Reading device and image forming device

Abstract

To provide a reading device that comprises a reference scale that does not prevent reading of a large-size document, and has improved operability during dimension measurement.SOLUTION: A reading device comprises: a contact glass on which an object to be read can be mounted; an optical sensor that is mounted on a carriage movable along an undersurface of the contact glass, and reads the object to be read mounted on the contact glass; a scale plate for setting documents that is arranged above the contact glass and outside a readable range of the optical sensor, and has a scale drawn on its top face; and a reference scale that is arranged between the contact glass and the scale plate for setting documents, and has a scale drawn on its undersurface. The reference scale can slide along a top face of the contact glass between a retreat position that is outside the readable range and where it overlaps the scale plate for setting documents when seen from the thickness direction of the contact glass, and a position to be read that is within the readable range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a reading device and an image forming device. [Background technology]

[0002] There have been known reading devices that optically read the shape of an object, etc. The reading device has a function of placing the object to be read on a contact glass, reading the shape of the object with an optical sensor mounted on a carriage that moves along the contact glass, and generating image data.

[0003] One example of a conventional reading device is one that has a function of placing a reference scale, which is a hard material with graduations formed at set intervals, on a reading surface, reading an image including an object and the reference scale, and measuring the positional information of the image of the graduations in the read image (see Patent Document 1). This makes it possible to measure the dimensions of the object in the image. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional reading devices, it is sometimes necessary to use the entire surface of the contact glass to read flat documents, making it difficult to permanently install a reference scale on the contact glass. On the other hand, it is inconvenient to attach and detach the reference scale every time the dimensions of a three-dimensional object are measured.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a technology for a reading device capable of measuring the dimensions of an object using a reference scale, in which the reference scale does not interfere with the reading of large documents and which improves operability when measuring dimensions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, one aspect of the present invention comprises a contact glass on which an object to be read can be placed, an optical sensor mounted on a carriage that can move along the underside of the contact glass and that reads the object to be read placed on the contact glass, a document setting scale plate that is positioned above the contact glass and outside the readable range of the optical sensor and has a scale drawn on its upper surface, and a reference scale that is positioned between the contact glass and the document setting scale plate and has a scale drawn on its lower surface, wherein the reference scale is configured to be slidable along the upper surface of the contact glass between a retracted position that is outside the readable range and overlaps the document setting scale plate when viewed from the thickness direction of the contact glass, and a read position within the readable range. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, in a reading device capable of measuring the dimensions of an object using a reference scale, the reference scale does not interfere with the reading of a large document, and operability during dimension measurement can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an MFP according to the present invention. [Figure 2] An example of the hardware configuration of the controller equipped in an MFP. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the functional configuration of the MFP according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of an optical system mounted on a carriage. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the scanner unit when the reference scale is placed at the retracted position. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the scanner unit when the reference scale is placed at the read position. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the drive mechanism when the carriage moves from the standby position to the return position. [Figure 8]10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the drive mechanism when the carriage moves from the return position to the standby position. [Figure 9] An example of an image captured by the scanner unit. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart of a part measurement process that can be executed in the scanner unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming apparatus and a reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] [Embodiment of Image Forming Apparatus] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an MFP1 as an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The MFP1 has a scanner unit 100 as an embodiment of a reading device according to the present invention, and an image forming unit 200 that forms an image on a sheet-like medium. However, the present invention can be applied not only to the MFP1 but also to the reading device (scanner unit 100) alone.

[0011] The scanner unit 100 has a contact glass 101, an optical sensor 102, and a carriage 103. The contact glass 101 corresponds to a mounting surface on which a read object B, which is an object to be read, is placed. The optical sensor 102 is an image sensor that irradiates light onto the read object B placed on the contact glass 101 and acquires an optical image of the read object B based on the reflected light. The carriage 103 moves in the sub-scanning direction relative to the read object B along the underside of the contact glass 101 so that the optical sensor 102 scans the read object B.

[0012] The scanner unit 100 may include an ADF 500 as a document transport unit. The ADF 500 can hold sheet-like documents in a stacked state. The ADF 500 then sequentially supplies the stacked objects B to the top surface of the contact glass 101. The ADF 500 then ejects the objects B read by the optical sensor 102 from the top surface of the contact glass 101.

[0013] In this specification, the read object B refers to any object that can be optically read by the optical sensor 102. For example, the read object B includes a three-dimensional "object." The read object B also includes a planar, sheet-like "original." In this specification, the optical sensor 102 reading an object refers to, for example, optically reading the shape of the surface of the object that contacts the contact glass 101. On the other hand, the optical sensor 102 reading an original refers to, for example, optically reading an image formed on the surface of the original that contacts the contact glass 101.

[0014] The image forming unit 200 (image forming section) has a medium storage section 201 that stores paper P as a sheet-like medium, and an image forming section 202 that forms an image on the paper P. The image forming section 202 can also form an image read by the scanner unit 100 on the paper P.

[0015] [Hardware configuration of the control unit in MFP1] 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of controller 150 as a control unit included in MFP 1. As shown in FIG. 2, MFP 1 includes a configuration similar to that of a general server or PC (Personal Computer). That is, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 20, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 30, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 40, and an I / F 50 are connected via a bus 90. A display unit 60, an operation unit 70, and a dedicated device 80 are also connected to the I / F 50. The dedicated device 80 includes a scanner unit 100 and an image forming unit 200.

[0016] The CPU 10 is a computing means and controls the overall operation of the MFP 1. The RAM 20 is a volatile storage medium that allows high-speed reading and writing of information and is used as a work area when the CPU 10 processes information. The ROM 30 is a read-only nonvolatile storage medium that stores programs such as firmware. The HDD 40 is a nonvolatile storage medium that allows reading and writing of information and stores the OS (Operating System), various control programs such as an applied voltage control program, application programs, etc.

[0017] The I / F 50 connects and controls the bus 90 with various hardware, networks, etc. The display unit 60 is a visual user interface that allows the user to check the status of the MFP 1, and is realized by a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The operation unit 70 is a user interface that allows the user to input information to the MFP 1.

[0018] In such a hardware configuration, a software control unit is configured by reading a program stored in a storage medium such as ROM 30, HDD 40, or an optical disk (not shown) into RAM 20, and CPU 10 performing calculations in accordance with the program loaded into RAM 20. A functional block that realizes the functions of the MFP1 according to this embodiment is configured by combining the software control unit configured in this way with hardware.

[0019] [MFP1 functional blocks] Next, the functional configuration of the MFP1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram that schematically shows the functional configuration of the MFP1 according to this embodiment. In Fig. 3, electrical connections are indicated by solid arrows, and the flow of transfer paper or document stacks is indicated by dashed arrows.

[0020] 3, the MFP 1 according to this embodiment includes a controller 150, a paper feed table 203, a print engine 300, a print paper output tray 400, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder: document transport unit) 500, a scanner engine 600, a scan paper output tray 700, a display panel 800, and a network I / F 900. The controller 150 also includes a main control unit 151, an engine control unit 152, an image processing unit 153, an operation display control unit 154, and an input / output control unit 155.

[0021] The paper feed table 203 feeds transfer paper to the print engine 300, which is an image forming unit. The print engine 300 is an image forming unit that forms an image by executing image formation output on the transfer paper conveyed from the paper feed table 203. A specific example of the print engine 300 according to this embodiment is an electrophotographic image forming mechanism. The transfer paper on which the image has been formed by the print engine 300 is discharged to a print paper discharge tray 400. The print engine 300 is realized by a dedicated device 80 shown in FIG. 2.

[0022] The ADF 500 automatically transports the object B to a position where it can be read by the scanner engine 600, which executes the main processing in the scanner unit 100. The scanner engine 600 is a document reading unit that includes a photoelectric conversion element that converts optical information into an electrical signal, and optically scans and reads a document that has been automatically transported by the ADF 500 or a document set on a document platen glass (not shown) to generate image information. The document that has been automatically transported by the ADF 500 and read by the scanner engine 600 is discharged onto a scan paper output tray 700. The ADF 500 and the scanner engine 600 are realized by a dedicated device 80 shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] Display panel 800 is an output interface that visually displays the status of MFP 1, and also serves as an input interface as a touch panel when a user directly operates MFP 1 or inputs information to MFP 1. In other words, display panel 800 has a function of displaying images for receiving operations by the user. Display panel 800 is realized by display unit 60 and operation unit 70 shown in FIG. 2.

[0024] The network I / F 900 is an interface that enables the MFP 1 to communicate with other devices such as an administrator terminal or a PC (Personal Computer) via a network, and interfaces such as Ethernet (registered trademark), USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) (registered trademark), and FeliCa (registered trademark) are used. In this manner, the MFP 1 according to this embodiment receives various control commands, such as image data for a print request and a print request, from a terminal connected via the network I / F 900. The network I / F 900 is realized by the I / F 50 shown in FIG. 2.

[0025] The controller 150 is configured by a combination of software and hardware. Specifically, the controller 150 is configured by a software control unit configured by loading control programs such as firmware stored in a nonvolatile storage medium such as the ROM 30 or the HDD 40 into the RAM 20 and having the CPU 10 perform calculations in accordance with these programs, and hardware such as an integrated circuit. The controller 150 functions as a control unit that controls the entire MFP 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, the controller 150 functions as an applied voltage control device.

[0026] The main control unit 151 controls each unit included in the controller 150 and issues commands to each unit of the controller 150. The main control unit 151 also controls the input / output control unit 155 and accesses other devices via the network I / F 900 and the network. The engine control unit 152 controls or drives the drive units such as the print engine 300 and the scanner engine 600.

[0027] Image processing unit 153 generates drawing information as output information based on image information described in PDL (Page Description Language) or the like, for example, document data or image data included in an input print job, under the control of main control unit 151. This drawing information is information such as CMYK bitmap data, and is information used by print engine 300, which is an image forming unit, to draw an image to be formed in an image forming operation.

[0028] Furthermore, image processing unit 153 processes the imaging data input from scanner engine 600 and generates image data. This image data is information that is stored in MFP1 as a result of the scanner operation or is transmitted to other devices via network I / F 900 and the network. Note that MFP1 according to this embodiment can also receive drawing information directly instead of image information and perform image formation and output based on the directly input drawing information.

[0029] The operation display control unit 154 displays information on the display panel 800 or notifies the main control unit 151 of information input via the display panel 800. The input / output control unit 155 inputs signals and commands input via the network I / F 900 and the network to the main control unit 151.

[0030] [Scanner Unit 100 Details] Next, the detailed configuration of the scanner unit 100 will be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an overview of the optical system mounted on the carriage 103. As shown in Fig. 4, light from a light source mounted on the carriage 103 is reflected by the object B to be read, and the reflected light enters the reduction optical system via optical path h and is reflected by a first mirror 1031. Note that the light source is not shown in Fig. 3.

[0031] The light reflected by the first mirror 1031 is reflected by the second mirror 1032, the third mirror 1033, the fourth mirror 1034, the fifth mirror 1035, and the sixth mirror 1036, and passes through the lens 1037 to enter the optical sensor 102. The optical sensor 102 is, for example, a CCD sensor.

[0032] Based on the light detected by the optical sensor 102, the image of the object B to be read is converted into an electrical signal and subjected to predetermined processing in the controller 150. In this way, image data of the object B to be read is generated.

[0033] Fig. 5 is a configuration diagram of the scanner unit 100 when the reference scale 106 is disposed in the retracted position. Fig. 6 is a configuration diagram of the scanner unit 100 when the reference scale 106 is disposed in the read position. More specifically, Figs. 5(A) and 6(A) are plan views of the scanner unit 100 viewed from above. Figs. 5(B) and 6(B) are arrow views of Figs. 5(A) and 6(A) viewed from the direction of the arrows.

[0034] 5 and 6, the contact glass 101 is a rectangular (oblong) member extending in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. The contact glass 101 is a transparent member that can transmit light in the thickness direction (vertical direction). Furthermore, a reading target B (document, object) can be placed on the upper surface of the contact glass 101.

[0035] The optical sensors 102 are arranged in a line in the main scanning direction, which is perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction as the movement direction of the carriage 103. The carriage 103 is mounted with the optical sensors 102 and is disposed below the contact glass 101. The carriage 103 is configured to be able to move back and forth in the sub-scanning direction between a standby position and a turning back position, which are spaced apart in the sub-scanning direction. The range in which the optical sensor 102, which moves in the same manner as the carriage 103 moves along the underside of the contact glass 101, can read the object B to be read is defined as a "readable range 104."

[0036] The standby position corresponds to the start position where the carriage 103 starts moving in the sub-scanning direction when the reading process starts. This standby position is a position away from the readable range 104 to one end side in the sub-scanning direction (the left side in FIGS. 5 and 6). The turn-back position corresponds to the position where the carriage 103 moves in the sub-scanning direction when the reading process starts, reads the entire readable range 104, and then returns to the standby position. This turn-back position is the other end (the right end in FIGS. 5 and 6) of the readable range 104 in the sub-scanning direction. That is, the carriage 103 enters the readable range 104 while moving from the standby position toward the turn-back position, and exits the readable range 104 while moving from the turn-back position toward the standby position. Furthermore, the optical sensor 102 reads the object B placed on the contact glass 101 while the carriage 103 moves from the standby position toward the turn-back position.

[0037] The scanner unit 100 also includes a document setting scale plate 105. The document setting scale plate 105 is fixed to the housing of the scanner unit 100 above the contact glass 101 and outside the readable range 104. A scale is drawn on the top surface of the document setting scale plate 105 (i.e., the surface visible to the user) to serve as a reference when the user places the read object B on the contact glass 101. The document setting scale plate 105 further includes a main scanning direction scale plate 105a and a sub scanning direction scale plate 105b.

[0038] The main scanning direction scale plate 105a extends in the main scanning direction at a position offset from the readable range 104 to one end in the sub-scanning direction. Furthermore, scales that each extend in the sub-scanning direction are drawn on the upper surface of the main scanning direction scale plate 105a at positions spaced apart in the main scanning direction. In other words, the main scanning direction scale plate 105a is used to adjust the position in the main scanning direction when placing the read object B on the contact glass 101.

[0039] The sub-scanning direction scale plate 105b extends in the sub-scanning direction at a position outside the readable range 104 on one end side in the main scanning direction (upper side in FIGS. 5 and 6). Furthermore, on the upper surface of the sub-scanning direction scale plate 105b, scales that each extend in the main scanning direction are drawn at positions spaced apart in the sub-scanning direction. In other words, the sub-scanning direction scale plate 105b is used to adjust the position in the sub-scanning direction when placing the read object B on the contact glass 101.

[0040] The scanner unit 100 further includes a reference scale 106. The reference scale 106 is disposed above the contact glass 101 and below the document setting scale plate 105 in the thickness direction of the contact glass 101. In other words, the reference scale 106 is disposed between the contact glass 101 and the document setting scale plate 105 in the up-down direction, which is the thickness direction of the contact glass 101.

[0041] It is desirable that the color of the underside of the reference scale 106 on which the scale is drawn be different from the color of the area where the scale lines are formed, so as not to reflect light from the light source mounted on the carriage 103. For example, the lines that indicate the scale lines can be made white by polishing the stainless steel, and the contrast of the lines in the image can be enhanced to make them easier to distinguish. Note that even if the reference scale 106 is made of stainless steel and the scale lines are formed in black, no problems will arise in the process of acquiring an image simultaneously with the object B to be read.

[0042] Furthermore, reference scale 106 is configured to be slidable along the upper surface of contact glass 101 between the retracted positions shown in Figures 5(B), 7(A), and 8(B) and the read positions shown in Figures 6(B), 7(B), and 8(A). Furthermore, a scale that can be read by optical sensor 102 is drawn on the lower surface of reference scale 106.

[0043] The retracted position is a position that is outside the readable range 104 and overlaps with the document setting scale plate 105 when viewed in the thickness direction of the contact glass 101. In other words, when the reference scale 106 is arranged in the retracted position, the optical sensor 102 cannot read the scale drawn on the reference scale 106. The read position is a position inside the readable range 104. In other words, when the reference scale 106 is arranged in the retracted position, the optical sensor 102 can read the scale drawn on the reference scale 106 together with the read object B placed on the contact glass 101.

[0044] The reference scale 106 includes a main scanning direction scale 106a and a sub-scanning direction scale 106b. The main scanning direction scale 106a extends in the main scanning direction. Furthermore, on the lower surface of the main scanning direction scale 106a, graduations that extend in the sub-scanning direction are drawn at positions spaced apart in the main scanning direction. The sub-scanning direction scale 106b extends in the sub-scanning direction. Furthermore, on the lower surface of the sub-scanning direction scale 106b, graduations that extend in the main scanning direction are drawn at positions spaced apart in the sub-scanning direction.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 5(B), the retracted position of the main scanning direction scale 106a is a position that is offset from the readable range 104 to one end side in the sub-scanning direction and that overlaps with the main scanning direction scale plate 105a when viewed from the thickness direction of the contact glass 101. Also, as shown in Fig. 6(B), the read position of the main scanning direction scale 106a is a position that faces the readable range 104 at one end in the sub-scanning direction.

[0046] 7(A) and 8(B), the retracted position of the sub-scanning direction scale 106b is a position that is offset from the readable range 104 to one end of the main scanning direction and overlaps the sub-scanning direction scale plate 105b when viewed from the thickness direction of the contact glass 101. Also, as shown in FIGS. 7(B) and 8(A), the read position of the sub-scanning direction scale 106b is a position that faces the readable range 104 at one end of the main scanning direction.

[0047] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of the drive mechanism 107 when the carriage 103 moves from the standby position to the return position. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the operation of the drive mechanism 107 when the carriage 103 moves from the return position to the standby position. The scanner unit 100 includes the drive mechanism 107 that slides the reference scale 106 in conjunction with the movement of the carriage 103.

[0048] The drive mechanism 107 includes components that slide the sub-scanning direction scale 106b in the main scanning direction in conjunction with the movement of the carriage 103, such as pulleys 108, 109, 110, and 111, timing belts 112, 113, and 114, tension rollers 115 and 116, a clutch 117, and guide rails 118 and 119. Similarly, the drive mechanism 107 further includes components that slide the main scanning direction scale 106a in the sub-scanning direction in conjunction with the movement of the carriage 103. The following describes the linkage between the carriage 103 and the sub-scanning direction scale 106b, but the carriage 103 and the main scanning direction scale 106a also move in conjunction with each other in a similar manner.

[0049] Pulleys 108 to 111 are supported on the housing of scanner unit 100 so as to be rotatable about rotation axes extending in the vertical direction. Timing belt 112 is looped around pulleys 108 and 109. Timing belt 113 is looped around pulleys 109 and 110. Timing belt 114 is looped around pulleys 110 and 111. Tension rollers 115 and 116 apply tension to timing belt 112. Clutch 117 switches between transmitting and not transmitting the rotation of timing belt 113 to pulley 110 under the control of controller 150.

[0050] The carriage 103 is attached to a timing belt 112. The sub-scanning direction scale 106b is attached to a timing belt 114. The sub-scanning direction scale 106b slides in the main scanning direction, guided by guide rails 118 and 119 extending in the main scanning direction (slide direction). The pulley 108 is rotated by the driving force of a motor that rotates under the control of a controller 150.

[0051] 7A, when the carriage 103 is located at the standby position, the sub-scanning direction scale 106b is located at the retracted position, and the clutch 117 is in a non-transmitting state in which it does not transmit driving force. In this state, the controller 150 causes the motor to rotate in the first direction. The driving force of the motor rotating in the first direction is transmitted to the carriage 103, pulley 109, and timing belt 113 via the pulley 108 and timing belt 112.

[0052] As a result, carriage 103 moves from the standby position toward the return position. Meanwhile, because clutch 117 is in a non-transmitting state, the driving force of the motor rotating in the first direction is not transmitted to pulley 110 at this point. Then, controller 150 switches clutch 117 to a transmitting state (a state in which driving force is transmitted) at a predetermined timing. As a result, the driving force of the motor rotating in the first direction is transmitted to timing belt 113 via pulley 108, timing belt 112, pulley 109, timing belt 113, and pulley 110.

[0053] As a result, the sub-scanning direction scale 106b moves from the retracted position to the position to be read. Then, as shown in Fig. 7B, the sub-scanning direction scale 106b reaches the position to be read before the carriage 103 enters the readable range 104. In other words, the controller 150 switches the clutch 117 from the non-transmitted state to the transmitted state at the timing when the sub-scanning direction scale 106b reaches the position to be read before the carriage 103 enters the readable range 104.

[0054] Next, in response to the sub-scanning direction scale 106b reaching the read position, the controller 150 again switches the clutch 117 from the transmitted state to the non-transmitted state. In addition, in response to the carriage 103 entering the readable range 104, the controller 150 causes the optical sensor 102 to read the read object B and the reference scale 106 placed on the contact glass 101.

[0055] 8(A), in response to the carriage 103 reaching the return position, the controller 150 stops reading by the optical sensor 102 and rotates the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The driving force of the motor rotating in the second direction is transmitted to the carriage 103, the pulley 109, and the timing belt 113 via the pulley 108 and the timing belt 112.

[0056] As a result, the carriage 103 moves from the return position toward the standby position. Meanwhile, because the clutch 117 is in a non-transmitting state, the driving force of the motor rotating in the second direction is not transmitted to the pulley 110 at this point. Then, the controller 150 switches the clutch 117 to a transmitting state at a predetermined timing. As a result, the driving force of the motor rotating in the second direction is transmitted to the timing belt 113 via the pulley 108, the timing belt 112, the pulley 109, the timing belt 113, and the pulley 110.

[0057] As a result, the sub-scanning direction scale 106b moves from the read position to the retracted position. Then, as shown in Fig. 8(B), the sub-scanning direction scale 106b reaches the retracted position before the carriage 103 leaves the readable range 104. In other words, the controller 150 switches the clutch 117 from the non-transmitted state to the transmitted state at the timing when the sub-scanning direction scale 106b reaches the retracted position before the carriage 103 leaves the readable range 104.

[0058] Next, the controller 150 switches the clutch 117 from the transmission state to the non-transmission state again in response to the sub-scanning direction scale 106b reaching the retracted position. Also, the controller 150 stops the motor in response to the carriage 103 reaching the standby position. Note that in the series of processes described above, the positions of the carriage 103 and the sub-scanning direction scale 106b can be grasped by a position sensor or a rotary encoder attached to the output shaft of the motor.

[0059] [Part measurement processing using the scanner unit 100] Next, the part measurement process by the scanner unit 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9(A) shows an example of an image acquired by performing a reading process on a read object B, which is a planar object (original) and is an A3-sized paper P. In this case, an image is acquired within an area of ​​420 mm x 297 mm.

[0060] 9B shows an example in which the object B to be read is a three-dimensional object (body), and an image is acquired by scanning within the movable range of the carriage 103. In this case, for example, images of the object B to be read and the reference scale 106 are simultaneously acquired within an area of ​​440 mm x 305 mm.

[0061] Then, the image portion of the object B to be read contained in the acquired image is compared with the image portion of the reference scale 106, and a process of measuring the dimensions of the object B to be read is carried out.

[0062] [Part measurement processing flow] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a part measurement process that can be executed by the scanner unit 100. The flowchart in Fig. 10 illustrates an example in which the object to be read B is a three-dimensional object.

[0063] First, the user opens the pressure plate (S1001) in order to place the object B to be read on the placement surface of the contact glass 101. Next, the user places the object B to be read on the placement surface of the contact glass 101 (S1002).

[0064] Next, the user presses the "part measurement button" provided on the operation unit 70 to start the reading process (S1003). When the reading process starts, first, the carriage 103 operates (S1004), and as the carriage 103 moves, the optical sensor 102 scans the object B to be read.

[0065] The controller 150 scans the object B to be read while moving the carriage 103 to the turning-back position, acquires a measurement image including the object B to be read and the reference scale 106, and stores the image in a storage area (S1005). That is, the controller 150 executes the series of processes described with reference to FIG.

[0066] Next, the controller 150 measures the dimensions of the read object B (S1006). First, the controller 150 extracts the scale lines of the reference scale 106 and the outline of the read object B from the corrected image. A method for extracting a specific portion from the corrected image (for example, edge detection) is already well known, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0067] Next, the controller 150 determines the extracted dimensions of the object B to be read based on the interval between the scale lines of the extracted reference scale 106. More specifically, the controller 150 determines the dimensions by multiplying the number of scale lines facing the outline of the object B to be read, whose dimensions are to be determined, by the interval (μm) between the scale lines determined in advance. Furthermore, when the end position of the object B to be read is located between adjacent scale lines, the controller 150 proportionally allocates the number of pixels between the scale lines. The specific process for determining the dimensions is already well known, as described in Patent Document 1, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0068] Next, the controller 150 displays the results of the measurement process on the display unit 60 (S1007). The controller 150 also executes the series of processes described with reference to Fig. 8. As a result, the carriage 103 returns to the standby position, and the reference scale 106 returns to the retracted position.

[0069] According to the above embodiment, for example, the following advantageous effects are achieved.

[0070] According to the above embodiment, by placing the reference scale 106 in a retracted position when reading a document and placing the reference scale 106 in a position to be read when measuring the dimensions of an object, the reference scale 106 does not interfere with the reading of large documents and operability during dimension measurement can be improved.

[0071] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the sub-scanning direction scale 106b can slide smoothly by being guided by the guide rails 118 and 119. Similarly, it is desirable that the main scanning direction scale 106a also slides while being guided by guide rails extending in the sub-scanning direction.

[0072] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the operability during dimension measurement is further improved by sliding the reference scale 106 in conjunction with the movement of the carriage 103. Furthermore, the sound generated when the reference scale 106 slides can be blended into the sound of movement of the carriage 103. However, the reference scale 106 may also be slid manually by the user.

[0073] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the reference scale 106 reaches the position to be read before the optical sensor 102 enters the readable range 104, thereby improving throughput during dimension measurement. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the reference scale 106 reaches the retracted position before the optical sensor 102 leaves the readable range 104, thereby enabling a document to be placed on the contact glass 101 before the carriage 103 has completely returned to the standby position. Therefore, when a document is to be read following dimension measurement, the waiting time for the operation can be shortened.

[0074] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to simultaneously measure the dimensions of an object in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction by arranging both the main scanning direction scale 106a and the sub-scanning direction scale 106b on the contact glass 101. However, the scanner unit 100 may be provided with only one of the main scanning direction scale 106a and the sub-scanning direction scale 106b.

[0075] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the technical gist thereof. The present invention covers all technical matters included in the technical ideas described in the claims. The above-described embodiments are preferred examples, but a person skilled in the art can realize various modifications from the disclosed contents. Such modifications are also included in the technical scope described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1: MFP 10: CPU 20:RAM 30:ROM 40: HDD 50: Interface 60:Display section 70:Operation unit 80: Dedicated device 90: Bus 100: Scanner unit 101: Contact glass 102: Optical sensor 103: Carriage 104: Readable range 105: Scale plate for document setting 105a: Main scanning direction scale plate 105b: Sub-scanning direction scale plate 106: Reference scale 106a: Main scanning direction scale 106b: Sub-scanning direction scale 107: Drive mechanism 108,108,109,110,111: Pulley 112, 113, 114: Timing belt 115,116: Tension roller 117: Clutch 118,119: Guide rail 150: Controller 151: Main control unit 152: Engine control unit 153: Image processing unit 154: Operation display control unit 155: Input / output control unit 200: Image forming unit 201: Media storage unit 202: Image forming unit 203: Paper feed table 300: Print engine 400: Print output tray 600: Scanner engine 700: Scan output tray 800: Display panel 900: Network I / F 1031: First mirror 1032: Second mirror 1033: Third Mirror 1034: Fourth Mirror 1035: Fifth Mirror 1036: Sixth Mirror 1037: Lens [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0077] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-151548

Claims

1. a contact glass on which an object to be read can be placed; an optical sensor mounted on a carriage that is movable along the lower surface of the contact glass and that reads an object placed on the contact glass; a document setting scale plate having a scale drawn on its upper surface, the scale plate being disposed above the contact glass and outside the range that can be read by the optical sensor; a reference scale disposed between the contact glass and the document setting scale plate, the reference scale having a scale drawn on its underside; A reading device characterized in that the reference scale is configured to be slidable along the top surface of the contact glass between a retracted position outside the readable range and overlapping the document setting scale plate when viewed from the thickness direction of the contact glass, and a read position within the readable range.

2. 2. The reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide rail extending in a sliding direction of the reference scale to guide the sliding of the reference scale.

3. the carriage reciprocates in a sub-scanning direction between a standby position at one end of the readable range and a return position at the other end of the readable range; the optical sensor reads the object while the carriage moves from the standby position to the return position; the reference scale is slid from the retracted position to the read position in conjunction with the movement of the carriage from the standby position toward the return position; 3. The reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive mechanism that slides the reference scale from the read position to the retracted position in conjunction with movement of the carriage from the folded position toward the standby position.

4. 4. The reading device according to claim 3, wherein the drive mechanism causes the reference scale to reach the read position before the optical sensor enters the readable range.

5. 5. The reading device according to claim 3, wherein the drive mechanism causes the reference scale to reach the retracted position before the optical sensor leaves the readable range.

6. The reference scale is a main scanning direction scale extending in a main scanning direction and sliding in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction; 6. The reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a sub-scanning direction scale that extends in the sub-scanning direction and slides in the main scanning direction.

7. 7. The reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a document transport unit that transports a plurality of stacked documents to the upper surface of the contact glass in order.

8. A reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 7; an image forming unit that forms the image read by the reading device on a medium;

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