when the upper opening / closing unit is closed. And alarm means for notifying the user.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if the upper opening / closing unit is closed before the reading of the original is started, the user can set the cleaning cartridge to the non-storage position by the alarm. I can certainly recognize that there is.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the document reading apparatus, the detecting means may detect the maximum size of the original by the image reading unit on the upper surface of the contact glass in a state where the upper opening / closing unit is closed together with the image reading unit. A reference reflecting member having a reflectance different from that of the cleaning cartridge, facing the area including the scanning range, wherein the control unit controls the cleaning cartridge from the cleaning cartridge during a scanning signal for the reference reflecting member from the image reading unit. When the reflected output is detected, it is determined that the cleaning cartridge is at the non-storage position.

According to the document reading apparatus of the fourth aspect, the scanning range of the image reading unit is not extended beyond the range corresponding to the maximum size document scanning range, and is cleaned by a signal from the image reading unit. The position of the cartridge can be determined.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the document reading apparatus, the detecting unit faces the mounting surface of the cleaning cartridge in the storage unit in a state where the upper opening / closing unit is closed, and the reflection unit is different from the cleaning cartridge. A reference reflection member having a ratio, a scanning range including the storage position, and the reading unit configured to be able to scan the reference reflection member, wherein the control means is provided at a storage position from the reading unit. Correspondingly, when the reflected output from the cleaning cartridge is not detected during the scanning signal, it is determined that the cleaning cartridge is at the non-storage position.

According to the document reading apparatus of the fifth aspect, the control means can determine the position of the cleaning cartridge by processing only signals in the determination range corresponding to the storage position in the scanning signal. become.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an example of a main part of a document reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Members corresponding to those described with reference to FIG. 9 to FIG. Omitted. still,
A document reading apparatus according to the present embodiment described below can be applied to the facsimile apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 instead of a conventional document reading apparatus. Reference numeral 41 denotes an upper guide plate provided on the lower surface of the upper opening / closing unit 3, and together with the lower guide plate 6 arranged on the apparatus main body 2, a document conveying path.
Make up 26. Reference numeral 42 denotes a slide plate fixed to the upper guide plate 41, and faces the upper surface of the contact glass 28 in a state where the upper opening / closing unit 3 is in the closed position. 43 is the main body 43a
Is a cleaning cartridge formed by sheet metal processing, resin molding, or the like, and supports a cleaning member 43b formed of a porous flexible material such as sponge or felt. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2, the cleaning cartridge 43 has a substantially L-shaped main body 43a, and a cleaning member 43b is fixed to the lower surface thereof. On the upper surface of the cleaning cartridge 43, a grip portion 43c for the user to grip during operation.
Are projected, a matching mark 43d for positioning at a predetermined storage position is drawn, and a locking hole 43e is formed in the rear surface.

On the other hand, a guide groove 44 and a storage section 45 are provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 into which the contact glass 28 is fitted, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. The guide groove 44
The cleaning cartridge is formed by a gap between the rear end on the downstream side of the contact glass 28 and the lower guide plate 6 disposed on the downstream side of the contact glass 28, and the lower end of the main body 43a is inserted into the guide groove 44. 43 is contact glass 28
Are supported so as to be slidable in the width direction (the direction of the arrow W). The storage part 45 includes a recess 45a formed outside the one end of the contact glass 28, a holding lever 45b erected on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the recess 45a, and a recess 45a from the downstream side in the transport direction. A scanning hole 45d penetrating into the inside of the apparatus main body 2 is formed on the upper surface of the recess 45a, and a matching mark 43d of the cleaning cartridge 43 is formed on the upper surface of the holding lever 45b. Matching mark 45e
Is drawn.

Here, the storage part 45 is connected to the contact glass 28.
However, the position where such a storage unit is provided may be outside the scanning range of the maximum size original D by the image reading unit 30 (hereinafter referred to as the original scanning range). For example, the storage portion 45 may be provided on the contact glass 28 by extending the contact glass 28 to the outside of the document scanning range. In this case, the scanning hole 45 may be provided due to the light transmittance of the contact glass 28.
d becomes unnecessary.

The cleaning cartridge 43 is configured to be movable in the direction of the arrow W along the guide groove 44 at least in the original scanning range or the storage position on the contact glass 28,
When it is on the contact glass 28, the lower surface of the cleaning member 43b is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the contact glass 28. Therefore, after the user opens the upper opening / closing unit 3, the user grips the handle 43c and applies a force in the direction of arrow W to move the cleaning cartridge 43 on the contact glass 28, whereby the cleaning member 43b The dust and fogging that have slidably contacted the upper surface of the contact glass 28 and adhered to the contact glass 28 are removed by the cleaning member 43b. Also, the user can attach the cleaning cartridge 43 to the contact glass 28 as needed.
By applying a force (downward in the figure), the cleaning member 43b having flexibility comes into pressure contact with the contact glass 28, so that the cleaning cartridge 43 can effectively clean the contact glass 28. it can.

After the cleaning of the contact glass 28 is completed, the user inserts the cleaning cartridge 43 into the contact glass.
By moving the cleaning cartridge 43 from above to the storage position, the vicinity of the end of the cleaning cartridge 43 contacts the holding lever 45b and reaches the storage position while keeping the holding lever 45b bent outward. Cleaning cartridge 43 reaches storage position
As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4, the lower end of the cleaning member 43b has a recess 45a that is one step lower than the upper surface of the contact glass 28.
Depressed. At this time, the holding lever 45b bent outward
Presses against the cleaning cartridge 43 at the storage position, and urges the cleaning cartridge 43 to the downstream side by its elastic force.
The locking projection 4 of the storage unit 45 is inserted into the locking hole 43e of the cleaning cartridge 43.
Insert 5c. This allows the cleaning cartridge 43
Is restricted by the step between the recess 45a and the contact glass 28 in the direction of the arrow W, and is held in the storage portion 45 by an elastic holding force. The movement restriction by the step and the holding force by the holding lever 45b cause the main body 2 to move.
The cleaning cartridge 43 is prevented from moving from the storage position onto the contact glass 28 even if vibration or impact acts on the contact glass 28 or the apparatus main body 2 is inclined. Since the matching marks 43d and 45e coincide with each other at the storage position, the user can easily visually recognize that the cleaning cartridge 43 has moved to the storage position. The original D can be read by moving the upper opening / closing unit 3 to the closed position after the cleaning cartridge 43 is moved to the storage position.

In order to move the cleaning cartridge 43 from the storage position onto the contact glass 28, the user bends the holding lever 45b to the outside to clean the cleaning cartridge 4.
By releasing 3 from the elastic force, the locking hole 43e can be easily removed from the locking projection 45c.
After the locking projection 45c is removed from the storage unit 45, the cleaning cartridge 43 is detached from the storage unit 45 by grasping the handle 43c and slightly lifting the cleaning cartridge 43 upward to apply a force in the direction of the arrow W. Move over glass 28.

Here, the contact glass of the upper guide plate 41
A groove-like relief 41a is formed on the surface facing the cleaning cartridge 28 along the movement trajectory of the cleaning cartridge 43.
The upper opening / closing unit 3 in the closed position and the cleaning glass on the contact glass 28, ie, the non-retracted position.
A predetermined gap is formed between the cleaning cartridge 43 and the upper guide plate 41. Therefore, even if the upper opening / closing unit 3 is closed without erroneously moving the cleaning cartridge 43 to the storage position, it is possible to prevent the cleaning cartridge 43 from colliding with the upper guide plate 41 and destroying the apparatus.

However, by forming the escape portion 41a in the upper guide plate 41, it is possible to prevent the apparatus from being destroyed when the user accidentally closes the upper opening / closing unit 3 with the cleaning cartridge 43 in the non-storage position. When the original D is read while the cleaning cartridge 43 is left on the contact glass 28, the original D is
The jam occurs when the cleaning cartridge 43 comes into contact with the cleaning cartridge 43.

In the document reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, in order to prevent the user from starting reading the document D while leaving the cleaning cartridge 43 on the contact glass 28, a detection for detecting the position of the cleaning cartridge 43 is performed. Means for controlling the position of the cleaning cartridge 43 by processing a signal from the detecting means, and alarm means for controlling the control means to notify the user of an abnormal position of the cleaning cartridge 43. I have.

Here, the detecting means is the image reading unit 30
And a slide plate 42, and the slide plate 42 configured as a reference reflection member extends to a position facing the upper surface of the recess 45a in the storage unit 45 in a state where the upper opening / closing unit 3 is closed, Specifically, the cleaning member 43b of the cleaning cartridge 43 has a black color so that the area opposed to the upper surface of the recess 45a serving as the mounting surface of the cleaning cartridge 43 has a reflectance different from that of the cleaning cartridge 43. When the ratio is set, the region of the slide plate 42 is configured to have a high reflectance with a white color. In addition, the line image sensor in the image reading unit 30
32 has a scanning range including the storage position in addition to the original scanning range in the main scanning direction parallel to the arrow W direction, and the scanning hole 45d penetrates the dent 45a, so the storage position is Either the slide plate 42 or the lower surface of the cleaning member 43b is scanned.

Further, the control means comprises a reading control unit 11, an encoding / decoding unit 12, a system control unit 16 and the like in the control system shown in FIG.
Outputs a reading signal to the reading control unit 11 when the upper opening / closing unit 3 is opened and then the upper opening / closing unit 3 is determined to be closed again by a signal from a sensor (not shown). Drive. At this time, the scanning signal (line signal) from the line image sensor 32 is binarized into a black level and a white level by the encoding / decoding unit 12 and input to the system control unit 16. At this time, if the cleaning cartridge 43 is at the storage position, the output of the area corresponding to the storage position in the scanning signal is output to the cleaning member 43.
b includes the reflection output obtained by scanning, and when the cleaning cartridge 43 is not at the storage position, the scanning signal is output by scanning the slide plate 42 in the area corresponding to the storage position. Includes reflected output. Also, here
In order to simplify the processing of the scanning signal by the system control unit 16, the lower surface of the recess 45a, which is the boundary range between the contact glass 28 and the storage position, is configured to substantially match the reflectance of the slide plate 42.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing a scanning signal obtained by the line image sensor when the upper opening / closing unit is closed. As shown in FIG. 5A, the scanning signal obtained when the upper opening / closing unit 3 is closed is a judgment corresponding to the original scanning range L ₁ , the boundary range L _2, and the opening width of the scanning hole 45 d of the recess 45 a in the main scanning direction. consisting of a range L _3. Here, when the cleaning cartridge 43 is in the retracted position, the slide plate 42 and the document scanning range reflection output is obtained from the lower surface of the recess 45a L ₁ and the boundary range L ₂ having a reference reflectivity, the scan signal the signal level is the white level R _W becomes, the determination range L ₃ reflected output from the lower surface of the cleaning cartridge 43 is obtained, the signal level of the scanning signal becomes a black level R _B. The system control unit 16 compares the determined level R _S which is set a signal level in determining the range L ₃ in advance, when the signal level in the determination range L ₃ is determined level R _S is smaller than the stored cleaning cartridge 43 Judge that it is in the position,
Further, the signal level at the determined range L ₃ is determined level R _S
If it is larger, it is determined that the cleaning cartridge 43 is in the non-storage position, that is, on the contact glass 28. Further, the dot number and the determination range L ₃ corresponding to the opening width of the scanning hole 45d compares the number of dots to the black level R _B are continuous, only if the difference between these number of dots is the error range, the cleaning cartridge By finally determining that 43 is in the storage position, the accuracy of the determination by the system control unit 16 can be improved.

Further, the system controller 16, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), handles only the boundary range L ₂ and determination range L ₃ as a valid signal in the scanning signal, the original scanning range L ₁
As invalid signals from it to determine the position of the cleaning cartridge 43, or, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), handling only the determination range L ₃ as a valid signal in the scanning signal, the original scanning range L ₁ and as invalid signals from the boundary range L _2, it is also possible to determine the position of the cleaning cartridge 43.

The system control unit 16 includes the upper opening / closing unit 3
If it is determined that the cleaning cartridge 43 is in the non-storage position when the shutter is closed, an alarm signal is output to the operation / display control unit 14 and an alarm sound is generated by a sound generation member such as a buzzer or a speaker on the operation / display panel 4. Raises the LED
An alarm is displayed by the light emission from the printer, or the fact that the cleaning cartridge 43 is in the non-storage position is displayed by the liquid crystal panel, thereby notifying the user that the position of the cleaning cartridge 43 is abnormal. Further, together with this alarm operation, the reading operation by the apparatus may be interlocked until the alarm is reset by the user.

Operation / display control unit constituting alarm means
The user and the operation / display panel 4 are notified of the abnormal position of the cleaning cartridge 43, so that even before the reading of the document D is started, even if the upper opening / closing unit 3 is in the closed state, the user can issue an alarm.
Can be reliably recognized as being in the non-storage position, and the cleaning cartridge 43 must be moved to the storage position in order to cancel the alarm. Therefore, the reading operation for the original D with the cleaning cartridge 43 on the contact glass 28 is performed. Can be prevented from starting.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the detecting means for the cleaning cartridge in the document reading apparatus of this embodiment. 46 is the contact glass that constitutes the storage position 28
Is a detection sensor disposed below one end of the main body 43a, and includes a photo sensor, a proximity switch, and the like. When the cleaning cartridge 43 is in the storage position, the lower end of the main body 43a inserted into the guide groove 44 is provided. System control unit 1
The detection signal is output to 6. If the signal from the detection sensor 46 is ON when the upper opening / closing unit 3 is closed, the system controller 16 determines that the cleaning cartridge 43 is in the storage position, and detects the detection sensor when the upper opening / closing unit 3 is closed. When the signal from 46 is off, it is determined that the cleaning cartridge 43 is at the non-storage position, and an alarm is generated as described above. In this case, it is necessary to add a new detection sensor 46, but the system control unit 16 can easily determine the position of the cleaning cartridge 43 without processing any scanning signal, and the load on the system control unit 16 is reduced. It is possible to obtain the effect that the time can be reduced and the determination time can be shortened.

When the system control unit 16 determines the position of the cleaning cartridge 43 by processing the scanning signal as described with reference to FIG. 5, the range scannable by the line image sensor 32 is set to the document scanning range. it is necessary to be longer than L _1, i.e., the line image sensor
32 of the length, always because it must extend over a length corresponding to the determined range L ₃ that is not used, the cost of the line image sensor 32 is increased occurs.

[0039] Next, a method that allows the position determination of the cleaning cartridge 43 by the document scanning range L line image sensor 32 of a length corresponding to ₁ based on the characteristic diagram of the scanning signal in FIG. Scanning signal corresponding to the document scanning range L ₁ from the line image sensor 32, the encoding and decoding unit 12
Is binarized into a black level R _B and the white level R _W by,
Input to the system control unit 16. At this time, if the cleaning cartridge 43 is a storage position, the scanning signals obtained from the original scanning range L ₁ as shown in FIG. 7 (a), it includes a reflection output obtained by scanning the cleaning member 43b However, only the reflection output from the slide plate 42 is included. Also, the cleaning cartridge 43
There when not in storage position, the scanning signals obtained from the original scanning range L ₁ as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the slide plate 42
, And the reflected output from the cleaning cartridge 43.

The system control unit 16 includes the upper opening / closing unit 3
The signal level of the entire scan signal is compared with a decision level R _S, which is preset at the time of closing, when no detect determination level R _S is smaller than the black level R _B is determined that the cleaning cartridge 43 is in the retracted position I do. The system control unit 16 compares the determined level R _S that the signal level of the entire scan signal during closing of the top unit 3 is previously set, when detecting a determination level R _S is smaller than the black level R _B Indicates whether the cleaning cartridge 43 is in the non-storing position,
Alternatively, it is determined that there is some other abnormality other than the position abnormality of the cleaning cartridge 43. Specifically, for example, the line image sensor 32 reads an image at a pixel density of 8 dots / mm, and the width b of the cleaning cartridge 43 in the main scanning direction is 10
When mm, detection length L _D of the black level R _B obtained by cleaning cartridge 43 is in the non-retracted position, computationally, but a continuous length of 80 dots, actually variations in the dimensional accuracy of the cleaning cartridge 43 In addition, since the shadow of the cleaning cartridge 43 may be read below the determination level R _S , the detection length L _D varies. Range detection length L _D in consideration of this variation of 7Mm～12mm, i.e., 56Dot
When the continuous length is up to 96 dots, the cleaning cartridge 43
Is on the contact glass 28. In other cases, the system control unit 16 determines that the detection length L _D is 56d
If it is not the continuous length of ot to 96 dots, other abnormalities, for example, if it is smaller than 56 dots, it is considered that foreign matter or dirt is attached to the contact glass 28 or the line image sensor 32. It is determined that there is an abnormality in the line image sensor 32, the 1 × optical system 33, and the like, and an alarm corresponding to these abnormalities is generated.

[0041] By the above method, by performing a position determination of the cleaning cartridge 43, while the range corresponding to the length of the line image sensor 32 to the original scanning range L _1, to determine the position of the cleaning cartridge 43 Therefore, it is not necessary to extend the line image sensor 32 to determine the position of the cleaning cartridge 43, and it is possible to prevent an increase in apparatus cost.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing another example of the main part of the document reading apparatus according to the present embodiment. The cleaning cartridge 43 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is configured to be supported movably along the guide groove 44 by inserting the lower end of the main body 43a into the guide groove 44. In this case, since the cleaning cartridge 43 is not restricted from moving in the vertical direction, the cleaning cartridge 43 is easily removed from the guide groove 44 and lost, or the cleaning member 43b is attached to the contact glass 28 unless the user applies a downward force to the cleaning cartridge 43. There is a problem that the contact glass 28 is not efficiently cleaned because it is not pressurized.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a pair of guide protrusions projecting to the upstream and downstream sides in the transport direction are provided on the main body 43a of the cleaning cartridge 43 shown in FIG.
43f and 43g are formed, and a guide groove 47 is formed along the contact glass 28 in the lower guide plate 6 arranged on the upstream side of the contact glass 28. This guide groove 47
Is formed by a single groove extending in the same direction as the guide groove 44 in the direction of the arrow W and horizontally recessed from the outer surface of the lower guide plate 6.

Cleaning cartridge loaded in apparatus main body 2
The projection 43f is fitted in the guide groove 47 and supported on the back surface of the lower guide plate 6 by the guide projection 43g so as to be movably supported on the contact glass 28 and in the range of the storage position. , The movement in the vertical direction is restricted. At this time, if the cleaning cartridge 43 is supported at a position such that the cleaning member 43b is compressed by a certain amount, the cleaning member 43b is always kept in pressure contact with the contact glass 28, so that the user can There is no need to apply downward force to the cartridge 43, and the cleaning member
With 43b, the contact glass 28 can always be efficiently cleaned.

Further, the cleaning cartridge 43 described above is used.
Is detachably attached to the storage section 45, and can be easily removed from the apparatus main body 2 by, for example, moving the storage section 45 upward or outward from the storage position. Therefore, if the cleaning member 43b becomes dirty during use for a certain period or a certain number of times, by replacing the entire cleaning cartridge 43, the cleaning member 43b can always be maintained in a good state and adhered to the cleaning member 43b. Transfer of dirt, foreign matter, etc. to the contact glass 28 can be prevented.

[0046]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the document reading apparatus described above, in a state where the upper opening / closing unit is opened, the cleaning member is moved on the contact glass by gripping the handle portion and applying an operating force to move the cleaning cartridge on the contact glass. As the cleaning member removes foreign matter and fogging adhered to the contact glass, the upper surface of the contact glass can be reliably cleaned by a simple operation, and after the cleaning of the contact glass is completed. When the cleaning cartridge is moved from the contact glass to the storage portion, a part of the cleaning cartridge is engaged in a concave shape and receives a predetermined holding force. Act or
Even if the apparatus body is tilted, the cleaning cartridge can be prevented from moving from the storage position onto the contact glass,
After the upper opening / closing unit is closed, it is possible to reliably prevent the cleaning cartridge from moving onto the contact glass due to vibration, impact, or the like, thereby causing a document jam or a device failure.

According to the document reading apparatus of the present invention, the upper opening / closing unit is in the closed position by the groove-shaped relief formed along the movement locus of the cleaning cartridge in the upper opening / closing unit, and the non-storage position. When the upper opening / closing unit is closed without accidentally moving the cleaning cartridge to the storage position, since a certain gap is formed between the cleaning cartridge and the upper opening / closing unit, the cleaning cartridge and the upper opening / closing unit are prevented from contacting each other. However, it is possible to prevent the cleaning cartridge from colliding with the upper guide plate and destroying the device, and the cleaning cartridge can engage the guide protrusion with the guide groove to move on the contact glass and in the range of the storage position. The cleaning cartridge restricts the vertical movement of the cleaning cartridge and allows the cleaning cartridge to easily If the cleaning member is pressed against the contact glass, the user does not need to apply force to press the cleaning cartridge against the contact glass, and the cleaning member always cleans the contact glass efficiently. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the upper opening / closing unit is closed, the user is notified by the alarm means that the cleaning cartridge is in the non-storage position. In addition, even when the upper opening / closing unit is in the closed state, the alarm can reliably recognize that the cleaning cartridge is in the non-storing position, so that the reading operation for the document is started with the cleaning cartridge on the contact glass. Is prevented from occurring, and the occurrence of a malfunction of the apparatus, a jam of a document, or the like can be prevented.

According to the document reading device of the fourth aspect, the scanning range of the image reading unit is not extended beyond the range corresponding to the maximum size document scanning range, and is cleaned by a signal from the image reading unit. Since the position of the cartridge can be determined, the scanning range of the image reading unit can be extended to determine the position of the cleaning cartridge, thereby preventing an increase in apparatus cost.

According to the document reading apparatus of the fifth aspect, the control means can determine the position of the cleaning cartridge by processing only the signal in the determination range corresponding to the storage position in the scanning signal. As compared with the case of the document reading apparatus according to the fourth aspect, it is possible to reduce the load on the control means and shorten the determination time, and prevent erroneous detection due to contamination of the contact glass and the like. Therefore, it is possible to increase the certainty of the position determination with respect to the cleaning cartridge.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an example of a main part of a document reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a cleaning cartridge in the document reading apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a contact glass and a storage unit in the document reading apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a cleaning cartridge stored in a storage unit in the document reading apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram illustrating an example of a scanning signal obtained when the upper opening / closing unit is closed in the document reading apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating another example of a detection unit for a cleaning cartridge in the document reading apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram illustrating an example of a scanning signal obtained when the upper opening / closing unit is closed in the document reading apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing another example of a main part of the document reading apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a facsimile apparatus to which a conventional document reading apparatus is applied.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional document reading apparatus applied to the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

12 is an operation explanatory view showing an open state of an upper opening / closing unit in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... device body, 3 ... top opening / closing unit, 4 ... operation
Display panel, 11: Read control unit, 12: Encoding / decoding unit, 14: Operation / display control unit, 16: System control unit,
26… Document feed path, 28… Contact glass, 30… Image reading unit, 32… Line image sensor, 41… Upper guide plate, 41a… Escape part, 42… Slide plate, 43…
Cleaning cartridge, 44, 47: Guide groove, 45: Storage unit, 46: Detection sensor, D: Original.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A contact glass formed wider than a document of the maximum size that can be read, and supported by an apparatus main body in a closed position covering the upper surface of the contact glass or an open position exposing the upper surface of the contact glass to the outside. A document reading apparatus, comprising: an upper opening / closing unit, and an image reading unit that is arranged below the contact glass, scans a document conveyed through a gap between the contact glass and the upper opening / closing unit, and reads an image thereof. A cleaning cartridge supported on the contact glass with a glass cleaning member in contact with an upper surface of the contact glass, the cleaning cartridge being movably supported in the width direction of the contact glass; and a document scanning range for a maximum size document by the image reading unit in the width direction. It is provided outside and moves out of this original scanning range A storage portion for storing the cleaning cartridge and holding the cleaning cartridge at a storage position outside the document scanning range.The cleaning cartridge further includes a handle portion for a user to grip when operating the cleaning cartridge. A holding portion is formed in the storage portion so as to have a concave shape with which a part of the cleaning cartridge can be engaged, and the cleaning cartridge moved to the storage position is engaged with the concave shape to regulate the movement in the lateral width direction. A document reading device characterized by receiving a force. 2. A groove-shaped relief portion is formed on a surface of the upper opening / closing unit facing the contact glass along a movement trajectory of the cleaning cartridge which moves in the lateral width direction, and the closing position is formed by the relief portion. To prevent contact between the upper opening / closing unit and the cleaning cartridge on the contact glass, and a guide groove is formed in the apparatus main body along a movement locus of the cleaning cartridge, and the guide groove is formed in the cleaning cartridge. 2. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide portion which supports the cleaning cartridge body so as to be movable in the lateral width direction. Detecting means for detecting the position of the cleaning cartridge; control means for determining that the cleaning cartridge is in the non-storage position by a signal from the detecting means when the upper opening / closing unit is closed; Alarm means for notifying to the user that the cleaning cartridge is in the non-storage position by sound, light emission, image or the like when it is determined by the means that the cleaning cartridge is in the non-storage position when the upper opening / closing unit is closed; The document reading device according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. The detection unit, together with the image reading unit, faces a region including a scanning range of a maximum size original by the reading unit on the upper surface of the contact glass in a state where the upper opening / closing unit is closed,
A reference reflection member having a reflectance different from that of the cleaning cartridge, wherein the control unit detects a reflection output from the cleaning cartridge during a scan signal from the image reading unit to the reference reflection member. 4. The document reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein it is determined that the cleaning cartridge is at the non-storage position. 5. A reference reflection member having a reflectance different from that of a cleaning cartridge, wherein said detection means is opposed to a mounting surface of said cleaning cartridge in said storage portion when said upper opening / closing unit is closed, An image reading unit having a scanning range including a position, and being configured to be able to scan the reference reflection member, wherein the control unit performs the scanning in a scanning signal corresponding to a storage position from the image reading unit. 4. The document reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the reflection output from the cleaning cartridge is not detected, it is determined that the cleaning cartridge is at the non-storage position.