Image reading device

Abstract

To provide an image reading device which can switch a light amount of a reading sensor according to the purpose of a scan.SOLUTION: An image reading device comprises: a document table on which a document is placed; and a reading sensor which has a light source that irradiates the document with light. The reading sensor executes a first scan for irradiating the document with light by a first light amount, and then executes a second scan for irradiating the document with light by a second light amount larger than the first light amount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Scanners are known as image reading devices, and among them, so-called flatbed scanners are known, in which a reading sensor moves under a platen glass to read the document. The image reading device described in Patent Document 1 reads the document size and image in a single scan when reading a standard-sized document. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-12829 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the case of a thin document, it is difficult to form a shadow on the edge of the document, and there is a problem that the image reading device may not be able to correctly detect the size of a standard-sized document. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the image reading device according to the present invention is a document table on which a document is placed; a reading sensor having a light source that irradiates light onto the document; Equipped with The reading sensor performs a first scan in which light is irradiated onto the document with a first light amount, and then performs a second scan in which light is irradiated onto the document with a second light amount greater than the first light amount. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1]FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the multifunction peripheral. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the recording apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2 where a restricting member is provided. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of an image reading surface and a document table. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a drive mechanism for the opening / closing body. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a side view of the read sensor. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing detection of a document size and reading of the document. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which standard size A4 paper is placed on the platen. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a result of detecting a document size using single-side illumination. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a result of detecting a document size using double-sided illumination. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings used are for the convenience of explanation. Note that the embodiments described below do not unduly limit the content of the present invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described below are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

[0008] A multifunction peripheral 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the multifunction peripheral 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0009] The multifunction device 10 includes a device main body 12 that is generally rectangular parallelepiped in shape overall. The device main body 12 includes a recording device 13 that records on paper, which is an example of a recording medium, and an image reading device 14 that is provided on the recording device 13 and is capable of reading documents, etc. For example, an image read by the image reading device 14 is printed on a medium by the recording device 13. In the XYZ coordinate system, the X direction indicates the document transport direction in the image reading device 14, the Y direction indicates the document width direction, and the Z direction indicates the height direction of the image reading device 14.

[0010] The image reading device 14 includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) unit 27, which is an automatic document feeder. The ADF unit 27 is provided rotatably around a rotation axis J on the rear side of the device body 12, which is the +Y-axis direction side, as a fulcrum, and is configured as an opening / closing body that can be opened and closed relative to the top of the device body 12.

[0011] The ADF unit 27 includes an original transport unit 28 equipped with a drive mechanism for transporting an original, an original placement surface 40, and an original discharge surface 42. An original placed on the original placement surface 40 is fed into the image reading device 14 by the original transport unit 28, read, and then discharged and placed on the original discharge surface 42. Note that an example of an original in this embodiment is a photograph, a document, or the like.

[0012] An operation unit 16 is provided at the top of the front side of the device main body 12, which is in the -Y axis direction, and is configured to include a power button, print setting button, display panel, etc. for operating the multifunction device 10.

[0013] A rear tray 24 on which paper is placed is provided on the rear side, which is the +Y axis direction side, of the device main body 12. The paper placed on the rear tray 24 is fed to a recording unit 135 in the recording device 13 shown in FIG. 2 and recorded on.

[0014] A paper storage section 26 for storing a plurality of sheets of paper is provided on the bottom side, which is on the -Z axis direction side, of the front tray 22. The paper storage section 26 is provided at the bottom of the device main body 12 so as to be slidable in the Y axis direction, and is configured to be detachable from the device main body 12. The paper placed in the paper storage section 26 is fed to the recording section 135 in the recording device 13 and recorded on.

[0015] A drawer section 20 that is attached to a front tray 22 and is slidable in the Y-axis direction is provided on the front side of the device body 12. Paper that has been fed from the rear tray 24 or the paper storage section 26 to the recording section 135 and recorded on is ejected from an opening 18 provided on the front side of the device body 12 and placed on the front tray 22 or the drawer section 20 that has been pulled out from the front tray 22.

[0016] In the multifunction device 10 of this embodiment, paper placed on the front tray 22 and the drawer unit 20 can be fed through the opening 18 into the recording device 13, and recording can be performed by the recording unit 135. Therefore, the front tray 22 and the drawer unit 20 function as a support surface for paper ejected from inside the recording device 13 to the outside, and as a support surface for paper fed into the recording device 13.

[0017] Next, the schematic configuration of the recording device 13 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the schematic configuration of the recording device 13 disposed on the bottom side of the image reading device 14, which is in the -Z axis direction.

[0018] The front tray 22 has an upper surface 22b on which paper is placed, and is rotatable about an axis 22a extending in the X-axis direction as indicated by the dashed line. As described above, the front tray 22 is provided with a drawer section 20 indicated by the dashed line that can be drawn out to the front.

[0019] A feeding unit 130 that feeds paper is provided at the upper rear portion of the recording device 13. The feeding unit 130 includes a rear tray 24 on which paper is placed, a hopper 130b, and a feeding roller 130c. The paper placed on the rear tray 24 is pressed against the feeding roller 130c by the operation of the hopper 130b, and is sent downstream along the conveyance path by the rotation of the feeding roller 130c.

[0020] In the recording device 13, a pair of transport rollers 131 and 132 that transport paper from the feeding section 130 toward the front tray 22 and a pair of discharge rollers 133 and 134 are arranged along the transport path. A recording section 135 that records on paper is arranged between the pair of transport rollers 132 and the pair of discharge rollers 133.

[0021] The recording unit 135 includes a carriage 136 that can move back and forth in the main scanning direction, which is the X-axis direction, and a recording head 137 that is provided below the carriage 136 .

[0022] A cartridge holder 139, to which an ink cartridge 138 containing ink is removably attached, is disposed above the recording unit 135 in the +Z-axis direction within the recording device 13. The recording unit 135 also includes a support unit 140 that supports paper at a lower position opposite the movement area of ​​the recording head 137. The recording head 137 ejects ink supplied from the ink cartridge 138 through a tube 141 onto the paper supported by the support unit 140, thereby forming an image on the paper.

[0023] A discharge conveyance path 160 is formed downstream of the support portion 140 in the conveyance direction, which is the -Y axis direction of the paper, as a path along which paper recorded by the recording head 137 is conveyed. The discharge conveyance path 160 is a path along which paper is conveyed by the pair of discharge rollers 133, 134. A loading surface 150, which serves as a lower inner wall portion of the opening 18, is provided downstream of the discharge conveyance path 160 in the conveyance direction. The rear end side of the paper discharged from the discharge conveyance path 160 is placed on the loading surface 150.

[0024] A supply unit 142 is provided at the rear lower side in the +Y-axis direction within the recording device 13, and sends out the sheets of paper stored in the paper storage unit 26 one by one to a feeding path leading to the recording unit 135. The supply unit 142 includes a pickup roller 143 that comes into contact with the uppermost sheet of paper among the multiple sheets of paper stored in the paper storage unit 26, a separation roller 144, and a retard roller 145 that pairs with the separation roller 144.

[0025] The supply unit 142 includes an intermediate roller 146 disposed behind the pair of transport rollers 131, and two driven rollers 147 and 148 that sandwich the paper between the intermediate roller 146. The pair of transport rollers 131 includes an intermediate roller 131a that is driven to rotate in conjunction with the intermediate roller 146, and a driven roller 131b that forms a pair with the intermediate roller 131a.

[0026] When the pickup roller 143, separation roller 144, and intermediate rollers 146, 131a rotate counterclockwise in Figure 2 due to the power of a motor (not shown) provided in the device main body 12, the paper stored in the paper storage section 26 is fed one sheet at a time to the recording section 135 via the transport roller pair 131, 132.

[0027] A feed conveyance path 161, along which the paper is fed from the front side to the rear side in the +Y axis direction, is formed on the bottom side of the discharge conveyance path 160 in the -Z axis direction. A pair of conveyance rollers 162 is arranged on the feed conveyance path 161 to convey the paper toward the intermediate roller 131a on the rear side, and a driven roller 163 is provided below the intermediate roller 131a to sandwich the paper between it and the intermediate roller 131a.

[0028] The paper inserted into the feeding and conveying path 161 from the opening 18 is conveyed to the rear side by the conveying roller pair 162, the intermediate roller 131a and the driven roller 163, is inverted by the intermediate roller 146 and the driven rollers 147 and 148, and is conveyed to the recording unit 135 by the intermediate roller 131a and the driven roller 131b and the conveying roller pair 132, where it is recorded.

[0029] 3 is a view seen from the X-axis direction, and is an enlarged view of the portion (within the circle indicated by the dashed line A) in which the regulating member 151 in FIG. 2 is provided. The feeding conveying path 161 is a conveying path provided between the guide surface 154a of the upper wall portion 154 and the guide surface 155a of the lower wall portion 155, which are provided opposite each other. The heightwise gap between the guide surface 155a and the guide surface 154a is formed so as to become narrower as it is positioned toward the rear.

[0030] The regulating member 151 has a swing shaft 152 and a swing member 153 that can swing around the swing shaft 152. The swing member 153 may be a plate-shaped member extending in the X-axis direction, or may be configured with multiple rod-shaped members that protrude downward from the swing shaft 152 and are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction.

[0031] A front wall portion 156 that protrudes downward from the support portion 140 is provided on the front side of the restricting member 151, and a front end portion 154b of the upper wall portion 154 is disposed on the back side of the restricting member 151. Therefore, within the range in which the restricting member 151 swings around the swing shaft 152 as a fulcrum, as shown by the solid line, the swinging member 153 abuts against the front wall portion 156, thereby restricting clockwise rotation in the drawing, and as shown by the dashed line, the swinging member 153 abuts against the front end portion 154b, thereby restricting counterclockwise swing in the drawing.

[0032] The height of the placement surface 150 is at approximately the same height as the guide surface 155a. When a user moves a sheet of paper before recording along the placement surface 150 toward the feeding and conveying path 161, the leading edge of the paper presses against the swinging member 153, and the swinging member 153 assumes the swing position shown by the dashed line in Fig. 3, allowing the paper to enter toward the conveying roller pair 162 through the gap between the swinging member 153 and the guide surface 155a.

[0033] On the other hand, a plurality of sheets of paper that have been recorded by the recording unit 135 and discharged from the discharge conveyance path 160 may be placed in a stack on the placement surface 150. In such a case, by fixing the swinging member 153 at the position shown by the dashed line, it is possible to prevent the end of the stacked sheets on the side of the regulating member 151 from collapsing and entering the feed conveyance path 161.

[0034] Next, the image reading device 14 will be described. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the ADF unit 27 as an opening / closing body, Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the image reading surface 34 and the document table 36, and Fig. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism of the ADF unit 27.

[0035] The image reading unit 30 in Figure 6 includes an image reading sensor 32, an image reading surface 34, and a document table 36. The image reading sensor 32 is configured to be movable in the X-axis direction by a drive mechanism (not shown). The image reading sensor 32 also includes an optical detector for image reading that extends in the Y-axis direction. Image reading by the image reading sensor 32 and document size detection will be described later.

[0036] An image reading surface 34 and a document table 36 are arranged in parallel on an upper portion 12a of the device body 12 in Fig. 5. The image reading surface 34 and the document table 36 are made of flat, transparent glass plates.

[0037] Both ends of the document table 36 in the Y-axis direction and the end on the −X-axis direction in the X-axis direction are supported by a frame (not shown) provided inside the device body 12 .

[0038] The image reading surface 34 is provided so as to face a part of a document transport path 38, which will be described later, when the ADF unit 27 is closed relative to the upper part of the device body 12 shown in Fig. 5. The length of the image reading surface 34 in the Y-axis direction is set in accordance with the direction intersecting the X-axis direction in which the document transported in the document transport path 38 is transported, i.e., the width direction of the document.

[0039] On the other hand, the length of the image reading surface 34 in the X-axis direction is set shorter than the length of the document in the document transport direction and the document table 36, so that when a portion of the document transported along the document transport path 38 comes into contact with the image reading surface 34, the image reading sensor 32 can read the portion of the document that comes into contact with the image reading surface 34. When the document comes into contact with the image reading surface 34, the image reading sensor 32 can read the document via the image reading surface 34.

[0040] The lengths of the document table 36 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are set according to the maximum size of a document that can be read by the device main body 12. The document table 36 of the multifunction device 10 of this embodiment can read documents of standard sizes such as A3 and A4.

[0041] Specifically, with the ADF unit 27 open relative to the device body 12, the document is placed on the document table 36, and after the document is placed, the ADF unit 27 is closed again relative to the device body 12. Thereafter, the document placed on the document table 36 is read while the image reading sensor 32 is moved in the X-axis direction.

[0042] Reading of a document placed on document table 36 and detection of the document size will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a side view of document table 36 with a document placed thereon.

[0043] The image reading sensor 32 includes a sensor 32a, light sources 32b and 32c, and a lens 32d.

[0044] Light sources 32b and 32c irradiate light onto a document placed on document table 36. The light irradiated onto the document and reflected therefrom is input to image reading sensor 32 via lens 32d, and the document is read. Image reading sensor 32 reads the entire document while moving in the X direction. Note that when reading a document, either one of light sources 32b and 32c may be configured to irradiate light onto the document, or the amount of light emitted by light sources 32b and 32c may be adjustable.

[0045] Furthermore, when scanning is performed by turning on either one of the light sources 32b and 32c, this is called single-sided illumination, and when scanning is performed by turning on both the light sources 32b and 32c, this is called double-sided illumination.

[0046] Reading of an original will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is a flowchart of reading of an original. Figure 9 shows an example in which a standard size A4 original is placed on the platen 36.

[0047] In S1, the user opens the ADF unit 27. That is, the user opens the ADF unit 27, which functions as an opening / closing body, in order to place a document to be scanned on the document table .

[0048] In S2, the user places the document to be scanned on the document table 36. For example, the document is placed at the bottom left of the document table 36 as shown in FIG. 9. While FIG. 9 shows an example in which a standard size A4 document is placed, documents of other standard sizes may also be placed. For example, the document placed on the document table 36 may be A3, A5, or B4.

[0049] In S3, the user closes the ADF unit 27. The document is placed at a predetermined position on the document table 36. Once the scanner is placed and the ADF section 27 is closed, preparations for scanning are complete.

[0050] When the user closes the ADF unit 27 in S3, detection of the document size in S4 is started. In S4, it is detected whether the document placed on the document table 36 is a standard size such as A3 or A4. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when a standard size A4 document is placed, the standard size A4 is detected in S4.

[0051] In S4, first, the image reading sensor 32 moves from position X0 to position X1. Here, the image reading sensor 32 scans between position X1 and position X2, detects the size of the document, and returns to position X0. For example, in the case of FIG. 9, the detected document size is A4.

[0052] While scanning from position X1 to position X2, image reading sensor 32 turns on one of light sources 32b, 32b to irradiate the document with light. For example, image reading sensor 32 turns on light source 32b. Here, scanning from position X1 to position X2 is an example of a first scan. For example, it is preferable that the distance from position X0 to position X1 is approximately 20 mm, and the distance from position X1 to position X2 is approximately 10 mm.

[0053] In this way, in detecting the document size in S6, the area between positions X1 and X2 is read instead of the entire document to detect the size of the document, so the document size can be detected in a short time. Also, since the image reading sensor 32 is a one-sided illumination type that turns on either the light source 32b or 32c, the power consumption of the image reading sensor 32 can be reduced.

[0054] For example, if the document is relatively thick, such as photographic paper, when light is irradiated onto the document, shadows tend to form on the edges of the document due to its thickness, and the document size can be accurately detected even with single-sided illumination.

[0055] Furthermore, in the case of a relatively thin document such as tracing paper, when light is irradiated onto the document, the document's thinness makes it difficult to cast shadows on the edges of the document, making it difficult to recognize the document size. When scanning such a relatively thin document using double-sided illumination, in which both light sources 32b and 32c of the image reading sensor 32 are turned on, light is irradiated from a direction that cancels out the shadows cast by the unevenness of the document's surface, making it difficult to read the shadows cast by the unevenness of the document's surface. Additionally, because the document is relatively thin, it is difficult to cast shadows on the edges of the document, making it difficult to detect the document's size.

[0056] In contrast, by adopting a one-sided illumination configuration in which only one of the light sources 32b and 32c of the image reading sensor 32 is turned on, the amount of light irradiated onto the document can be reduced, and by illuminating from one direction, the shadows of the unevenness of the document surface can be made more prominent. This makes it possible to more accurately detect the size of the document based on the unevenness of the recognized document surface.

[0057] In S5, the user operates the operation unit 16 to cause the multifunction device 10 to read the document. Buttons for scanning, copying, etc. are displayed on the operation unit 16, and the document is scanned when the user presses one of these buttons.

[0058] In S6, the document is read. The document is read according to the document size detected in S4. For example, as described above, if the document size is detected to be A4 in S4, the image reading sensor 32 performs a second scan, scanning between positions X0 and X3 while moving from position X0 to position X3, so as to cover the area in the X-axis direction of the A4-sized document. This minimizes the amount of movement of the image reading sensor 32, allowing the document to be read in a short time.

[0059] Additionally, in this second scan, the image reading sensor 32 employs a configuration in which scanning is performed with both light sources 32b and 32c turned on, thereby enabling the document to be read accurately with a sufficient amount of light.

[0060] The document scanned in S6 may be configured to be discharged from the discharge conveyance path 160 as described above, or may be configured to be stored as image data in a storage device (not shown). This image data may be sent to a computer connected to the multifunction device 10 via a network, or the user may connect a storage medium to the multifunction device 10 and retrieve the image data from the multifunction device 10.

[0061] 10 and 11 show an example of the results of scanning a standard size A4 document. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the results of detecting the document size using single-sided illumination, while Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the results of detecting the document size using double-sided illumination.

[0062] In Fig. 10, the detection results for manuscript papers a to f show that the manuscript portion is white and the outer edge of the manuscript is black, indicating that standard-sized manuscripts can be detected with single-sided illumination. Here, manuscript papers a to f are thin paper such as tracing paper, and the paper size of standard-sized manuscripts has been detected.

[0063] On the other hand, in Figure 11, for manuscript papers a to f, the detection results show that the manuscript part and the outside of the manuscript are almost the same black color, and it can be seen that the accuracy of detecting standard-sized manuscripts with double-sided illumination is lower than with single-sided illumination.

[0064] For thin manuscript paper such as tracing paper, detecting the paper with single-sided illumination with a small amount of light rather than double-sided illumination can improve the accuracy of detecting textures such as unevenness and roughness on the surface of the manuscript paper.

[0065] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0066] The present invention includes configurations that are substantially the same as the configurations described in the embodiments (for example, configurations with the same functions, methods, and results, or configurations with the same purpose and effects). The present invention also includes configurations in which non-essential parts of the configurations described in the embodiments are replaced. The present invention also includes configurations that achieve the same effects as the configurations described in the embodiments or that can achieve the same purpose. The present invention also includes configurations in which publicly known technology is added to the configurations described in the embodiments.

[0067] The following can be derived from the above-described embodiment.

[0068] One aspect of the image reading device is a document table on which a document is placed; a reading sensor having a light source that irradiates light onto the document; Equipped with The reading sensor performs a first scan in which light is irradiated onto the document with a first light amount, and then performs a second scan in which light is irradiated onto the document with a second light amount greater than the first light amount.

[0069] According to this image reading device, by performing a first scan and a second scan with different light intensities, it is possible to perform a plurality of scans with different purposes on one document.

[0070] One aspect of the image reading device is The light source includes a first light source and a second light source, In the reading sensor, during the first scan, the first light source may irradiate the document with the first amount of light, and during the second scan, the first light source and the second light source may irradiate the document with the second amount of light.

[0071] According to this image reading device, the light source is configured to include a first light source and a second light source, so that different amounts of light can be irradiated onto the document during the first scan and the second scan. For example, during the first scan, a first amount of light can be irradiated onto the document, and during the second scan, a second amount of light greater than the first amount of light can be irradiated onto the document. Because the reading sensor can irradiate different amounts of light onto the document during the first scan and the second scan, the first scan and the second scan can be used selectively depending on the purpose of the scan.

[0072] One aspect of the image reading device is The power consumption of the read sensor is The second scan may be larger than the first scan.

[0073] One aspect of the image reading device is The reading sensor may determine the state of the document in the first scanning, and may output the scanned document as image data in the second scanning.

[0074] This image reading device can determine the size and texture of the document during a first scan, and then perform a second scan corresponding to the results of the first scan. Furthermore, the document scanned by the reading sensor can be output as data, saving paper. Furthermore, the data can also be received by network devices connected to the image reading device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10...multifunction device, 12...device main body, 12a...upper portion, 13...recording device, 14...image reading device, 16...operation unit, 18...opening, 20...drawer section, 22...front tray, 24...rear tray, 26...paper storage section, 28...document transport section, 30...image reading section, 32...image reading sensor, 38...document transport path, 42...document discharge surface, 62...document pressing section, 64...sheet-like member, 130...feed section, 135...recording section, 136...carriage, 137...recording head, 138...ink cartridge, 139...cartridge holder, 144...separation roller, 145...retard roller, 146...intermediate roller, 160...discharge transport path

Claims

1. a document table on which a document is placed; a reading sensor having a light source that irradiates light onto the document; Equipped with The image reading device is characterized in that the reading sensor performs a first scan in which it moves while irradiating the document with light at a first light amount, thereby reading a portion of the document, and after determining the state of the document, performs a second scan in which it moves while irradiating the document with light at a second light amount greater than the first light amount, thereby reading the entire document.

2. The light source includes a first light source and a second light source, 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the reading sensor is configured such that, during the first scan, the first light source irradiates the document with the first amount of light, and during the second scan, the first light source and the second light source irradiate the document with the second amount of light.

3. The power consumption of the read sensor is 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second scanning is larger than the first scanning.

4. 4. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the reading sensor outputs the scanned document as image data in the second scan.

Images