JPS6225556A - Picture reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read an original by both manual and automatic operations by providing a line image sensor reading a picture and an upper roller in contact with the original in the 1st case and providing a lower roller and a drive motor in the 2nd case. CONSTITUTION:A picture read section 1 has the 1st case 11 and the line image sensor 12 and the upper rollers 16a, 16b are supported in the case 11. A transmission section 2 has the 2nd case 21 and the lower rollers 23a, 23b opposing to the upper rollers 16a, 16b and a motor 24 as a drive source for automatic feeding of the original are arranged in the case 21. As a result, in removing the 1st case 11 from the 2nd case 21, a picture reading by the manual sub-scanning is attained and in mounting the case 11 onto the case 21, the reading by the automatic sub-scanning is attained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image reading device that reads an image on a document;
In particular, the present invention relates to an image reading device that can perform sub-scanning both manually and automatically.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

A device that reads an image on a document by manually moving it over the document in order to transmit the image on the document by facsimile or input it into an image processing device is known as a handy scanner, hand scanner, etc. ing. This uses a line image sensor configured by arranging a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements in one direction, and the scanning of reading the image on the original in the arrangement direction, that is, the main scanning, is replaced by the movement of the image sensor relative to the original, that is, the sub-scanning. The image on the document is read by periodically repeating scanning. An image on a document is formed on an image sensor by an optical lens such as a Rondo lens. Unlike facsimile machines etc. that are currently in practical use, such image tag reading devices can easily read images on documents other than sheet-like documents, such as books, and can also read images on documents other than sheet documents, such as books. It is also possible to selectively read only a desired area, and furthermore, it can be configured compactly, making it easy to carry.

By the way, such image reading devices can also read images from sheet-like originals, but the original moves when manually moved over the sheet-like original, so it is necessary to hold the edges of the original by hand. There are also disadvantages such as the tendency for the original to wrinkle.

Therefore, it is desirable to automatically transport and read sheet-like originals like a facsimile machine.

C. Object of the Invention The present invention was made to solve such conventional problems, and provides an image reading device that can easily read images on a document by manual 81 scanning or automatic sub-scanning. The purpose is to

(Summary of the Invention) In order to achieve this object, the present invention includes a first case and a second case in which the first case is removably placed, and the first case is placed inside the first case. A line image sensor that reads an image on a document that moves relatively at the bottom of the first case and outputs an image signal, and an upper roller that comes into contact with the document when reading the image on the document are provided, a lower roller facing the upper roller with the first case placed on the second case, and a motor for driving the upper roller and the lower roller; The image on the document is read while the document inserted between the upper roller and the lower roller is transferred with the first case placed thereon, and the first case is placed on top of the second case. The present invention is characterized in that the end of the second case on the document insertion side protrudes from the first case in this state.

C) Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, if the first case is used after being removed from the second case, image reading by manual sub-scanning is possible, and the first case is removed from the second case. The image of the sheet-like original can be read by automatic sub-scanning while it is placed.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the document insertion side end of the second case particularly protrudes from the first case, the sheet document can be moved between the upper roller and the lower roller using the protrusion of the second case as a guide surface. This has the advantage that it can be inserted between the originals and the original can be inserted easily during automatic sub-scanning.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in which the image reading section and the transmitting section are separable,
An embodiment applied to a facsimile machine that can perform sub-scanning both manually and automatically will be described. In FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), the image reading section 1 and the transmitting section 2 are separated,
2A and 2B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view illustrating a case in which the image reading unit 1 is manually moved over a document A (book) and reading is performed by sub-scanning, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are image reading FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a sectional view illustrating a case where a unit 1 and a transmitting unit 2 are placed one on top of the other, and a sheet-like original B is automatically transferred between the two and read by automatic sub-scanning.

As shown in the figure, an image reading section 1 is provided with an operation section 3 such as a power button and a reading button, and a display section 4. The image reading section 1 and the transmitting section 2 are coupled by a multicore cord 5, and the image signal obtained by reading the image in the image reading section 1 is modulated in the transmitting section 2 and then supplied to the acoustic coupler 6. . The acoustic coupler 6 is set in a telephone (not shown) and converts the modulated image signal from the transmitter 2 into an acoustic signal. As a result, the image signal is transmitted to the other party's facsimile machine via the telephone line.

The image reading unit 1 has a first case 11 with an open bottom, and a line image sensor 1 is installed above the case 11.
2 is attached to the image sensor, and a rod lens 13 called a SELFOC lens (trade name) is arranged in front of (below) the image sensor 12. Line image sensor 1
2 is constructed by arranging photoelectric conversion elements made of COD or amorphous silicon in a line, and is called a contact image sensor with a length equal to the width of a standard size document such as A4. It is. The rod lens 13 forms a so-called equal-magnification imaging system that forms an image on the document on the image sensor 12 in a one-to-one size. Further, it is located near the light emitting end of the rod lens 13 in the first case 11, and the image sensor 1
A light source (for example, a fluorescent lamp) 14 for illuminating the document surface parallel to the arrangement direction of the photoelectric conversion elements in 2.
is provided.

And line image sensor 12. rod lens 13
and shafts 15a and 15b provided parallel to the light source 14 and at a predetermined distance from each other so as to slightly protrude from the opening of the case 11, in other words, to protrude slightly from the rod lens 13 toward the document side. , preferably substantially rigid upper rollers 16a, 16b, for example made of hard plastic or lightweight metal, are supported. Upper roller 16a
, 16b are connected by a rotation transmission mechanism 17a such as a belt. In addition, a shaft 15 is provided above inside the first case 11.
On another shaft 15G provided parallel to a and 15b,
For detecting the relative movement speed of the image sensor 12 with respect to the original.

A rotary encoder 18 is attached. This rotary encoder 18 is connected to a roller 16b via a rotation transmission mechanism 17b such as a belt. Also, roller 1
Between 6a and 16b, the position of the document is regulated so that the document surface is not located above the depth of focus of the rod lens 13, that is, the document surface is not deviated from within the depth of focus of the lens 13 in the direction of the lens 13. A document guide 20 is provided for this purpose. This document guide 20 is preferably made of a light-transmitting material such as an acrylic plate, and has a long hole-shaped light-transmitting window 19 formed at a position facing the lower part of the lens 13.

On the other hand, in the transmitter 2, as shown in FIG. 2(b),
Separate from the first case 11 in the image reading section 1,
It has a second case 21 with an open upper side. Inside this second case 21, there is a shaft 15a in the second case 11.
, 15b are provided, and rollers 23a, 23b are supported by these shafts 22a, 22b. In addition, in this example, the lower roller 23a,
There are a plurality of each 23b, and the shafts 22a, 2 are connected at predetermined intervals.
It is attached to 2b. Further, a motor 24 as a drive source for automatic document feeding is arranged inside the second case 21. The rotation of this motor 24 is caused by the gear 25a
~25d. Note that the gear 25d provided coaxially with the roller 23a also meshes with the gear 25e provided coaxially with the roller 16a in the image reading section 1 in the state shown in FIG. moreover,
A document guide 26 is provided in the opening of the second case 21 to prevent the surface of the document B from being located below the depth of focus of the rod lens 13. Note that it is desirable that one end of the document guide 26 on the side in which the document B is inserted is bent downward as shown in the figure or formed into a taper so as not to obstruct the insertion of the document B.

Here, the second case 21 protrudes from the case 11 of the end tube 1 on the document insertion side when reading is performed by automatic sub-scanning. This protrusion 21a serves as a guide surface when a document is inserted between the rollers 16a and 23a during automatic sub-scanning.

In the above configuration, when reading an image on a document A such as a book by manual sub-scanning, the image reading section 1 is separated from the transmitting section 2 as shown in FIG. Manually move the page you want to read in the direction of the arrow. As a result, the image of that page is read by the line image sensor 12 via the rod lens 13, and the image sensor 12 outputs an image signal. This image signal is sent to the transmitter 2 via the code 5, modulated, and then sent to the telephone line via the acoustic coupler 6.

Rotary encoder 18 provided in the image reading section 1
generates one pulse signal every time the roller 16b rotates by a certain amount. That is, the rotary encoder 18 detects the relative movement speed of the image sensor 2 with respect to the document A via the roller 16b and the rotation transmission mechanism 17b, and generates a pulse signal with a frequency corresponding to the detected speed, thereby causing the image sensor 12 to Controls the start timing of main scanning.

Next, when reading the image on the sheet-like document B by automatic sub-scanning, as shown in FIG.
The case 11 is stacked on the second case 21 of the transmitter 2 with the opening facing down.

In this state, the upper roller 16a on the image reading section 1 side.

16b, and a lower roller 23a on the transmitter 2 side.

23b, the document B is inserted from above the protrusion 21a of the second case 21, and the motor 24 is energized and driven by pressing the read button. The rotation of the motor 24 is caused by the gear 2
5a to 25e to the roller 16a, and further from the roller 16a to the roller 1 via the rotation transmission mechanism 17a.
The rotation is also transmitted to 6b. As a result, the original B is conveyed in the direction of the arrow while being sandwiched between the rollers 16a, 16b and the rollers 23a, 23b, and the image is thereafter read in the same manner as described above.

In this case, if the ends of the first case 11 and the second case 21 on the side where the document B is inserted are flush, there is a problem that it is difficult to insert the document B. However, according to the present invention, the second case 21 Case 2
Since the protrusion 21a is formed at the insertion side end of the first original B, the original MB can be inserted along this protrusion 21a, making the insertion operation extremely easy. Furthermore, since the second case 21 itself is formed with the protrusion 21a that serves as a guide surface, it has the advantage of being easier to handle than a system in which a dedicated guide member is removably provided.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
For example, in the embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to an image reading device for inputting a read image to an image processing device using a computer or the like. In that case, the transmitter 2 does not need to have a function of transmitting to a telephone line or the like, and may just have a function as a mere interface, for example.

In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing a case where an image is read by manual sub-scanning of a facsimile machine using an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIGS. 2A and 2B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view illustrating a mode in which the facsimile apparatus automatically reads images. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Image reading part, 2... Transmission part, 3... Operation part, 4... Display part, 5... Multicore cord, 6... Acoustic coupler, 11... First case, 12... line image sensor, 13... rod lens, 14...
- Light source, 16a. 16b... Upper roller, 17a, 17b... Rotation transmission mechanism, 18... Rotary encoder, 19... Light transmission window, 20... Original guide, 21... Second case, 21a. ...Protrusion, 23a, 23b...lower roller, 24...motor, 25a-25e...gear,
26...Manuscript guide. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue (a) (b) Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] a first case, a line image sensor fixed in the first case and configured to read an image on a document that moves relatively under the first case and output an image signal; an upper roller provided within a case and which comes into contact with the original when reading an image on the original; a second case on which the first case is removably placed; and an upper roller provided within the second case, a lower roller that faces the upper roller when the first case is placed on the second case; a motor that is provided in the second case and drives the upper roller and the lower roller; reading an image on the document while transporting the document inserted between the upper roller and the lower roller with the first case placed on the second case; An image reading device characterized in that, when the first case is placed on the second case, an end of the second case on the document insertion side protrudes from the first case.