JPH11164102A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a device which makes it easy to specify the page areas of a bound document, can automatically and accurately recognize the page numbers of the bound document, and facilitates the page management of the bound document by providing a page area specifying means, which independently specifies the areas of the left and right pages of the spread bound document. SOLUTION: This reader is equipped with the page area specifying means, which independently specifies the areas of the left and right pages of the spread bound document. The device reads the outward shape of the bound document 402 beforehand, sets specific reference positions of an area 402 where a page number is printed to the lower end of the bound document BO in a Y-direction, and to the left end of the left page and the right end of the right page in an X-direction, and specifies the area 402 by inputting values measured actually on a platen and in a read frame at its periphery. On the basis of the outward shape of the read bound document BO, the area 402 where the page number is printed is specified, so that even if the shape of a document such as the bound document BO moved, the area 402 can be specified accurately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus capable of reading an image of a bookbinding document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image reading apparatus for reading an image of a document is used alone or in a copying machine. Some image reading apparatuses have a page turning function for automatically turning pages of a bound document. JP-A-60-239725 discloses a copying apparatus having a function of designating a copy area.
No. 66 describes a copying machine having a function of designating an area on an editor. Each of these copying apparatuses and copiers recognizes an area from a fixed reference position using a document as a standard size.

Further, there are image reading apparatuses for designating an area on a display or for designating a plurality of areas, and similarly, the original is defined as a standard size and the area is recognized from a fixed reference position. . No image reading apparatus or copying machine that reads an image of a document accurately recognizes an area on the left and right pages beyond the binding portion of a two-page spread document.

[0004]

Conventionally, when an image of a document is read by an image reading apparatus or a copying machine, a continuous page of a bookbinding document is read automatically or manually by turning over the pages. Working. At this time,
If the page order is out of order due to skipped pages, missing pages, re-input, etc., the only option is to rearrange the pages manually by relying on the page numbers described on each page.

In an image reading apparatus having no automatic page turning function, when reading the page number of a two-page spread original, a person sets the left and right pages while turning the pages of the original one by one. You will have to enter the number. However, the user often skips the pages of the bookbinding document to read the image due to turning over a large number of bookbinding documents or forgetting to read the page image. In addition, it is common practice to intentionally remove or correct a part of a page of a bound manuscript from which an image has been read, and replace or add a page. In such a case, the page management of the bound manuscript is currently performed by a person correcting the page while comparing the page with the bound manuscript, which is not easy and inconvenient.

Further, in an image reading apparatus having an automatic page turning function, when reading the page number of a double-page spread book, the page number is automatically read from a position where the page number of the bookbinding original is filled. However, the pages of the bound manuscript mainly print characters, and it is difficult to automatically recognize only the page number. Also, the booklet manuscript has different page numbering positions depending on the booklet manuscript, and the page number may be printed in different places on the left and right pages of the booklet manuscript. Originals vary greatly depending on the page to be opened in a bookbinding original having a spread size of one book. For this reason,
The conventional method of designating an area on a page from a fixed reference position cannot be handled, and it is difficult to automatically and accurately recognize only the page number. Therefore, it is difficult to manage the pages of the book.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of easily specifying a page area of a bound manuscript, automatically recognizing the page number of the bound manuscript, and easily managing the pages of the bound manuscript. Aim.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus capable of reading an image of a bookbinding original. It is provided with a page area designating means for designating independently.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the left page and the right page are designated based on the left end of the left page of the bound document and the right page is designated by the bound document. Is based on the right end of the right page.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus of the second aspect, the page area designating means can independently designate an area in which the numbers of the left page and the right page of the two-page spread document are recorded. Yes, the number in the designated area is O
The page number is recognized by performing the CR process, and the recognized page number can be transmitted together with the read image as additional data of the read image.

[0011]

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an embodiment of an image reading apparatus that selectively reads an image of a book document (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a book document) and a sheet document. This image reading device,
An original placing table 206 and a scale 207 made of a flat contact glass are arranged on the upper part of the apparatus main body. A sheet original is placed on the contact glass 206 and a pressure plate (not shown) is placed on the original. The original on the contact glass 206 is scanned by the scanning unit 200 and an image is read. The upper half of the apparatus main body is a scanner unit 30, and the scanning unit 2
Reference numeral 00 travels in the horizontal direction in FIG. 6 inside the scanner unit 30 to scan the original.

FIG. 7 shows a scanning unit 20 in the present apparatus.
0 indicates a page turning portion. Turning belt 2 in this device
08 is a resin having a dual structure of a surface layer made of a high-resistance film having a surface resistance of 10 ¹⁴ Ω or more and a back layer made of a low-resistance film having a surface resistance of 10 ⁸ Ω or less, made of PET, PC, PVC or the like. It is composed of film. Also,
The turning belt driving roller 223 is formed of a metal roller having a surface coated with a conductive rubber and is grounded, so that the turning belt 208 is reliably driven and grounded. The turning belt 208 is stretched around a turning belt driving roller 223 and a turning roller 224 to turn the turning belt driving roller 2.
23 is driven to rotate.

Further, the charging roller 225 is constituted by a metal roller or a roller in which the surface of the metal roller is coated with conductive rubber.
A high voltage of ± 2 to 4 kV is applied at a predetermined timing from the AC power supply 253 via 53a. The AC power supply 253 is controlled by a pulse from the pulse generator 253b.
While the scanning unit 200 is running and the turning belt 208 is driven, the changeover switch 2
53a is turned on, and the charging roller 225 is supplied to the charging roller 225 by the high-voltage power supply 253 with a frequency of ± 2 to 4
When an AC high voltage of V is applied, an alternating electric field is generated on the surface of the turning belt 208 by the charging roller 225, and the uppermost page 254 of the book BO is attracted to the surface of the turning belt 208 by the action of the alternating electric field. Force is generated. The high voltage power supply 253 is arranged in the scanning unit 200.

When the scanning for reading the original document is started, the scanning unit 200 located at the left end home position of the scanner unit 30 starts traveling rightward in FIG. At this time, the turning belt 208 and the page feed roller 250 are moved to a position shown by a solid line in FIG. 7 by a solenoid (not shown). And this scanning unit 200
When the original reading position below the platen glass 205 is on the left page of the original BO, as shown in FIG. 8, the scanning unit 200 starts the reading operation of the original BO and moves the original surface of the original BO to the left page. To the right page. Here, the reading position of the original document by the scanning unit 200 changes depending on the size (size) of the original document BO.

In this manner, the scanning unit 200 reads an image from the left page to the right page of the book BO. FIG.
During the image reading operation of the scanning unit 200 as shown in FIG. 7, the turning belt 208 and the page feed roller 250
Is held at the position indicated by the solid line. When the scanning unit 200 finishes reading up to the right edge of the two-page spread of the book document, the scanning direction of the document of the scanning unit 200 is reversed as shown in FIG.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
08 and the page feed roller 250 are moved to a position shown by a broken line in FIG. 7 by a solenoid (not shown). At about the same time, the changeover switch 253a is turned on, and the pulse generator 253b and the high-voltage power supply 253 apply an AC high voltage of a predetermined frequency to the charging roller 225 via the changeover switch 253a. A charge pattern is formed.

When starting to turn the pages of the book BO,
The turning belt 208 and the page feed roller 250 are located at the positions indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 7, and the charged pattern portion formed on the surface of the turning belt 208 prior to the page turning operation is the same as the top page 254 of the book BO. Overlap on top. Then, when the leading end of the topmost page 254 exceeds the lower center of the turning belt 208, as shown in FIG.
And the page feed roller 250 are moved to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 7 by the action of a solenoid (not shown). As a result, only the top page 254 of the book BO is adsorbed on the surface of the turning belt 208 by the attraction force of the charge pattern formed on the surface of the turning belt 208 due to the uneven electric field.
The end of the top page 254 is lifted together with the turning belt 208.

The top page 254 of the book BO is turned up and the scanning unit 200 is again moved toward the end home position as shown in FIG. 10, and the top page 254 of the book BO is shown in FIG. Thus, the sheet is reliably conveyed while being sandwiched between the turning roller 224 and the page feed roller 250. The top page 254 passes between a pair of upper and lower page guides 227 and 228 arranged on the right side of the scanning unit 200 and is sent to the right outside of the scanning unit 200 at its leading end. At this time, the page sensor 214 attached above the scanning unit 200 detects a document page sent to the right outside of the scanning unit 200, and detects that the document page has been turned normally.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, when the top page 254 of the book BO is turned up to the binding portion of the book, the turning belt 208 and the page feed roller 250 are returned to the original position (the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 7). Return to). In this state, the scanning unit 200 further moves toward the end home position, and the turned-up original page is pulled by the binding section of the book original as shown in FIG.
8, the document BO is superimposed on the double-page spread of the book BO and discharged from the scanning unit 200.

The turned-up manuscript page 254 is the book manuscript B
When all of them are superimposed on the left page of O, the scanning unit 20
The one-time image reading / page turning operation for the two-page spread original is completed. Here, when the image reading / page turning operation for the book BO is repeatedly executed, or when only one of the image reading and the page turning operation is repeatedly executed, the original page turned up as described above is used. 254 are all superimposed on the left page of the book BO, and at the same time, the moving direction of the scanning unit 200 is reversed and the scanning unit 200 is moved in the shortest course with respect to the document surface of the book.
Is repeated. The scanning unit 200
May perform only the image reading operation of the book BO or only the page turning operation.

When the original page 254 electrostatically attracted onto the turning belt 208 is turned, the end of the page 254 sucked by the turning belt 208 is swung upward by the solenoid, and the end of the page 254 is attracted to the scanning unit 200 side. This is done by being lifted. At this time, the book manuscript BO
The page sensor 214 detects whether or not the page has been turned. If the page detection by the page sensor 214 is not performed at a predetermined timing when the page is turned, the page turning operation is executed again.

As shown in FIG. 14, the mirror 222 is driven by a mirror switching solenoid, and the mirror 222 advances and retreats to the optical path when the mirror switching solenoid is turned on / off. The upper reading optical path is switched. As light sources for illuminating the original, two fluorescent lamps 201, 202, 2
03 and 204 are used respectively.

When reading the original on the contact glass 206, the mirror 222 advances into the optical path, the original on the contact glass 206 is illuminated by the fluorescent lamps 203 and 204, and the reflected light is reflected by the mirrors 222, 220 and 221 and the lens 216. The image is formed on a CCD on an image reading plate 101 as an image reading means through the sensor and photoelectrically converted. When reading the original, the mirror 222 retreats from the optical path and illuminates the original on the original table 1 through the platen glass 205 by the fluorescent lamps 201 and 202, and the reflected light is reflected by the mirrors 219, 220 and 221 and the lens 2
An image is formed on the CCD on the image reading plate 101 through the photoelectric conversion unit 16 and photoelectrically converted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the document table unit 35 of the present apparatus is provided with one document table 1 on each of the left and right sides of the center of the apparatus main body.
It is supported so that it can move up and down freely. Each platen 1
Each of them is pressed upward by a spring 13 applied to the link mechanism 11. As shown in FIG. 15, a document pressing plate 14 is provided on the back side of the document table 1 through a hinge 12.
Are rotatably supported with respect to the document table 1. A stopper claw 15 is provided at the tip of the document holding plate 14. The stopper claw 15 is provided on the near side of the document table 1 when the document holding plate 14 is placed on the document table 1 in FIG. The stopper 16 is locked.
As described above, in the document table unit 35 of the present apparatus, since the stopper mechanism of the document pressing plate 14 is located on the near side of the document table unit 35, the operation of the document pressing plate 14 can be easily performed.

On the other hand, a plurality of holes 1 a
, And a part of the stator 17 protrudes from these holes 1a. Further, rubber plates 18 for securely pressing and fixing the cover of the book BO are attached to the upper surfaces of these stators 17, respectively. Each stator 17
Is a rotary shaft 20 fixed near the center of the document table 1 to the apparatus.
(See FIG. 16).
Further, each stator 17 is moved by a spring (not shown) as shown in FIG.
Are urged in directions indicated by arrows.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 16, the front cover and the back cover of the book BO are sandwiched between the plate 14 and the platen 1, and the stopper 15 of the plate 14 is engaged with the stopper 16. By stopping, the book BO is securely fixed on the document table 1. In this case, in this device, each stator 1
7 near the center of the document table 1
By pressing the front and back covers of the book BO close to the binding portion BOa with the stator 17 and the document pressing plate 14, the book BO can be more securely fixed on the document table 1.

Here, when the original holding plate 14 is fixed on the original platen 1 in a state where the original BO is not placed, a gap of several mm is formed between the original holding plate 14 and the original platen 1. It is set so that a book manuscript having a thick cover can be fixed. Further, in this apparatus, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the left platen 1 can only be moved up and down.
The book BO placed thereon is prevented from shifting. On the other hand, the right document table 1 is supported by a slide groove 21 so as to be movable not only vertically but also horizontally in FIG. The right platen 1 is urged to move leftward by the spring 10, and the slide shaft 22 implanted in the link mechanism 11 abuts against the end of the slide groove 21 on the side surface of the platen 1. As a result, the movement of the document table 1 is stopped.

Next, the platen pressure fixing switching device and the platen retracting device of this apparatus will be described. Link mechanism 1
The platen 1, which is configured to be able to move in the up-down direction by 1, is constantly biased by a spring 13 (see FIG. 6). As a result, in a state in which the platen unit 35 is set in the apparatus and the platen pressing operation mode is set, the original of the book BO placed and opened on the platen 1 due to the ascending behavior of the platen 1 The surface is constantly pressed upward so as to press the surface against the lower portion of the scanning unit 200 in the scanner unit 30.

Normally, the scanning unit 200 receives the pressing force on the original surface of the book BO, but when the scanning unit 200 is moved to a position off the book original on the platen 1, The document table 1 and the book document BO may bite into the scanner unit 30 due to the ascending behavior, and the smooth movement of the scanning unit 200 may be hindered. Therefore, it is necessary to fix the original table 1 in a state where the original table 1 has been raised to an appropriate position to prevent the original table 1 and the book BO from excessively biting into the scanner unit 30 due to the raising behavior of the original table 1. is there. Scanning unit 2
When scanning the original on the contact glass 206 disposed above the scanner unit 30 by switching the scanning optical path in the scanner unit 30 by the mirror 222, the scanning unit 20
It is necessary to retract the document table 1 below the document table unit 35 so that the lower portion of the document table 0 does not contact the upper surface of the document table 1.

The platen pressing / fixing switching device and the platen retracting device are devices for satisfying these needs.
FIGS. 17 to 21 show configuration examples of a mechanism in which both of these devices are shared by one mechanism. A hook 41 is fixed to one end of the control wire 40 of this mechanism as shown in FIG. Another hook 42 is fixed to the other end of the control wire 40, and a spherical stop ball 45 is fixed near the approximate center of the control wire 40.

The hook 41 is fixed to the outer end of the link mechanism 11 (the side that moves up and down as the document table 1 is raised and lowered). The control wire 40 extending from the hook 41 changes its direction via pulleys 46 and 47 and is wound around a control pulley 48. Here, the control wire 40
As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the stop ball 4 guided to the groove 50 of the control pulley 48 and fixed near the center thereof is
5 is fitted into a stop hole 49 of the control pulley 48.
This ensures that the movement of the control wire 40 is converted to the rotational movement of the control pulley 48.

The control wire 40 wound and extended around the control pulley 48 is always pulled by one end of a tension spring 43 hooked on a hook 42 at one end thereof. The other end of the tension spring 43 is hooked on a hook 44 fixed to the base 6 of the document table unit 35. The control pulley 48 includes a one-way clutch 51 as shown in FIG.
And is supported by the shaft 54 via the. The shaft 54 is rotatably supported by the side plates 55 via the slide bearings 52 by preventing both ends of the shaft 54 from being slipped off by the E-rings 53 with respect to the slide bearings 52 supported by the pair of side plates 55. . Thereby, the control pulley 48 can freely rotate in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 19 with respect to the shaft 54, but can rotate relative to the shaft 54 by the action of the one-way clutch 51 in the direction opposite to this arrow a. It cannot rotate, and rotates integrally with the shaft 54.
Therefore, when the shaft 54 is fixed by the mechanism described later, the control pulley 48
That is, the document table 1 can be rotated only in the rotation direction when the document table 1 descends.

Next, the lowering / fixing operation of the original table 1 by the original table pressure fixing switching device will be described. FIG.
7 to 19, when the shaft 54 is in a fixed state and the platen 1 is pressed down by some external force, for example, the weight of the book BO or the pressurization by a turning page, the platen is fixed to the platen 1 side. The end of the control wire 40 on the hook 41 side is loosened.

At the same time, the control pulley 48
3, the control wire 40 rotates in the direction of arrow a while absorbing the slack of the control wire 40 on the hook 41 side, and the control wire 40 moves to the hook 44 side while maintaining the initial tension. At this time, since the control pulley 48 cannot rotate in the direction opposite to the arrow a due to the action of the one-way clutch 51, even if the lifting force of the document table 1 exceeds the pressing force on the document table 1, Pulley 48 controlled by lifting force
Is not rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow a, and the control pulley 48 is stopped while maintaining the position rotated in the direction of the arrow a. In addition, the movement of the control wire 40 also stops with the stop of the control pulley 48, whereby the document table 1 is lowered to a position where it is pushed down by an external force and stopped.

Here, the shaft 54 is fixed by a platen elevating mechanism described below. That is, a gear 56 is fixed to the shaft 54 so as to rotate integrally with the shaft 54 as shown in FIG. The gear 56 is meshed with another gear 57 rotatably supported by a stud 59 fixed to the side plate 55 as shown in FIG. 21, and the rotation is transmitted to the gear 57. Have been.

Further, the gear 57 is formed integrally with a worm wheel 58, and the worm wheel 58 is configured to mesh with a worm gear 60 fixed to an output shaft of a document table elevating motor 61. With this configuration, when the platen elevating motor 61 is stopped, the worm wheel 58 cannot rotate due to the engagement between the worm gear 60 and the worm wheel 58, and the gear 56 engaged with the gear 57 integrated with the worm wheel 58 The shaft 54 connected via this is in a fixed state.

Next, the retracting operation of the original table 1 below the original table unit 35 will be described. 20 and 21, when the platen elevating motor 61 is driven such that the gear 56 rotates in the direction of arrow b, the one-way clutch 51 rotates the control pulley 48 and the shaft 54 integrally, and the control pulley 48 The control wire 40 rotates in the direction of arrow a to move to the hook 44 side.

By the movement of the control wire 40, the right and left document tables 1 in FIGS.
At the positions detected by the left and right original table lower limit sensors 304, the operation is stopped by the stop of the original table raising / lowering motor 61, and the upper surface of each original table 1 (original surface of the original BO in this apparatus) is separated from the scanning unit 200. It is retracted to a position below the document table unit 35, that is, a position shown in FIG. This retraction operation is executed when the power of the apparatus main body is turned on, when scanning is not performed, when an image of a sheet document on the contact glass 206 arranged above the scanner unit 30 is read, and when the document table unit 35 is pulled out. You.

Next, an operation of pressing the document table 1 above the document table unit 35 will be described. 20 and 21, the shaft 54 is driven in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow a in FIG. 17 by driving the platen elevating motor 61 so that the gear 56 rotates in the direction of arrow c in FIGS. And the control pulley 48 is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft 54 by the action of the one-way clutch 51. Here, in the present apparatus, the force of the torsion spring 13 for pushing the document table 1 upward is set to be stronger than the force of pulling the control wire 40 downward.

Accordingly, when the control pulley 48 can freely rotate in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow a, the control wire 40 is moved toward the hook 41 by the force of the torsion spring 13 for pushing the document table 1 upward. Moving. Due to the movement of the control wire 40, the document tables 1 on the left and right in FIG. 6 are raised, and the document surface of the book document BO placed open on the upper surface of each document table 1 is pressed against the scanning unit 200. .

As described above, when the original table raising and lowering motor 61 is continuously driven in a state where the original tables 1 on the left and right sides are raised and the original surfaces on the original tables 1 are pressed against the scanning unit 200, the one-way clutch 51 operates. The shaft 54 is freely rotatable with respect to the control pulley 48, and the state in which the document surface is pressed against the scanning unit 200 is maintained. This pressurizing operation is executed only when the scanning unit 200 is on the document table 1 as described later.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 23, the document table pressing / fixing switching device 50A and the document table retracting device 50B are provided for each of the pair of right and left document tables 1 as a set. Each of them is controlled independently in accordance with the movement position of 200. That is, one set of the right and left platen motors 61 serving as the driving sources of the platen pressure fixed switching device 50A and the platen retracting device 50B are independently controlled.

FIG. 23 shows the retracting operation below the document table 1 in the above-described retracting operation mode, and FIG. 24 shows a timing chart thereof. In this retreat operation mode, as shown in FIG. 24, prior to the start of the movement of the scanning unit 200, the left and right platen elevating motors 61 are rotated in reverse until the left and right platen lower limit sensors 304 detect each platen 1. As shown in FIG. 22, the left and right original tables 1 are lowered. Thereafter, the scanning unit 20 is operated by the scanner motor.
0 is scanned in a predetermined direction, and the scanning of the scanning unit 200 is repeated many times if necessary. Then, at the end of the retreat operation mode, the scanning unit 200 returns to the center home position, the left and right platen elevating motors 61 rotate forward a predetermined number of times, and the left and right platen 1 return to the original position.

On the other hand, when reading a sheet original on the contact glass 206, the scale 207 serves as a reference for placing the original end surface. This criterion is different from the reading start position of the book document so that the configuration becomes the minimum size. Thus, the reading start point of the document is always constant, and the control is simplified. When the sheet mode for reading the original on the contact glass 206 is entered, the scanning unit 200 moves to the left from the center home position after performing a standby operation below the original platen, and the end HP detected by the end HP sensor. It comes to a position (the position of the scanning unit 200 shown in FIG. 25), stops, and waits until a reading condition is input by the operation unit 99 and the start switch is turned on. Here, when the start switch is turned on,
The scanning unit 200 is scanned rightward in FIG. 6 by the scanner motor, and the original on the contact glass 206 is read by the scanning unit 200.

Next, the pressing / fixing operation mode of the document table 1 will be described. The scanning unit 200 returns to the center home position shown in FIG. 6 when the operation of the apparatus ends in the original mode, so that the scanning unit 200 is also located at the center home position when the original BO is set on the apparatus. . Since the original BO is set with reference to the center of the apparatus, when the original table 1 is slid and closed, and the original table 1 is raised and set, any size original can be reliably pressed. That's why. At the start of this operation, the central HP
The sensor confirms that the scanning unit 200 is at the center home position. And the scanning unit 200
It moves to the left from the center home position, reaches the end home position detected by the end HP sensor (see FIG. 26), and stops.

FIGS. 25 to 29 show transition diagrams of the scanning unit 200 in the pressing / fixing mode of the document table 1.
FIG. 30 shows the timing chart. The end home position of the scanning unit 200 (see FIG. 25) is a start point of image reading and page turning operation and an end point of operation. At this end home position, the scanning unit 200 does not rest on the document table 1. In this state, the platen elevating motors 61 on both sides are stopped, and the left and right platen 1 are both fixed.

In the pressing / fixing mode of the document table 1, first, the scanner motor, which is the drive motor of the scanning unit 200, rotates forward to move the scanning unit 200 rightward in FIG. When the right document pressing roller 281a of the scanning unit 200 is applied to the left end of the book BO (point A; see FIG. 26), the left document table elevating motor 61 rotates forward, and the left document table 1 is driven. Pressure state. As a result, the book BO is pressed against the scanning unit 200, and an optimal image reading is performed.

Shortly before the scanning unit 200 reaches the book document center point (see FIG. 27), the right document pressing roller 281a is applied to the left end of the right document table 1 (point B; see FIG. 30). At that time, the right platen elevating motor 61 rotates forward, and the right platen 1 is in a pressurized state. Next, the scanning unit 200 passes the book document center point and starts reading an image of the right page of the book document BO. Thereafter, the left document pressing roller 281b is applied to the right end of the left document table 1 (C point; see FIG. 30). At this time,
The left platen elevator motor 61 stops, and the left platen 1
Is fixed. As a result, the original BO is fixed and pressed by the original pressing sheet 282b without biting into the scanner unit 30, and waits for the next scanning unit 200 to pass while maintaining the same height.

FIG. 28 shows an operation state of the scanning unit 200 during reading of an image on the right page of the book or turning over the right page. The scanning unit 200 that has finished reading the image of the right page of the original document has the left original pressing roller 281b applied to the right end of the right original table 1 (D point; FIG. 2).
9), and the scanner motor rotates in reverse to move the scanning unit 200 to the left. As a result, the scanning unit 200 advances while turning over the right page of the book BO, and shortly before reaching the book central point (see FIG. 27), the left document pressing roller 281b moves the left document table 1
(C point). At this time, the left platen elevator motor 61 rotates forward, and the left platen 1 is in a pressurized state.

Next, the scanning unit 200 starts the operation of passing the turned-up right page on the left side page of the book original after passing through the center point of the book original. Thereafter, the right document pressing roller 281a is applied to the left end of the right document table 1 (point B). At this time, the right platen elevating motor 6
1 stops, and the right platen 1 is fixed. As a result, the original BO is fixed and the scanner unit 30
The document is held down by the document pressing sheet 282a without penetrating into the document, and the scanning unit 200 waits for the next passage while maintaining the same height.

Thereafter, the scanning unit 200 proceeds while superimposing the turned-up page on the left page of the book document.
After the completion of the superposition of the pages, the right document pressing roller 281a is applied to the left end of the left document table 1 (point A; see FIG. 26). At this time, the left platen elevating motor 61 stops, and the left platen 1 is fixed. As a result, the book BO is fixed and the scanner unit 3
The document is held down by the document holding sheet 282b without biting into 0, and the scanning unit 200 waits for the next passage while maintaining the same height. Then, the scanning unit 200 comes to the end home position (see FIG. 25) and stops.

Next, the mechanism for pulling out the platen front will be described. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 23, slide rails 300 are slidably connected to a rail bracket 301 in the scanner unit 30 in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body, on the left and right side surfaces of the document table unit 35. When the platen unit 35 is accommodated (set) in the scanner unit 30, the opening / closing lock device 302 shown in FIG. Unit 3
5 cannot be pulled out. This state is detected by the open / close lock sensor 320. The slide rail 300 has an expanding and contracting ability enough to pull out the original platen 1 on the original platen unit 35 from the front of the apparatus body. An open / close switch 303 and a handle (not shown) for pulling out the document table are provided on the front surface of the document table unit 35.

Next, the operation of setting a book document will be described. When the operator sets the original on the original table 1, the operator presses the open / close switch 303 after confirming that the operation mode is the original original mode. Here, if the book original mode is not set, the book original mode switch on the operation unit is pressed. In any case, if the document table 1 is not at the lower retreat position, the document table lower retreat operation is performed. And if the scanning unit 200 is not at the center home position,
The operation of moving the scanning unit 200 to the center home position is performed.

When the scanning unit 200 is at the center home position, the opening / closing lock device 302 is released and the document table unit 35 can be pulled out. At this time, the operation unit displays that the document table unit 35 is in a state where it can be pulled out. The operator operates the platen unit 35
The document table unit 35 is pulled out toward the front side of the apparatus body by holding the handle at the front of the document holder. Then, the locking between the stopper claws 15 and the stopper claws 16 of the right and left document pressing plates 14 is released, and the front side of the document pressing plate 14 is And lift it up to open it (Fig. 1
5).

In this state, the operator places the front cover and the back cover of the book BO on the document table 1 with reference to the front side, and lowers the document holding plate 14 so that the front and back covers are placed on the respective document holding plates 14. And the document table 1, and the stopper 15 of the document holding plate 14 is hung on the stopper 16 and fixed (see FIG. 16).

Thereafter, the operator pushes the document table unit 35 into the scanner unit 30 and sets (sets) it while opening the page from which the image reading of the book document is to be started and holding the binding area of the book document with one hand. When the open / close lock sensor 320 detects that the document table unit 35 is set in the scanner unit 30, the open / close lock device 302 detects the document table unit 3.
5 is fixed to a predetermined position of the apparatus main body. Thereafter, the platen 1 is raised by the platen lifting motor 61, and the book BO is set at a predetermined reading position.

Next, a description will be given of the characteristics of the bookbinding original in recognizing the numbers of the respective pages of the bookbinding original. FIG. 3 (a)
As shown in (c), the bookbinding BO has a page printing position 401 where the page number is printed is determined by the bookbinding document, and the page printing position 401 is symmetrical between the right page and the left page. Often not at the same position. Since the size of the sheet document is constant and can be abutted against the reading reference position, when specifying the area where the page number is printed, the accuracy is high.

One bookbinding original BO is shown in FIGS.
When the pages are turned in order as shown in (e), the spread size A gradually shrinks in the horizontal direction (spreading direction) due to the formation of the mountain at the binding portion, slightly expands in the center, and changes thereafter. Then, the outer shape itself greatly changes, for example, the original page size becomes the original size in the double-page spread state of the last page. The ratio between the length B of the left page and the length C of the right page in the horizontal direction of the bookbinding original is shown in FIG. 4A when the first page is opened and in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, B: C = 1: 1 when the middle page of the bound document is opened.
B and C are different when the page before the center of the bookbinding document is opened as shown in FIG. 4C, and FIG. 4B when the page after the center of the bookbinding document is opened as shown in FIG. 4E). )
The magnitude relationship between B and C is reversed from the state shown in (c), and the outer shape and page size of the bookbinding document are constantly moving due to page turning.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the area 402 in which the page numbers of the left and right pages of the bookbinding original BO are printed on the XY coordinates is designated on the basis of the conventional fixed reading standard. X from reading standard to area 402
In the method of specifying the distances X ₁ and X _{2 in the} direction and the distances Y ₁ and Y ₂ in the Y direction, the area 402 where the page number is printed
It is very difficult to specify exactly.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the outer shape of the bookbinding original BO is read in advance, and the designated reference position of the area 402 where the page number is printed is set to the binding original in the Y direction in the XY orthogonal coordinates. The bottom edge of the BO, the X direction is the left edge of the left page for the left page, the right edge of the right page for the right page, and the area 402 is designated by inputting a value actually measured on the platen and in the reading frame around it. There is a rule to do it.

As described above, in this embodiment, the area 402 where the page number is printed based on the outer shape of the read bookbinding document, not the reference position in reading the bookbinding document.
Is specified, the page number print area 4 for the outer shape of the bound document even if the shape of the document itself moves like a bound document.
02 is accurate, so page number printing area 4
02 can be specified.

The designated page number print area 402
OCR of the numerical information of the page number printed on the document, that is, extracting the numerical information in the page number print area 402 from the read image data of the bookbinding original and recognizing the page number is a well-known technique. A feature of the present embodiment is to attach the recognized page number to the image data as additional information to the image data as a function of the image reading apparatus.

When reading a bookbinding original, the page number printing area 402 of the page from which the bookbinding original is to be read is first specified in accordance with the above rules. Normally, the page number print area 402 may be input as numerical data from the operation unit, or a double-page spread of a bookbinding original is read by pre-scanning, the bookbinding original is displayed on a screen by the read data, and the screen is displayed. Page number printing area 40
2 may be input as numerical data, and this numerical data may be converted according to the above rules.

Next, the double-page spread of the bound manuscript is read as described above, and the scanning unit (hereinafter also referred to as reading unit) 200 moves as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the reading unit 200 moves to the left. At the time of reading, the bound document and the background read image data from the image reading plate 101 are stored in the page memory. At the same time, from the read image data, the approximate size of the
The correct size in the direction is recognized based on the contrast difference between the bound document and the platen.

The reading unit 200 includes a bookbinding original BO
Stops once and returns to the left after passing the right end of the bound book BO. At this time, the right edge of the bound book BO is recognized from the read image data, and the turning belt 208 comes to a predetermined position from the recognized right end of the bound book BO. Stop by the way. After the electrifying turning belt 208 rotates and comes into close contact with the right page of the book original BO, the turning belt 208 is lifted, and only the topmost page of the book original BO is stuck to the turning belt 208 and lifted.

Next, as the reading unit 200 moves to the left, the turning belt 208 rotates, and the uppermost page of the book BO is fed between the page guides 227 and 228. The page sensor 214 detects the edge of the topmost page of the bookbinding original BO, thereby recognizing that the page turning is successful, and accurately calculating the end position of the right-hand page of the bookbinding original BO at the detection timing. I do. That is, the position of the reading unit 200 with respect to the reference position (reading reference position) of the document table and the position of the right page end with respect to the reading unit 200 are calculated on the map of the page memory.

The topmost page of the bookbinding original BO is moved to the page guide 22 as the reading unit 200 moves to the left.
7, 228 and the reading unit 200
When the document exceeds the binding portion of the bookbinding document BO, a page turning operation is performed. Further, the reading unit 200 moves to the left, and the end of the uppermost page of the bookbinding original BO passes through the page sensor 214 and also from the page guides 227 and 228, completing the page turning operation.

The edge of the uppermost page of the bound book BO is the page sensor 2
14 indicates the success of page turning, and from that timing, the left end of the top page of the bookbinding original BO is accurately calculated. As a result, the position and size of the image on the reading surface of the two-page spread original can be accurately recognized from the memory area of the page memory in which the image is read larger than the original BO and the read image data is stored.

The image data stored in the page memory is cut out according to the size (shape) of the bound original read by the above operation.
Further, the designated page number print area 402 defined above is cut out from the end of the document frame, and the numerical information printed in the cut out page number print area 402 is extracted from the cut image data by OCR processing to determine the page number. Recognize the page number by replacing it with numerical information.

When the page number is read from the reading reference position, the position varies depending on how the binding portion of the bound document is opened. Therefore, it is preferable to recalculate the position based on the distance from the edge of the read document frame. The cut-out image data and the numerical information of the page number are defined in a predetermined format (for example, a format that can define the image data and the code data as one unit such as Tiff) that can handle the numerical data and the image data in pairs. ) And send it out.

The image reading apparatus of this embodiment can constitute a copying machine in combination with a printer or can be used alone. The control section of the personal computer or copying machine uses the sent image data and page number It is possible to incorporate various automatic functions based on the numerical information.

Reading the position (area) of the page number as a position from the edge of the document frame only requires inputting the measurement amount as it is in the position (area) of the page number, which is very easy to operate. The page number position (area)
Is displayed on a display or the like, and the page number printing area 40 is displayed.
5, the distance a from the left edge of the left page of the bound document to the left edge of the page number print area 402 of the left page, and the page number printed area 402 of the right edge of the bound document from the top right to the right page as shown in FIG. , The distance b ₂ from the upper edge of the left page of the bound document to the upper edge of the page number print area 402 of the left page, and the distance b ₂ from the right edge of the right page of the bound document to the left edge of the page number print area 402 of the right page. By storing and processing the distance c as a parameter, it is possible to extract a more accurate page number when processing the next page.

In this embodiment, the page number printed on each page of the bookbinding document is recognized and added to the image information. Therefore, an image reading apparatus having an automatic page turning function, or an image reading apparatus and a printer, etc. In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine having an automatic page turning function combined with the above, it is possible to detect the turning of many sheets (turning of many pages at once) by constantly monitoring the page number by the machine. When outputting image data and page numbers to a computer, missing pages can be easily checked, and sorting after adding missing pages and renumbering of page numbers can be performed.

This embodiment is an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, in which an image reading apparatus capable of reading an image of a bookbinding original specifies an area of a left page and a right page of a two-page spread original. Since the independent page area designating means is provided, it is possible to easily designate the page area of the bound manuscript, automatically and accurately recognize the page number of the bound manuscript, and to easily manage the pages of the bound manuscript.

This embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2, wherein in the image reading apparatus according to claim 1, the area designation of the left page and the right page is such that the left page is a bound manuscript. Since the left page of the book is based on the left edge and the right page is based on the right page of the bound document, the page area of the bound document can be easily specified, and the page number of the bound document can be automatically and accurately recognized. This makes it easier to manage the pages of the bound manuscript.

This embodiment is an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the page area designating means is provided for the left and right pages of a two-page spread original. The area in which the numbers are recorded can be specified independently, and the numbers in the specified area can be OCR-processed to recognize the page number, and the recognized page numbers can be sent together with the read image as additional data of the read image. As a result, it is easy to specify the page area of the bound manuscript, and it is possible to automatically recognize the page number of the bound manuscript automatically, it is easy to manage the pages of the bound manuscript, check for missing pages, sort after adding missing pages, Renumbering of page numbers can be easily realized.

[0077]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily specify a page area of a bound manuscript and automatically recognize the page number of the bound manuscript automatically. This makes it easier to manage the pages of the bound manuscript.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily specify the page area of the bound manuscript and automatically and accurately recognize the page number of the bound manuscript. Becomes easier.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily specify the page area of the bound manuscript and automatically and accurately recognize the page number of the bound manuscript. This makes it easy to check missing pages, sort after adding missing pages, and renumber page numbers.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing page number printing area designation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining page number printing area designation of a conventional device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the characteristics of a bookbinding original;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the characteristics of a bound original;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the image reading device of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a page turning section in the apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a state in which a scanning unit in the apparatus reads and scans an original.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the scanning unit in the scanning device is rotated in the reverse direction.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the scanning unit in the apparatus during page turning scanning.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another original reading scanning state of the scanning unit in the apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a page turning scanning state of the scanning unit in the apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing another page turning scanning state of the scanning unit in the apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view schematically showing the scanning unit.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a platen unit of the apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a book original mounting portion of the apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a platen pressing / fixing switching device and a platen retracting device in the above device.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the platen pressure fixing switching device and the platen retracting device.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a control pulley of the device.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a part of the platen pressure fixing switching device and the platen escape device.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing another part of the platen pressing / fixing switching device and the platen escape device.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the document table retracted state of the apparatus.

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a document table retracted state of the apparatus.

FIG. 24 is a timing chart showing a document table retracting operation of the apparatus.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing a state when the scanning unit starts and ends scanning.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view showing a state in which the scanning unit starts scanning a book document.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the scanning unit scans the center of a book original.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the scanning unit on a right page of a book.

FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the scanning unit is rotated in the reverse scanning direction.

FIG. 30 is a timing chart showing the operation of the scanning unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 BO bound document 1 Document table 101 Image reading plate 200 Reading unit 208 Turnover belt 214 Page sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus capable of reading an image of a bound book, comprising: a page area designating means for independently designating an area of a left page and a right page of a two-page spread book. apparatus. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the left page and the right page are designated based on the left end of the left page of the bound manuscript and the right page is determined based on the right end of the right page of the bound manuscript. An image reading device, characterized in that: 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said page area designating means is capable of independently designating an area in which the numbers of the left page and the right page of the double-page spread original are recorded, and An image reading apparatus characterized by recognizing a page number by performing OCR processing on the numeral of (1) and transmitting the recognized page number as additional data of the read image together with the read image.