JPS6113761A - Information reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read effectively information by erasing a part of the 1st information set between pieces of the 2nd information written on an original holding plate and indicated in a color different from the 1st information on an original. CONSTITUTION:When the 2nd information is written on an original holding plate in a different color from the 1st information on an original, an erasion circuit 40 supplies the color signals given from a color separator 30 and erases the color signals corresponding to the 1st information set between pieces of the 2nd information according to the color signals of the 2nd information based on the scanning direction of a scanner. The changeover switches 41A-41C interlock with each other. When these switches are connected to terminals O1, O3 and O5 respectively, both the 1st and 2nd information are read and delivered in a normal read mode. While the 1st information enclosed by the 2nd information is erased and the read output of the remaining 1st information is obtained in an erasion/read mode when the switches 41A-41C are connected to terminals O2, O4 and O6 respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an information reading device such as an input section of a facsimile, an input section of a digital copying machine, or a device for inputting image information into a computer memory.

[Technical Background of the Invention and Problems Therewith] When reading the image information of a document using a facsimile machine, a copying machine, or the like, there is often a demand for excluding part of the image information of the document.

In the past, in response to such requests, physical processing was applied to the manuscript, such as pasting a blank sheet of paper over the part to be deleted, masking it with white paint, or folding a part of the manuscript. The situation was dealt with by

However, this may damage or damage the original. I didn't like it because I had to do it.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to read and output the image information of a document excluding a part of the image information without modifying the document. An object of the present invention is to provide an information reading device.

[Summary of the Invention 1 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a transparent document holding plate that presses down a document facing an information writing surface, and a transparent document holding plate that presses down a document while facing an information writing surface, and A photoelectric conversion means for selectively photoelectrically converting the reflected light from the first information and the second information written on the document holding plate according to the wavelength of the light, and a photoelectric conversion signal from the photoelectric conversion means is inputted. Based on the photoelectric conversion signal of the second information along the scanning direction, the photoelectric conversion signal corresponding to the first information layered between the second information is erased to correspond to the remaining first information. The information reading device is configured with an erasing means that outputs a photoelectric conversion signal, and erases a part of the first information located between the second information indicated in a color different from the first information, and erases the first information. This is to obtain the readout of the information.

[Embodiment 1 of the Invention Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the scanner and cleaner, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a photoelectric conversion element array, FIG. 4 is a detailed configuration block diagram of the image information reading and erasing system in the same embodiment device, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram of a color filter included in a conversion element array.

The external configuration of this device is as shown in FIG. In the figure, the reference numeral 1 is a housing, on the upper surface of which is fixed a document mounting table 1 made of a sponge 1A and a white sheet 1B pasted thereon. In particular, since the sponge 1A is interposed, when a thick object such as a book is placed with its cover facing down, the irregularities on the bottom surface of the book can be absorbed so that the document surface becomes flat. Above the document mounting table 1,
A transparent document pressing plate 2 that faces the information writing surface of the document and presses the document is supported by a frame 3 and is connected to the arrow A1 through a hinge (not shown). It is provided so that it can be opened and closed in the A2 direction. The document holding plate 2 is a polyethylene terephthalate sheet having a thickness of about 0.5III11, for example, Lumira, a trade name manufactured by Toshi Co., Ltd. Note that when using a scanner with a high depth of focus, a glass plate or the like having a thickness of about 21 mm may be used. In addition, what is indicated by 4 in the figure is an imaging means (hereinafter simply referred to as 4) that optically images the information on the original on the original placing table 1 and/or the information written in an erasable manner on the original holding plate 2. ．Also called Yana). This scanner 4
is supported by the guide 5 and indicated by the arrow B1. It is designed to be able to move back and forth in the B2 direction. An operation panel 6 is provided on the front side of the housing 1, and the document holding plate 2 is provided at the end of the operation panel 6.
For convenience, three felt bezels 7A and 78.7C are arranged to allow erasable information to be written thereon.

7A is red, 7B is stomach, and 7C is black feltben.

A schematic configuration of the scanner 4 is shown in FIG.

It has become. That is, a light source that irradiates light onto the document holding plate 2, for example, two fluorescent lamps 10. Collecting reflected light 2
Selfoc lens 11, Selfoc lens 11
A photoelectric conversion unit 12 that receives and photoelectrically converts the light collected by the
, a processing section 13 that processes a photoelectric conversion signal photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion section 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the photoelectric conversion unit 12 has photoelectric conversion element rows 15 such as CCDs arranged in a staggered manner on a base 14 facing the SELFOC lenses 11. One line of information on P can be read seamlessly. In particular, if such a FILLS structure is used, relatively short CODs can be used in combination, which is economical.

The photoelectric conversion element array 15 moves the document holding plate 2 to the scanner 4.
photoelectric conversion means for selectively photoelectrically converting the reflected light from the first information on the document that is optically scanned by the scanner and the second information written on the document holding plate 2 according to the wavelength of the light; For example, each element is alternately masked with two types of color filters, red and blue. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a large number of photoelectric conversion elements 1 are arranged in parallel.
5A, red filters 15B and blue filters 15G are alternately arranged on the light receiving surface side.

The characteristics of the red filter 15B and the blue filter 15G are that, as shown in FIG. 5, when the relative value of the natural light characteristic line Ll is 100, the red filter 15B transmits light of a wavelength that follows the tendency of the characteristic line L2. The blue filter 15G has characteristics as a red absorption filter, and the blue filter 15G has characteristics as a blue absorption filter that transmits light having a wavelength that follows the tendency of the characteristic line L3. Accordingly, the blue filter 15C absorbs most of the reflected blue light according to this characteristic, so that almost no photoelectric conversion signal is output from the photoelectric conversion element 15A corresponding to the blue filter 15C for the reflected blue light. On the other hand, since the red filter 15B absorbs most of the red reflected light according to this characteristic, almost no photoelectric conversion signal is output from the photoelectric conversion element 15A corresponding to the red filter 15B for the red reflected light.

The detailed configuration of the processing section 13 is shown in FIG. This processing section 13 includes one red filter 1513.
and one blue filter 15C, one of which is shown in the figure. In the figure, the one indicated by 20A is the blue filter 15C.
The photoelectric conversion signal from the photoelectric conversion element 15A corresponding to A
/D changing A/D conversion means (hereinafter referred to as tube 1 (7>A/D
20B is an A/D conversion means (hereinafter referred to as A of cylinder 2) that converts the photoelectric conversion signal from the photoelectric conversion element 15A corresponding to the red filter 15B into A/D.
/D converter). A first comparator 21A is connected to the first A/D converter 2OA, and a second A/D converter 21A is connected to the first A/D converter 2OA.
A second comparator 21B is connected to the D converter 20B. Both comparators 21A and 21B receive setting signals from a red level setter and a blue level setter (not shown) and the first Δ/D.
It compares the digital signals from the converter 2OA and the second A/D converter 20B and outputs a digital signal at rHJ level within the range of the set signal. Note that the first comparator 21
The output signal from A is the blue absorption signal S88, and the output signal from the second comparator 21B is the red absorption signal SAR.

Then, the digital signals from both the comparators 21A and 21B are inputted, and at least three types of color-specific digital signals such as white signal S1. Red Shin @S2. Black signal S3. A color separation means 30 is provided which outputs a blue signal S4. For example, this color separation means 30 is an AN that inputs a blue absorption signal SAB and a red absorption signal SAR and outputs a white signal S1.
D gate 31, an inverter 32 that inputs the blue absorption signal S^8 and outputs an inverted signal, an inverter 33 that inputs the red absorption signal SAR and outputs an inverted signal, and outputs the blue absorption signal SA8 and the output signal from the inverter 33. AND gate 34 that inputs and outputs °C red signal S2, inverter 3
an AND gate 35 which inputs the output signal from 2 and the output signal from the inverter 33 and outputs the black signal S3; and an AND gate 35 which inputs the red absorption signal SAR and the output signal from the inverter 32 and outputs the blue signal S4. It consists of 36 pieces.

Further, when second information is written on the original holding plate 2 in a color different from the first information on the original, the color signal from the color separation means 30 is inputted and the color signal is inputted and the color signal is inputted in the direction of scanning by the scanner 4. erasing means for erasing the color signal corresponding to the first information located between the second information based on the color signal of the second information and outputting the color signal corresponding to the remaining first information; 40 are provided. For example, the erasing means 40 includes a switch 4 for switchingly connecting the red signal S2 to the terminal Os, 02.
1A, the black signal S3 is connected to terminal 03. A changeover switch 41B that connects the blue signal S4 to the terminal Os, a changeover switch 41G that connects the blue signal S4 to the terminal Os, a flip 70 tube 42 connected to the terminal 02, and inputs the output from this flip-flop 42 and the white signal S1. an OR gate 43 that outputs the white signal @S11, an inverter 44 that inverts the output from the flip 70 knob 42, and an AN that inputs the output from the inverter 44 and the black signal S3 from the terminal 04.
D gate 45, inputs the output from this AND gate 45 and black signal S3 from terminal 03, and outputs black signal S13.
An AND gate which inputs the output from the inverter 44 and the blue signal S4 from the terminal Os.
A gate 47, and the output from this AND gate 47 and the blue signal S4 from the terminal 05 are input, and the blue signal No. 11 S1 is input.
It consists of an OR gate 48 which outputs 4. The above three off switches 41A, 418.41G are interlocking switches, and the terminals 01. When connected to the Oa and Os sides, normal reading is performed to read and output the first information or the first and second information, and the terminals 02, Oa, 06
When connected to the side, erasure reading is performed to erase the first information surrounded by the second information and obtain a read output of the remaining first information.

・The color signal 811°8 outputted from the processing section 13
12, 813, and 814 are input to the printer 50,
This printer 50 is capable of forming an image based on the above color signals. As the printer 50, for example, a thermal transfer printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 57-24111 and Japanese Patent Application No. 57-25022, an inkjet printer, a wire dot printer, a laser printer, etc. can be used.

Further, a cleaning means (hereinafter simply referred to as a cleaner) 60 is provided integrally with the scanner 4 for contacting and cleaning the surface of the document holding plate 2 facing the scanner 4. For example, this cleaner 60 wipes the surface of the document presser plate 2 as shown in FIG. A belt-shaped non-woven fabric 61 impregnated with a cleaning liquid for washing, a supply roller 62 on which this non-woven fabric 61 has been wound in advance and is intermittently driven by a motor in a counterclockwise direction, and the non-woven fabric 61 fed out from the supply roller 62 is wound up. a collecting roller 63 that is motor-driven in a counterclockwise direction in synchronization with the supply roller 62;
A swinging lever 6 whose intermediate portion is pivotally supported by a frame (not shown)
4. A part of the nonwoven fabric 61 located between the supply roller 62 and the collection roller 63 is tightly wound around the periphery of the swing lever 6.
a guide roller 65 pivotally supported on one end of the swing lever 64; a biasing member 66 coupled to the other end of the swing lever 64 and applying a tensile force thereto; It is constituted by a plunger type solenoid 67 that rotationally displaces the swing lever 64 in a counterclockwise direction.

In addition, the above-mentioned swing lever 64, guide 0-ra 65, biasing member 6
6 and the plunger type solenoid 67 are examples of a contact/separation mechanism 68 that brings the nonwoven fabric 61 into contact with and away from the document holding plate 2, and is used in the forward path (direction of arrow B2 in FIGS. 1 and 2) during scanning movement of the scanner 4. Wiping cleaning is selectively performed by energizing the plunger-type solenoid 67 when the robot is moved to (for example, when the robot is moved to a new location).

Next, the operation of the above embodiment device will be explained for each main function.

<Reading information on a document> The operation of reading the first information written on a document will also be explained. First, the original P is placed on the mounting table 1 with the first information writing side facing upward, and the original holding plate 2 is pressed against the original P.

Next, by operating an instruction switch (not shown) provided on the operation panel 6 that instructs to read the information on the document, the scanner 4 moves in the upper direction of the document holding plate 2 in the direction of arrow B.
1, the first information of the document P is read, and the cleaner 60 is activated.

To explain the operation of the cleaner 60 in detail, first, the plunger type solenoid 67 is energized and the swing lever 64 is energized.
is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. Then, the nonwoven fabric 61 is pressed onto the original pressing plate 2 via the guide roller 65. In this state, the scanner 4 moves toward the second illustrated arrow B1.
When the paper is moved in this direction, dust on the document holding plate 2 and characters written thereon with the felt pens 7A, 7B, and 7C are wiped off and cleaned. In particular, since the cleaner 60 is disposed in front of the SELFOC lens 11 in the direction of arrow B1, it can be gradually wiped and cleaned before reading the first information, removing dust and the document holding plate. It is possible to reliably prevent unnecessary characters left on the paper from being read at the same time. After reading the first information, the scanner 4 returns, that is, the second information is read.
When moving in the direction of arrow B2 in the figure, the plunger type solenoid 67 is demagnetized, and the nonwoven fabric 6.1
will be separated from. Then, the nonwoven fabric 61 is slightly sent from the supply roller 62 to the recovery roller 63 side for cleaning during the next information reading.

Next, the reading operation of the first information will be described in detail.

The first information read by this apparatus, including the color of the background of the document P, is expressed by the contrast of at least two colors: white, red, black, and blue. First, when the scanner 4 is gradually moved in the direction of the second arrow B1 shown in the figure, the document P is exposed to light by the fluorescent lamp 10, and the reflected light is reflected from the [Rufoc lens 11].
The light is received by the photoelectric conversion element array 15 via the photoelectric conversion element array 15, and the information of one line on the φ original, which intersects with the movement direction, is seamlessly read.

The light received by the photoelectric conversion element array 15 is transmitted through the red filter 1
5B and a set of photoelectric conversion elements 15A corresponding to the blue filter 15G are processed in the processing unit 13 as one unit. For example, processing in one processing section 13 shown in FIG. 4 will be explained. Photoelectric conversion element 15A via blue filter 15C
The light received is light that has absorbed blue light in accordance with the characteristic line L3 in FIG. This light is photoelectrically converted and sent to the first A/D.
The signal is A/D converted by the transducer 20Ar, and then output as a blue absorption signal SAB via the comparator 21A. The light received by the photoelectric conversion element 15A via the red filter 15B becomes light that has absorbed red color according to the characteristic 1iLz shown in FIG. This light is photoelectrically converted, A/D converted by the second A/D converter 2OB, and then converted into a red absorption signal SAR via the comparator 21B.

When the blue absorption signal SAD is at the "H" level, the light corresponding to that signal is a natural light system reflected by red or white, and when it is at the "L" level, it is a blue system or a non-reflective system through black. be. When the red absorption signal SAR is at the rHJ level, the light corresponding to the signal is a natural light system reflected in blue or white, and when it is at the "L" level, there is also a non-reflection system through red or black. Therefore, when the red absorption signal SAR at the rHJ level and the blue absorption signal @S80 at the It-IJ level are output, the AND gate 31 outputs the white signal S1 at the HJ level, and the blue absorption signal at the H level is output. When the signal S^8 and the red absorption signal SAR at the rLJ level are output, the AND gate 34 outputs the red signal S2 at the rHJ level. Further, when the rLJ level blue absorption signal ＄^B and the fLJ level red absorption signal SAR are output, the AND gate 35 outputs the rHJ level black signal S3, and the rLJ level blue absorption signal SAB and the rHJ level red absorption signal are output. When the absorption signal S8R is output, the AND gate 36 outputs the blue signal S4 at the rHJ level. In this way, the color separation means 30 converts the charge conversion signal from the pair of photoelectric conversion elements 15A masked by the two types of blue and red color filters 15B and 15G into white and red.

It can be selectively separated into four colors, black and blue, and taken out.

The signals St , 82 , Sa, and Sa are input to the erasing means 40 . At this time, the changeover switch 41A
, 41B, 410 are terminals 01, 03 as shown in FIG.
．． Since it is connected to the Os side, the input white signal S
1. Red traffic light 32. Black signal S3. The level of the blue signal S4 at the time of input is maintained as it is, and the white signal S11. Red signal S12. A black signal S1s and a white signal 14 are output to the printer 50. As a result, the printer 50 outputs color signals @S++, S鵞2, 5 from each processing section 13.
13, 314, information corresponding to the first information is printed on the recording medium.

<Addition of information to information on manuscript> The operation of adding other information to the first information written on the manuscript P and reading it will be described. First, the original P is placed on the mounting table 1 with the first information writing side facing upward, and the original holding plate 2 is pressed against the original P.

Then, the second information to be added to the first information is written on the document holding plate 2 using the felt bevel 7A, 7B, and 7G. Then, by operating an instruction switch (not shown) that instructs to read the second information including the added second information, the scanner 4 reads the second information Bt shown in the figure.
The first and second information are read by being moved back and forth in the B2 direction. The processing of the read information is similar to the operation described above, and the printer 50 uses the color signal/signal So output from the processing section 13.

Based on 812, 81s, and 814, information corresponding to the first information and the second information is printed on the recording medium. At this time, in order to prevent the second information from being wiped off before scanning by the scanner 4, the printer 50 finishes scanning the bale for the last recording medium of the required number of copies when the scanner 4 moves backward. Only then is a cleaning operation similar to that described above performed. Therefore Hara! IP
The second information can be read along with the first information without physically processing the document itself, such as writing additional information on the original.

<Deletion of Part of Information on Original Document> The operation of reading and outputting only part of the first information written on the original P will be described. First, the original IP is placed on the mounting table 1 with the first information writing side facing upward, and the original IP is pressed down with the document holding plate 2.

Next, use the red felt-tip pen 7A to draw an area on the original presser plate 2 so as to surround the part of the first information written in a color other than red that is desired to be deleted. The line indicating the range drawn in red in this way becomes second information in this operation. Note that the red "Iil" constituting this second information does not need to be a closed loop, and it is sufficient that it is arranged so as to sandwich unnecessary first information at least in the scanning movement direction of the scanner 4. By operating an instruction switch (not shown) that instructs to read only part of the first information, the scanner 4 moves above the document holding plate 2 along the second illustrated arrow B.
The first information and the second information are read while moving in one direction. During the information reading operation, the operation from the color separation means 30 to the meeting of the color signals S1.82, Sa, and Sa is the same as that described in the above-mentioned [Reading information from original j].

In this operation, each color signal S+, 82.

The erasing means 40 to which Sa and S'a are input has changeover switches 41A, 41B, and 41C connected to terminals 02, 04, and Os.
connected to the side. First, the flip 70 knob 42 outputs an "L" level signal in the initial state. Therefore, r)-IJ level black signal S3 or rH
When the blue signal S4 at the J level is input, the black signal S13. The blue signal S14 is output and the first information is read. Next, when the rHJ level red signal S2 resulting from the second information is input, the 7 lip-flop 42 is inverted and outputs an rLJ level signal. Then, one input to the AND gates 45 and 47 will be at the rLl level, so after that! ' Even if the HJ level black signal S3 or the "H" level blue signal S4 is input, only the IJ level signal is output from the AND gates 45 and 47. Therefore, at this time, the black signal S+s at the rLJ level, the blue signal S14 at the rLJ level.
Only this information is input to the printer 5, and this portion of the first information is erased. In addition, the second information red light, signal S
2 is output to the OR gate 43 via the flip 7O knob 42, so this part is processed as white, that is, the color of the original document.Next, rH
When the J level red signal S2 is input again, flip 7
The 0 knob 42 is inverted and outputs an "H" level signal.

Then one input to AND gate 45.47 is r
Since the signal is at HJ level, when the black signal S3 at rHJ level or the blue signal S4 at rHJ level is inputted,
An rHJ level signal is output from the A-ND gates 45 and 47. As a result, the rHJ level black signal S3. r
A black signal S13 of the same level corresponding to the blue signal S4 of HJ level. A blue signal S +a is input to the printer 50 . Therefore, by the above operation, the first information surrounded by the second information is erased, and the remaining information corresponding to the first information is printed on the recording medium by the printer 50.

The above erasing operation will now be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the first information Xi, X2 is displayed in black on a white background.

Use the manuscript P in which ×3 is written, and the second information Y is the first
It is assumed that the information x2 is written in red on the document holding plate 2 surrounding the information x2. In this state, for example, when the pattern shown in the lower part of FIG. 7 is scanned, the black signal S13 for the character "Sent", which is a part of the first information x2 sandwiched by the second information Y, is scanned. is considered to be the rLJ level,
As a whole, as shown at the bottom of Figure 6, the first information ×
2 and the information corresponding to the second information Y are deleted, and the remaining first information X1. Information Z corresponding to X3 is on the recording medium P-
It will be printed on top. Therefore, the unnecessary first
It is possible to suppress unnecessary information from being read and output without physically processing the document itself, such as masking or erasing information.

It should be noted that the above embodiment is merely an example, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the photoelectric conversion means is not limited to a CCD array, but can be replaced with various photoelectric conversion element arrays. Further, the second information specifying the erasing area by the erasing means 40 is not limited to red, but may be any color as long as it is different from the first information. Further, although the device of this embodiment has been described as being connected to the printer 50, it can also be used by being connected to a facsimile, a copying machine, a computer memory, etc.

[Effects of the Invention J As detailed above, the information reading device of the present invention has advantages such as being able to read and output image information of a document excluding a part of the image information without modifying the document. It has the following effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the scanner and cleaner, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a photoelectric conversion element array, FIG. 4 is a detailed configuration block diagram of the image information reading and erasing system in the same embodiment device, and FIG. Characteristic diagrams of the color filters included in the conversion element array, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the apparatus of the embodiment. 2... Original holding plate, 15... Photoelectric conversion means, 40... Erasing means, P... Original document, XI, X2, Xa...・First information, condolence
5 Funeral diagram 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] A transparent document presser plate that presses the document facing the information writing surface, first information on the document obtained by optically scanning the document presser plate, and second information written on the document presser plate. a photoelectric conversion means that selectively photoelectrically converts reflected light from and erasing means for erasing a photoelectric conversion signal corresponding to the first information located between the second information and outputting a photoelectric conversion signal corresponding to the remaining first information, the first information An information reading device that obtains a read output of the first information by erasing a portion of the first information located between the second information indicated in a different color.