JPS62262566A - Information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it unnecessary to remove a document platen at the time of adjustment and to adjust a signal processing circuit in any position while the document is read by adjusting and operating said circuit in a direction in parallel with the direction of moving a carriage. CONSTITUTION:When the cover 12 of a main body 21 is removed first, the opening part 54 of the carriage 52 exposes through the opening part 43 of a frame 41. At that time the document platen 22 remains fitted on the frame 41. However variable resistances 56-59 provided on a printed circuit board 55 in the carriage 52 can be adjusted and operated through the opening part 54 from the front of the main body 21. Accordingly, with the document set, said resistances can be adjusted in any position. The carriage 52 stops in its initial position and the variable resistances are adjusted and operated by reading a reference document, whereby the luminous energy of a fluorescent lamp can be adjusted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an information reading device used in an image forming apparatus such as a thermal transfer color copying machine.

(Prior Art) Recently, a thermal transfer type color copying machine that performs color copying using, for example, thermal transfer ink ribbons of a plurality of colors has been considered. This color copying machine generally consists of an information reading device (scanner section) that reads a document, and an image forming section that transfers and forms image information read by the information reading device onto a sheet of paper. That is, the information reading device optically scans a document set on a document table to read image information of the document as a light color signal, and sends the read image information to an image forming section. The image forming section receives the image information sent from the information reading device, converts the image information into color information corresponding to each ink of the thermal transfer ink ribbon, and adjusts the correspondence of the thermal transfer ink ribbon according to each color information. By selecting an ink portion to be printed and thermally transferring the ink of the selected ink portion onto the printing plate using a thermal head, color copying is performed by sequentially transferring each color onto paper.

Conventionally, an information reading device used in such a color copying machine is constructed as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

That is, a document table (transparent glass) 2 on which a document is placed and set is provided on the upper surface of the reading device main body 1, and a document table 2 is provided on the lower surface side of the document table 2 and is moved back and forth in parallel in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. Accordingly, a scanner 3 is provided which optically scans the document on the document table 2. Scanner 3 is the seventh
As shown in detail in the figure, there is a pair of fluorescent lamps 4 that irradiate light onto the document on the document table 2, and a pair of self It is composed of a lens 5 and a CCD type image sensor unit 6 that receives the light guided by the SELFOC lens 5 and converts it into an electric signal, and these are connected to a carriage 7.
are supported by each. A PC board storage box 8 is attached to the side of the carriage 7 on the rear side of the main body 1. Inside the PC board storage box 8, there is an amplifier circuit that amplifies the output signal of the image sensor unit 1-0, and the 1!
Convert the output signal of the width circuit into digital (A, -
' A printed circuit M temporary 9 incorporating a signal processing circuit such as a D conversion circuit is housed in a vertical position. At a predetermined location on the printed circuit board 9, signal processing circuit adjustment (amplifier circuit offset adjustment, gain: J3 adjustment, A, /"D
A plurality of variable resistors 10 (only one is shown in the drawing) are provided for adjusting the reference voltage of the 5ffi conversion circuit, etc.

The carriage 7 has one end slidably inserted into a guide shaft 12 disposed in the front-rear direction of the main body 1, and a wheel (not shown) rotatably supported at the other end. , the wheels run on guide rails (not shown) arranged parallel to the guide shaft 12.

A driving pulley 13 is disposed at one end of the guide shaft 12, and a driven pulley 14 is disposed at the other end, and a timing belt 15 is passed between these pulleys 13 and 14. One point of I to 15 is fixed to the carriage 7. The drive pulley 13 is driven by a pulse motor 16 that is disposed at the rear of the main body 1 and is capable of forward and reverse rotation.As the pulse motor 16 rotates forward or backward, the carriage 7 (scanner 3 ) is adapted to reciprocate along the lower surface of the document table 2 in parallel in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

In such an information reading device, for example, when adjusting the signal processing circuit incorporated in the printed circuit board 9, it has been common to perform the adjustment from the document table 2 side. That is, first remove the document table 2 from the main body 1, and then remove the cover 8a of the PC board storage box 8 attached to the carriage 7.
By removing the , the variable resistor 10 and the like provided on the printed circuit single board 9 can be adjusted from above.

However, this adjustment method has the disadvantage that it is necessary to remove the document table in order to perform the adjustment from the document table side, and therefore it is not possible to make adjustments while reading the document.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, when adjusting the signal processing circuit, it is necessary to remove the document table, and for this reason, it is not possible to perform 11 alignment while reading the document.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks. When adjusting the signal processing circuit, there is no need to remove the document table, and adjustments can be made while reading the document at any position, speeding up the adjustment. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an information reading device that can improve accuracy.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means and Effects for Solving the Problems) The information reading device of the present invention does not adjust the signal processing circuit from the document table side, but adjusts the signal processing circuit in a direction parallel to the moving direction of the carriage. It is configured to allow adjustment operations. This results in
The signal processing circuit can be adjusted while reading a document at any position without removing the document table.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 shows the appearance of the M20 manufactured by Information Reading Corporation according to the present invention,
FIG. 5 shows the information reading device 20 set in a thermal transfer color copying machine.

21 is a main body of the information reading device 20, and a part of this main body 21 includes a document table (transparent glass) 22 on which a document is placed and set.
A document cover 23 is provided on the document table 22 so as to be openable and closable. In the information reading device 20, a scanner 45, which will be described in detail later, reciprocates in parallel along the lower surface of the document table 22, thereby optically scanning a document set on the document table 22 and obtaining an image of the document. Information is read as a color signal of light. An operation panel 24 is provided at the front of the main body 21, and the operation panel 24 includes a copy key 25 for starting a copying operation, a numeric keypad 26 for setting the number of copies, etc., and a number display 27 for displaying the number of copies, etc.
and a status display section 28 for displaying various statuses.

The image information output from the information reading device 20 is sent to the image forming section 3 which is detachably provided on the upper right side of the copying machine main body 29.
The image forming unit 30 converts the image information from the information reading device 20 into color information corresponding to each ink of the thermal transfer ink ribbon, and changes the color of the thermal transfer ink ribbon according to each color information. By thermally transferring the ink in the ink portion onto the paper using a thermal head, color copying is performed by sequentially transferring one color onto the paper. An operation panel 31 is provided at the front of the peak forming portion 30. In addition, a manual paper feed tray 32 for manually feeding paper is provided on the front of the image forming unit 30 and can be opened and closed, and a paper discharge tray 32 is provided at the rear of the top surface for discharging the paper after transfer. A tray 33 is provided. Furthermore, a paper feed cassette 34 that stores a large number of sheets of paper is detachably provided in the copying machine main body 29 located below the image forming section 30.

1 to 3 show the configuration of the information reading device 20 in detail. That is, as shown in detail in FIG. 1, the main body 21 consists of a frame 41 made of a gold layer and a decorative cover 42 made of plastic that is removably provided on the outside of the frame 41. A stand 22 is attached. Openings 43 are formed in each of the front and rear, left and right sides of the frame 41. A reference document (for example, a white reference plate whose surface is painted white) 44 is provided at the front end of the main body 21 on the document table 22 . The reference original 44 is used to perform a light m adjustment of a light source, which will be described later, or a shading correction as a variation correction of a light source and an image sensor, which will be described later.

On the lower surface side of the document table 22, there is a scanner 4 that optically scans the document on the document table 22 by reciprocating parallel to the direction of the arrow shown in the figure (the front-rear direction of the main body 21) along the lower surface.
5 is provided. As shown in detail in FIG. 1, the scanner 45 includes a fluorescent lamp 46 as a light source that irradiates light onto the document on the document table 22, and a stray light prevention plate 47 provided around the fluorescent lamp 46. , a SELFOC lens 48 that is vertically provided near the fluorescent lamp 46 and guides the reflected light from the document downward to the document table 22, and a photoelectric converter that receives the light guided by the SELFOC lens 48 and converts it into an electrical signal. A CCDCD type optical dimensional image sensor 49 as a sensor board 50 to which this image sensor 49 is attached, and a sensor board 50 disposed near this sensor board 50 (adjacent to the left in FIG. 1) for driving the image sensor 49. Printed circuit board for the driver that incorporates the drive circuit, drive power line, and signal output line (hereinafter simply referred to as the driver board)
51, each of which is supported by a carriage 52 via a support member. In this case, the sensor board 50 and the driver board 51 are arranged horizontally, and the image sensor mounting surface of the sensor board 50 and the component mounting surface of the driver board 51 face opposite to each other. The sensor board 50 and the driver board 51 are electrically connected by soldering through a conductive pin 53.

The carriage 52 is hollow and has a til! side surface corresponding to the front side of the main body 21. An opening 54 for operation is formed. A printed circuit board 55 for signal processing is horizontally housed at the bottom of the hollow portion of the carriage 52 .

The signal processing printed circuit board 55 incorporates an amplifier circuit that amplifies the output signal of the image sensor 49, an A/D conversion circuit that converts the output signal of the amplifier circuit into a digital signal, and the like. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, in the vicinity of the opening 54 on the printed circuit board 55 for signal processing, there is a variable resistor 56 as an adjusting means.
．． 57, 58.degree. 59 and a plurality of test bins 60 are provided so that adjustment of the variable resistors 56 to 5 and circuit checks using the test bins 60 can be performed through the opening 54. Here,
The variable resistor 56 is used to adjust the offset of the amplifier circuit built into the printed circuit board 55.

The variable resistor 57 is used to adjust the gain of the amplifier circuit built into the printed circuit board 55. The variable resistor 58 is an A/D built in the printed circuit board 55.
This is for adjusting the reference voltage for A/D conversion of the conversion circuit. The variable resistor 59 is used to adjust the reference voltage of the light amount detection circuit incorporated in the printed circuit board 63 mentioned above. - The test bin 60 is for checking the operation of each circuit installed on the circuit board 55 of the printer 1.

A fluorescent lamp 46 is installed on the rear side of the main body 21 on the carriage 52.
A power supply unit 61 is provided to control lighting. As shown in detail in FIG. 1, the power supply unit 61 includes a storage box 62 formed integrally with the carriage 52, and a printed circuit board 63 for light amount detection and inverter stored horizontally within the storage box 62. It is composed of. The printed circuit board 63 for the light amount detection/inverter includes a light receiving element 64 for detecting the amount of light, a light amount detection circuit that detects the amount of light based on the output signal of the light receiving element 64, and a light amount detection circuit that detects the amount of light according to the output signal of the light detection circuit. operation, direct am power (e.g. DC24V) to alternating current power (e.g. A075V)
), it has a built-in inverter circuit etc. Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 1, near the fluorescent lamp 46, a light receiving section 66 formed on one end surface of the glass fiber 65
The other end surface of the glass fiber 65 is guided into the interior of the storage box 62 through the side wall thereof, and is brought into close contact with the light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element 64 on the printed circuit board 63. Thereby, the light from the fluorescent lamp 46 is detected by the light receiving section 66, transmitted through the glass fiber 65, guided to the light receiving element 64, and converted into an electrical signal.

Signals output from the printed circuit board 55 for signal processing are once transferred to a CPU board 68 provided at the bottom of the main body 21 via a flat cable 67, and then transferred to the image forming section 30. ing. In addition, the printed circuit board 6 for light amount detection and inverter of the power supply unit 61
3, direct force (DC
24V) is supplied. In addition, CPI
The J board 68 includes a drive circuit for the pulse motor 75, a line memory, a quimming circuit and a high-speed clock circuit that control the reading of No. 43, a CPU (central processing unit) that performs overall control, and its peripheral circuits, etc. Built-in.

The carriage 52 has one end slidably attached to a guide shaft 70 disposed in the front-rear direction of the main body 21 via a slider 69. A wheel 71 is rotatably supported at the other end, and this wheel 71 is connected to the guide wheel 70.
The vehicle runs on a guide rail 72 arranged parallel to the vehicle. A drive pulley (not shown) is attached to one end of the guide shaft 70 (the rear side of the main body 21), and a drive pulley (not shown) is attached to the other end (the rear side of the main body 21).
Driven pulleys 73 are arranged on the front side of the drive pulleys 73, and a timing bell i 74 is installed between these drive pulleys and the driven pulleys 73, and one point of this timing belt 74 is It is fixed to the carriage 52 via a fixing member (not shown). The drive booby is driven by a pulse motor 7 which is disposed at the rear of the main body 21 and is capable of forward and reverse rotation.
The carriage 5 is driven by the pulse motor 75 which rotates forward or backward.
2 (scanner 45) is moved back 11 times parallel to the lower surface of the document table 22 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure (the front-rear direction of the main body 21), and reads the document on the document table 22.

A cooling fan 76 is provided near the pulse motor 75 at the rear inside the main body 21, and cools the inside of the main body 21 by a suction method. In this case, the wind flows from the front side to the rear side to cool the inside of the main body 21. Note that the cooling fan 76 is driven by a DC brushless motor 77.

Adjustment of the signal processing circuit, etc. in such a configuration will be explained. First, by removing the cover 42 of the main body 21, the carriage 5 is inserted through the opening 43 of the frame 41.
2 openings 54 are exposed. At this time, the document table 22 remains attached to the frame 41. The carriage 52 is then passed through the opening 54 from the front side of the main body 21.
The variable resistor 5 provided on the printed circuit board 55 in
6 to 59 adjustment operations can be performed.

At this time, the adjustment can be made while the original is still set on the original platen 22, and therefore the adjustment can be made while reading the original at any position. Further, the carriage 52 (scanner 45) is stopped at the initial position shown in FIG. 1 (position corresponding to the reference original 44), and the base t
1! By adjusting the variable resistor 59 while reading the original 44, the light amount of the fluorescent lamp 46 can be adjusted.

Furthermore, adjustments such as shading correction can be made in this state.

1. In the above-mentioned example, the adjustment operation is performed from the front side of the main body 21. Adjustment operations can also be performed from the rear side of the main body 21 by changing the arrangement and changing the installation position of the cooling fan 76.

Further, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the application is applied to an information reading device for reading image information of a document in a thermal transfer type color copying machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an electrophotographic laser printer. The present invention can also be applied to an information reading device for reading image information in a computer, etc., or an information reading device for reading information in other devices.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, when adjusting the signal processing circuit, there is no need to remove the document table, and the adjustment can be made while reading the document at any position. It is possible to provide an information reading device that can speed up and improve accuracy.

4. It's the drawing! 1t11 Explanation FIGS. 1 to 5 show one embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal side view showing the main parts in detail, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the adjustment means provided on the printed circuit board, Figure 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the internal structure, and Figure 4 is the external appearance. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the state set in a thermal transfer type color copying source, FIGS. 6 and 7 show a conventional information reading device, and FIG. 6 schematically shows the internal configuration. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a portion of the scanner in detail, and FIG.

20...Information reading device, 22...Document stand, 44...Reference original, 45...Scanner, 46...Fluorescent lamp (Hikari illi, 48...
... SELFOC lens; 49... One-dimensional image sensor (photoelectric converter); 52... Carriage; 54... Opening; 55... Printed circuit board for signal processing, 56 to 5... Variable resistor (adjustment means), 63... Printed circuit board for optical layer detection/inverter, 69... -Slider, 70...Guide shaft, 74...Timing belt, 75...Pulse motor.

Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) a document table on which a document is set; a light source that irradiates light to the document set on the document table; a photoelectric converter that receives light from the document by the light source and converts it into an electrical signal; a circuit board in which a signal processing circuit for processing an output signal of the photoelectric converter is incorporated and a first adjustment means for adjusting the signal processing circuit; and the light source, the photoelectric converter, and the circuit. a carriage that integrally supports the board; a drive unit that moves the carriage relative to the document table; and a drive unit that moves the first adjustment unit provided on the circuit board parallel to the moving direction of the carriage. An information reading device characterized in that it is configured so that it can be operated in any direction. (2) The information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the first adjusting means is operated at either end position of the carriage with respect to the document table. (3) The information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the carriage operates the first adjusting means at a position of a reference document provided on the document table. (4) The information reading device according to claim 3, wherein the reference document is a white reference plate whose surface is painted white. (5) The signal processing circuit includes an amplifier circuit that amplifies the output signal of the photoelectric converter, an A/D conversion circuit that converts the output signal of the amplifier circuit into a digital signal, and the first adjustment means 2. The information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the information reading device performs offset adjustment and gain adjustment of the amplifier circuit, or adjustment of a reference voltage for performing A/D conversion of the A/D conversion circuit. (6) The circuit board is further provided with a second adjustment means for adjusting the light intensity of the light source, and the second adjustment means can also be operated in the same manner as the first adjustment means. The information reading device according to item 1.