JPH10257265A - Portable image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader with excellent carrying performance while ensuring an always table image read operation. SOLUTION: The portable image ready main body is made up of a read purpose case 10 that reads optically an image displayed on the surface of a card while moving the card in a prescribed direction with a card feeder and up of a card feed section 12 that is provided with a card placing face on which the card to be read by the read purpose case 10 is placed in advance. Furthermore, the main body is also provided with a card reception section 16 that has a card reception face on which the cards discharged from the read purpose case 10 and whose reading is finished are placed and contained in a way that the section 16 is turned around the read purpose case 10 between a 1st position at which the card placing face and the card reception face are opposed to each other closely to each other or in press contact with each other and a 2nd position the card placing face and the card reception face are placed at both sides with the read purpose case 10 inbetween.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable image reading apparatus, and more particularly, to an image reading apparatus for optically reading an image printed and recorded on a sheet-like medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of personal computers, a device for inputting an image to the personal computer, such as a character, a photograph, a picture, a bar code, etc., printed and recorded on a sheet-like medium such as paper. An image reading apparatus that optically reads an image is becoming widespread. This image reading apparatus is classified into two types, a stationary type and a handy type, according to the type of reading.

The former stationary image reading apparatus is
On a sheet mounting surface formed of a transparent glass member, a sheet-like medium on which an image to be read is recorded is fixedly mounted so that the image is on the lower side, and the medium is covered with a cover member. And reads the image while appropriately moving the image sensor disposed below the sheet placement surface.

On the other hand, in the latter hand-held image reading apparatus, a reading section of a hand-held scanner having an image sensor is brought into contact with an image to be read of a sheet-like medium placed on a desk or the like, and manually scanned. By doing so, the image is read.

[0005]

However, the former stationary image reading apparatus basically requires a mounting surface on which the entire surface of a sheet-like medium can be mounted. It becomes large and unsuitable for mobile phones.

[0006] On the other hand, the latter handy type image reading apparatus is originally small and handy type, so that it is excellent in portability, but in actual reading of an image,
Because of manual scanning, the reading skill of each operator is inconvenient, and the mounting surface on which the medium is to be placed must always be substantially flat, so that the reading stability is ensured evenly. In terms of doing so, there was something left to improve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image reading apparatus which always ensures stable image reading operation and is excellent in portability.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable image reading apparatus for converting an image displayed on the surface of a sheet-like medium into a sheet-like medium. A reading housing section in which an imaging unit section for reading optically is moved while being moved in a predetermined direction by a sheet feeding mechanism, and a sheet-shaped medium to be read in the reading housing section is prepared and arranged in advance. A sheet feeding housing portion having a sheet disposition surface, and a sheet receiving housing portion having a sheet receiving surface for receiving and holding a sheet-shaped medium that has been read and discharged from the reading housing portion. , And the sheet feeding housing section and / or
Alternatively, the sheet receiving housing portion includes a first position in which the sheet disposition surface and the sheet receiving surface approach each other or face each other with the reading housing portion as a center of rotation;
It is characterized in that it is provided so as to be rotatable and displaceable between second positions located on both sides of the reading housing portion.

That is, according to the portable image reading apparatus of the present invention, when the sheet feeding housing and the sheet receiving housing are opened at the time of use, the functions of the respective parts are provided. When reading a sheet-shaped medium, it is possible to always read an image stably anywhere without worrying about the state of the medium mounting surface. Further, when they are closed when not in use, they are opposed to each other and serve as dust-proof lids, so that the entire apparatus is reduced in size and is particularly suitable for carrying.

A portable image reading apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the portable image reading apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the external appearance of the sheet feeding casing and the sheet receiving casing is provided. The shape is configured to be substantially the same shape, and at least one of the sheet placement surface side and the sheet receiving surface side is provided with a switch unit for operating the device. Features.

That is, according to the portable image reading apparatus of the present invention, the first sheet feeding casing and / or the first sheet receiving casing are in a portable state.
, The operation switch section is not exposed to the outside. Therefore, the operation switch unit can be reliably protected from the outside with a simple configuration, and it becomes more convenient to carry.

Further, a portable image reading apparatus according to the invention of claim 3 is the portable image reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet feeding casing and the sheet receiving casing are provided. When the relative positional relationship with the sheet is the second positional relationship, the sheet disposition surface, the sheet feeding mechanism in the reading housing unit, and the sheet receiving surface are arranged substantially linearly. It is characterized by having been done.

That is, according to the portable image reading apparatus of the present invention, when the sheet-type medium is read by the apparatus, the operation of feeding the medium can be smoothly performed. It is possible to prevent the sheet-shaped medium from being forcibly bent and moved, and it can be applied to various sheet-shaped media.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2A are perspective views showing an appearance of a portable image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. ,
FIG. 3C is a view showing the card feeding section viewed from the direction of arrow D in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an assembly view of the portable image reading apparatus, and FIGS. It is.

As shown in FIG. 1, the portable image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment comprises a reading casing 10, a main body 14 comprising a card feeding section 12, and a card receiving section 16. ing.

In this case, the reading housing unit 10 converts an image displayed on the surface of a sheet-like medium (hereinafter, referred to as a card) 18 into a predetermined direction (the insertion direction and the ejection direction in FIG. 1). 1), an image pickup unit for optically reading while being moved by a card feeding mechanism is provided therein.

The card feeder 12 is provided in the housing 1 for reading.
0 is provided with a card arrangement surface for preparing and arranging the card 18 to be read in advance in the card receiving section 16.
Has a card receiving surface for receiving and holding the card that has been read from the reading housing unit 10 and has been read.

As shown in FIG. 3, the card receiving portion 16 has an a-surface 22 which is the inner peripheral surface of the two ring-shaped portions 20 provided on the card receiving portion 16, and the pressing member 2
B surface 2, which is the outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped portion 26 provided in
8 and, in this case, the holding member 24 is
By fixing the screw 30 to the main body 14, the screw 30 is rotatably attached around the position of the screw 30 as a rotation center. As a result, the card receiving surface of the card feeding portion 12 and the card receiving surface of the card receiving portion 16 are opposed to each other with the card receiving portion 16 approaching or abutting on the reading housing portion 10 as a rotation center. Between the first position (the state shown in FIG. 2A) and the second position (the state shown in FIG. 1) located on both sides of the reading casing 10 therebetween. It will be provided so that rotation displacement is possible.

That is, the card receiving section 16 is arranged as shown in FIG.
Is in a closed state and is not in use. Also, as shown in FIG.
The opened position is used until the is substantially linear with respect to the card feeding section 12. In this state, the card feeding section 12, the card feeding mechanism inside the reading housing section 10, and the card receiving section 16 become substantially straight, and the card 18 is not bent, so that even if a thick card is read, the card can be protected. become.

Here, when the card receiving portion 16 is opened substantially linearly with respect to the card feeding portion 12, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. The shape is attached. That is, the first position and the second position are set so that a combined surface formed by the card placement surface and the card receiving surface has a predetermined inclination angle rising in the moving direction of the card 18. Is set. With such a configuration, the card 1
When reading 8, the card surface becomes easy for the operator to see and the card can be easily identified. .

An operation switch 32 is provided in the vicinity of the reading casing 10 on the card placement side of the card feeding section 12. By providing the operation switches 32 in such a position, these operation switches 32 are covered in a closed state as shown in FIG. 2A when the apparatus is not used. The operation switch 32 is protected. That is, it is possible to prevent the power supply or the like from being turned on carelessly when carrying the mobile phone.

Then, in the open state as shown in FIG. 1, the card 18 is inserted from the card feeding section 12 to the insertion slot of the reading housing section 10, and a predetermined switch among the operation switches 32 is operated. To start reading. The card that has been read is ejected from the ejection port to the card receiving unit 16.

Inside the main body 14 of the portable image reading apparatus,
As shown in FIG. 4, a reading mechanism is disposed in the reading housing unit 10, and an electric circuit is built on a substrate 34 disposed inside the card feeding unit 12.

The reading mechanism includes a roller 36 for feeding the card 18 and an image pickup unit 38 for reading an image on the card 18, and the image pickup unit 38 includes an optical system and an image pickup section. When the card 18 is inserted from the card insertion slot 40 of the reading housing unit 10, the roller 36 rotates, and the card is moved in the ejection direction. Simultaneously with the movement of the card, an image printed and recorded on the lower surface side of the card 18 is read by the imaging unit 38. The imaging unit 38 reciprocates on the shaft 42 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. Note that a motor for reciprocating the imaging unit 38 is not shown.

The driving of the card feeding roller 36 is performed by the structure of a motor 42 and a gear 44 as shown in FIG. The operation switch 32 is, as shown in FIG.
It comprises a switch 46 fixed to the substrate 34 and a button 48 attached so as to be vertically movable with respect to the card feeding section 12 of the main body 14. When the button 48 is pressed, the boss 48a below the button presses the switch 46 on the substrate, thereby turning on / off the switch.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the card outlet 50 of the reading housing 10 is provided with the exterior of the main body on the lower side 5.
By configuring the upper part 50U to protrude from 0D, it is possible to prevent foreign matter or the like from entering from the card outlet 50.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, the central portion of the card feeding portion 12 is lowered by one step (F surface 51), and as shown in FIGS. It is inclined (G plane 52). As a result, the surface of the card 18 that contacts the image surface (the main body E surface 54) is only at both ends, and the image on the card is less likely to be damaged. Further, by providing the inclination, even if the card 18 is slightly distorted, the card 18 can be smoothly inserted without being caught by the insertion slot 40. In addition, by setting the inclination of the G surface 52 to start at a position one step higher than the F surface 51, foreign substances such as coins are also stuck to the step, and it is difficult to enter the device.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the shape of the card receiving portion 16 is made lower than the discharge port 50 and is inclined so that the first card can be formed by the card discharged later. When the card is pushed out to some extent, the card is stored in the card receiving portion 16 by its own weight, and comes out of the extension of the card ejection path. In this case, even if a later card is further ejected, the first card is received in the receiving unit 1.
No push out of 6. In addition, the inclination of the card in the receiving portion 16 makes it easier to see, and the type of the card and the like can be easily understood. In addition, foreign matter and the like
There is also an effect of not entering from zero.

In the first embodiment, since the reading casing 10 and the card feeding section 12 are integrally formed, the card receiving section 16 is connected to the reading casing 10. However, the reading housing unit 10 and the card receiving unit 16 may be integrally formed to rotate the card feeding unit 12, or they may be separated from each other. And a card feeder 12 and a card receiver 16
May be rotatable.

The operation switch 32 may be provided in the vicinity of the reading housing 10 on the card receiving surface side of the card receiving portion 16. Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

That is, in the second embodiment, a rotation preventing boss 56 as a locking mechanism is provided, and the projection 58 provided on the pressing member comes into contact with the rotation preventing boss 56 and further increases. Is configured to be unable to rotate. With this configuration, it is possible to forcibly prohibit the rotation of the card receiving unit 16 during scanning.

The anti-rotation boss 56 is moved by an actuator (not shown) according to a signal during scanning. That is, it protrudes during scanning, and when it is completed, it is retracted and returns to its original position. Thereby, during scanning, the card receiving unit 1
6 is moved and there is no mistake in bending the card.

The movement of the rotation preventing boss 56 is
Needless to say, it may be performed manually. Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the present invention. Here, the summary of the present invention is as follows.

(1) A reading unit in which an image pickup unit for optically reading an image displayed on the surface of a sheet-like medium while moving the sheet-like medium in a predetermined direction by a sheet feeding mechanism is provided. Housing section, a sheet feeding housing section having a sheet arrangement surface for preparing and arranging a sheet-shaped medium to be read in the reading housing section in advance, and reading completed from the reading housing section has been completed. A sheet receiving housing portion having a sheet receiving surface for receiving and holding a sheet-shaped medium, wherein the sheet feeding housing portion and / or the sheet receiving housing portion are the reading housing portion. A first position in which the sheet disposition surface and the sheet receiving surface are opposed to each other while being close to or in contact with each other, and a second position which is located on both sides of the reading housing portion. A portable image reading apparatus provided so as to be capable of rotating and displacing between the portable image reading apparatus and the apparatus.

That is, when the sheet feeding casing and the sheet receiving casing are opened when they are used, the functions of the respective parts are utilized, and when reading a sheet-like medium, the medium mounting section is used. An image can be stably read at any time without regard to the state of the surface. Further, when they are closed when not in use, they are opposed to each other and serve as dust-proof lids, so that the entire apparatus is reduced in size and is particularly suitable for carrying.

(2) The external shape of the sheet-feeding housing and the sheet-receiving housing is substantially the same, and at least one of the sheet-arranged surface side and the sheet-receiving surface side. The portable image reading device according to the above (1), wherein a switch for operating the device is provided on the surface of (1).

That is, in addition to the effect of the above (1), protection of the operation switch unit from the outside can be surely performed with a simple configuration, and it becomes more convenient to carry. (3) An electric circuit board is mounted in at least one of the sheet-feeding housing portion and the sheet-receiving housing portion in a surface direction thereof, (1) or (2). 2) The portable image reading device according to any one of the above.

That is, the mounting efficiency of the electric circuit board can be improved, which can contribute to further miniaturization of the device. (4) When the relative positional relationship between the sheet feeding housing portion and the sheet receiving housing portion is the second positional relationship, the sheet disposition surface and the sheet feeding mechanism in the reading housing portion are provided. The portable image reading device according to any one of the above (1) and (2), wherein the sheet receiving surface and the sheet receiving surface are arranged in a substantially linear arrangement.

That is, when the sheet-type medium is read by the apparatus, the medium can be smoothly fed, and in particular, it is possible to prevent a sheet-like medium such as a thick card from being forcibly bent and moved. Applicable to sheet-like media.

(5) The first position so that a composite surface constituted by the sheet arrangement surface and the sheet receiving surface has a predetermined inclination angle rising in the moving direction of the sheet medium. The portable image reading apparatus according to the above (4), wherein the first position and the second position are set.

That is, since the entire surface such as the sheet arranging surface and the sheet receiving surface is formed to have a predetermined inclination angle for the operator, the type of the sheet-like medium can be visually determined when reading the sheet-like medium. It can be easily visually recognized,
It is possible to prevent mistakes in selecting a medium. Above all,
It is possible to prevent a foreign matter such as a coin erroneously placed on the sheet arrangement surface from slipping into and entering the image pickup unit in the reading housing with a simple configuration.

[0042]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an image reading apparatus that always secures a stable image reading operation and is excellent in portability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a portable image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention when used.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the portable image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment when the portable image reading apparatus is not used, and FIG.
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B, and FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a card feeding unit viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow D in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an assembly view of the portable image reading device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a portable image reading apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention when used.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Reading housing part 12 Card feeding part 14 Main body 16 Card receiving part 18 Sheet medium (card) 24 Press member 32 Operation switch 34 Substrate 38 Imaging unit 40 Card insertion port 50 Card discharge port 56 Rotation prevention boss

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image pickup unit for optically reading an image displayed on the surface of a sheet-like medium while moving the sheet-like medium in a predetermined direction by a sheet feeding mechanism is provided. A housing portion; a sheet feeding housing portion provided with a sheet arrangement surface for previously preparing and arranging a sheet-shaped medium to be read in the reading housing portion; and a read-out sheet discharged from the reading housing portion. And a sheet receiving housing portion having a sheet receiving surface for receiving and holding the medium in the form of a sheet. The sheet feeding housing portion and / or the sheet receiving housing portion is configured such that the reading housing portion is A first position where the sheet disposition surface and the sheet receiving surface are opposed to each other by approaching or abutting each other as a rotation center, and a second position which is located on both sides of the reading housing portion therebetween. Portable image reading apparatus, characterized in that provided as a rotatable displaceable between. 2. An outer appearance of the sheet feeding casing and the sheet receiving casing is configured to have substantially the same shape, and at least one of the sheet arrangement surface side and the sheet receiving surface side. 2. The portable image reading device according to claim 1, wherein a switch unit for operating the device is provided on the surface. 3. When the relative positional relationship between the sheet feeding housing portion and the sheet receiving housing portion is the second positional relationship, the sheet feeding between the sheet arrangement surface and the reading housing portion is performed. 3. The portable image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism and the sheet receiving surface are arranged in a substantially linear arrangement.