JP2001337400A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader capable of carrying a reading optical system mounted on a carriage without damaging it even though the carriage is not fixed by using a fixing member. SOLUTION: For example, in the case of shifting the image reader 1 to another place, the carriages 5 and 7 are located at a carrying position where they exist near a pulley 21 within a limit that they can move in the case of reading an image. Thus, a distance between the carriages 5 and 7 and the pulley 21 on which a wire 25 supporting the carriages 5 and 7 is laid is shortened, so that the shaking width of the carriages 5 and 7 is made as small as possible even when the carriages 5 and 7 are vibrated in an up-and-down direction by a shock or the like in the midst of carrying, and then the reading optical system mounted on the carriages 5 and 7 is hardly damaged and dislocation is hardly caused in positional relation. Then, the reading optical system mounted on the carriages 5 and 7 is carried without being damaged even though the carriages 5 and 7 are not fixed by using the fixing member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus in which a carriage on which a reading optical system such as a light source and a mirror is mounted is moved in a sub-scanning direction by pulling a carriage with a wire.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a carriage holding a light source for irradiating light on a document placed on a contact glass and a plurality of mirrors is reciprocated in a sub-scanning direction by pulling the carriage with a wire. 2. Description of the Related Art An image reading apparatus that forms an image of a document as image data by forming an image of a reflected document on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) via a lens is widely known.

In such an image reading apparatus, a carriage that reciprocates along the lower surface of the contact glass needs to accurately adjust the distance between mirrors and the distance between mirrors and lenses. . However, since the carriage is supported by the wire, it is vulnerable to vertical swing. In particular, when vibration is applied in the vertical direction by impact or the like to the carriage located substantially at the center of the contact glass, which is the home position, the swing of the carriage becomes the largest, and the damage of the mirror and the positional relationship of the mirror are increased. Is likely to be out of order.

Therefore, when the image reading apparatus is shipped from a factory, the carriage is attached to the apparatus frame in order to prevent the mirror from being damaged or the mirror from being misaligned due to an impact or the like during transportation. Fixing has been done. In order to fix the carriage in this way, each carriage is fixed to the apparatus frame using a fixing member such as a screw or a binding member.

[0005]

However, in the case of using the fixing method as described above, it is necessary to remove the contact glass and to remove the fixing member such as a screw, so that a maintenance professional requires a user. Go to
After taking out the image reading device from the packed box, the fixing member is removed, the positional relationship of the carriage and the like is adjusted, and then the image reading device is delivered to the user. For this reason, the image reading apparatus cannot be used immediately after it is received by the user, and there is a problem in that the manufacturer of the adjustment must always travel on a business trip to the user. Also,
In some cases, a cushion material is used as a fixing member for fixing the carriage or the like, which is a cause of increasing waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus capable of transporting a reading optical system mounted on a carriage without damaging the carriage without fixing the carriage using a fixing member.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of preventing waste from being discharged.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of shortening the installation time and increasing the work efficiency.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus that can reduce the manufacturing cost.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An image of a document placed on a contact glass is formed on an image sensor via a reading optical system mounted on each of two carriages that are movable in the sub-scanning direction and connected to a wire bridged between pulleys. In the image reading apparatus, the carriage is moved from a home position of each of the carriages to a carriage position located near the pulley, and each of the carriages is moved.
Transfer position movement start means for declaring the start of movement of each of the carriages to the transfer position by the transfer position movement means.

Therefore, for example, when the image reading apparatus is moved to another place, the start of movement of each carriage is declared by the transfer position movement start means, and each carriage is positioned near the pulley by the transfer position movement means. Move to the transport position. As a result, the distance between the carriage and the pulley around which the wire supporting the carriage is bridged can be reduced, and even if vibration is applied in the vertical direction due to an impact during conveyance or the like, the carriage can be moved. Since the swing width can be made as small as possible, it is possible to make it difficult for the reading optical system mounted on the carriage to be damaged and the positional relationship to be out of order.

Further, when the image reading apparatus is shipped from a factory or when the image reading apparatus is relocated to another place, it is not necessary to fix the carriage using fixing members such as screws, binding members and cushioning materials. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate troublesome work for fixing the carriage, and it is also possible to prevent waste such as a cushion material from being discharged.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus of the first aspect, home position moving means for moving each of the carriages moved to the transfer position by the transfer position moving means to the home position. Home position movement start means for declaring the start of movement of each carriage to the home position by the home position movement means.

Therefore, for example, after the image reading apparatus is relocated to another location, the start of movement of each carriage is declared by the home position movement start means, and each carriage is positioned at the home position by the home position movement means. Maintenance personnel can use the image reading device without removing the fixing members such as screws, bundling members, and cushioning materials, and then adjusting the position of the carriage. It is possible to improve efficiency.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the second aspect, the home position movement start means is a power switch.

Therefore, the image reading apparatus can be used immediately.

The invention described in claim 4 is the first to third aspects of the present invention.
In the image reading device according to any one of the above, the ratio of the moving speed of each carriage between the transport position and the home position follows a speed ratio in normal image reading.

Therefore, the setting of the moving speed of the carriage between the transport position and the home position does not require a special algorithm, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 5 provides the invention according to claims 1 to 4
In the image reading device according to any one of the above, at the time of moving each of the carriages to the transport position by the transport position moving unit, an arrival determining unit that determines whether each of the carriages has reached the transport position. When,
When the arrival determining means determines that each of the carriages has not reached the transport position, a re-moving means for enabling the function of the transport position movement starting means to be re-executable.

Therefore, it is possible to reliably move the carriage to the transport position.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to an image scanner that is used by being connected to an external device such as a host computer (not shown).

First, the configuration of the image scanner will be described. Here, FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view schematically showing the structure of the image scanner 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a housing 1a of the image scanner 1 is provided with a contact glass 2 on which a document (not shown) is placed. At a position facing the contact glass 2 from below, a first carriage 5 on which a reflection mirror 3 and an illumination lamp (Xe lamp) 4 are mounted is movably arranged in the sub-scanning direction A. In the reflected light path of the first carriage 5, a second carriage 7 whose optical path is turned back by two reflecting mirrors 6 is movably arranged in the sub-scanning direction A. The reflected light path of the second carriage 7 includes: A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 9 serving as an image sensor is located via an imaging lens 8. The reflection mirror 3 and the illumination lamp 4 mounted on the first carriage 5 and the two reflection mirrors 6 mounted on the second carriage 7 constitute a reading optical system. Further, the image scanner 1 includes:
A pressure plate (not shown) for pressing a document placed on the contact glass 2 is also provided.

Next, an example of a mechanism for moving the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 in the sub-scanning direction A will be described with reference to FIGS. The image scanner 1 has a frame 1b in a housing 1a. This frame 1
b has two parallel rails 10, 11;
These rails 10 and 11 slidably support two carriages 5 and 7 orthogonal to the rails 10 and 11. At both ends of the second carriage 7, two-groove pulleys 12, 13 are provided.

A rotating shaft 14 is provided below the rails 10 and 11 so as to be orthogonal to the rails 10 and 11. Wire pulleys 15 and 16 are provided at portions between the rails 10 and 11 of the rotating shaft 14 and the side surfaces of the frame 1b, respectively. One end of the rotating shaft 14 protrudes out of the frame 1b, and a gear 17 is provided on the protruding portion. The gear 17 receives a driving force from a gear 19 connected to a driving shaft of a stepping motor 18. A transmitting belt 20 is wound. In addition, idler pulleys 21, 22, 23, 24 are provided near both ends of each rail 10, 11, respectively.

Further, a wire 2 is provided on the side wall of the frame 1b.
5, 26 are fixed at one end. Wire 25
Is sequentially wound around the two-groove pulley 12 and the idler pulley 21 from the side wall of the frame 1b, then wound around the wire pulley 15 several times, and further wound around the idler pulley 22 and the two-groove pulley 12 sequentially. The other end is fixed in the frame 1b via the spring 27. Also, a portion of the wire 25 between the idler pulley 22 and the two-groove pulley 12 includes:
One end of the first carriage 5 is fixed.

Similarly, the wire 26 is sequentially wound around the two-groove pulley 13 and the idler pulley 23 from the side wall of the frame 1b and then wound around the wire pulley 16 several times. 13, and the other end is fixed in the frame 1b via the spring 28. The other end of the first carriage 5 is fixed to a portion of the wire 26 between the idler pulley 24 and the two-groove pulley 13.

With such a structure, the wire pulleys 15 and 16 rotate by the driving force of the stepping motor 18, and the carriages 5 and 7 are moved by being pulled by the wires 25 and 26. Here, the ratio of the moving speeds of the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 in the sub-scanning direction A is 2: 1 due to the wires 25 and 26 being wound around as described above.
It has been.

Therefore, the two carriages 5, 7 are:
The idler pulleys 21, 22, 23, and 24 are supported by wires 25 and 26 that are bridged around the fulcrums. When the two carriages 5 and 7 move in the sub-scanning direction A at a speed ratio of 2: 1, the image of the document placed on the contact glass 2 is read and scanned, and the image is read via the imaging lens 8. An image is formed on the CCD 9.

Next, the electrical connection of the control system of the image scanner 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the control system includes a circuit for performing various types of image processing on image data output from the CCD 9 to a main control unit 29 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the entire image scanner 1. An image processing unit 30,
A traveling body control unit 31 which is a circuit for controlling a stepping motor 18 for moving the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7, and an operation panel 32 for receiving various operations on the image scanner 1 and displaying various messages
And scanner profile such as speed profile and CC
Memory 33 for storing image data and the like output from D9
And are connected.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the operation panel 32. The operation panel 32 is provided with a liquid crystal display D on which a touch panel is stacked, in addition to a start key K1 and a number key K2 for declaring the start of reading of a document image. The liquid crystal display D also functions as various operation keys by displaying predetermined contents on a screen. Characteristic operation keys in the image scanner 1 according to the present embodiment include a transfer position mode functioning as a transfer position movement start unit that declares the start of movement of the carriages 5 and 7 to the transfer position in a transfer position mode described later. There is a key K3, which is displayed on the liquid crystal display D together with the message m "Do you want to execute the transfer position?" Note that the transfer position mode is
This mode is used when the image scanner 1 is shipped from a factory or when the image scanner 1 is moved to another location.

The traveling body control unit 31 includes an illumination lamp 4, a stepping motor 18, a transport position sensor 34 for detecting whether the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 are at the transport position, and a A home position sensor 35 for detecting whether or not the one carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 are at the home position is connected.

Next, the transfer position moving process executed by the main control unit 29 will be described. This processing implements the function of the transfer position moving means.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically showing the flow of the transfer position moving process. As shown in FIG. 6, in the transfer position moving process, when the start of the transfer position mode is declared by operating the transfer position mode key K3 (Y in step S1), the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 are moved home. It is moved from the position to the transfer position (step S2).

FIG. 7A is an explanatory view showing the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 located at the home position, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 located at the transport position. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a two carriage 7. As shown in FIG. 7A, the home position of the first carriage 5 is positioned near one end of the contact glass 2, and the home position of the second carriage 7 is positioned substantially at the center of the contact glass 2. Thus, when reading and scanning a document having a length in the sub-scanning direction A of the contact glass 2, the ratio of the moving speed of the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 in the sub-scanning direction A is 2:
Since it is set to 1, the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 move to the vicinity of the other end of the contact glass 2. In the image scanner 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 are limited to the extent that they can move when reading an image, Is positioned as a transport position between the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7.

It should be noted that the main controller 29 determines in step S2
When the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 are moved from the home position to the transport position at the time, the speed profile at the time of normal image reading set in advance in the memory 33 (at the time of image reading) is set. The stepping motor 18 is driven by referring to FIG.

In the following step S3, it is determined whether the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 have reached the transport position. Here, the function of the arrival determining means is executed. If the transport position sensor 34 is ON (Y in step S3), the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 have reached the transport position, and thus the process ends.

On the other hand, the transfer position sensor 34 is turned off.
(N in step S3), since the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 have not reached the transport position for some reason, error processing such as notifying the fact is executed ( Step S4) Proceed again to step S1 to wait for operation of the transport position mode key K3. Here, the function of the re-moving means is executed.

After that, if the cause of the error is resolved and the transport position mode key K3 is operated, the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 will surely reach the transport position.

Here, for example, when the image scanner 1 is relocated to another place, as shown in FIG.
By positioning the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 at the transport position, an idler pulley 21 (an idler pulley 23) around which the second carriage 7 and a wire 25 (wire 26) supporting the second carriage 7 are bridged.
Can be shortened, so even if vibration is applied in the vertical direction due to impact during transportation,
The swing width of the second carriage 7 can be made as small as possible, and the two reflecting mirrors 6 can be hardly damaged or the positional relationship can be prevented from being out of order.

When the image scanner 1 is shipped from a factory or when the image scanner 1 is relocated to another location, the carriages 5 and 7 need to be fixed using fixing members such as screws, binding members, and cushioning materials. As a result, the troublesome work for fixing the carriages 5 and 7 can be eliminated, and the discharge of waste such as cushioning material can be prevented.

Next, the home position moving process executed in the main control section 29 will be described. This processing implements the function of the home position moving means.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart schematically showing the flow of the home position moving process. As shown in FIG. 8, when the power switch (not shown) of the image scanner 1 is turned on (Y in step S11), the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 are moved from the transport position to the home position. Move to the position (step S12). That is, in the present embodiment, the power switch functions as a home position movement start unit.

It should be noted that the main controller 29 determines in step S1
When the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 are moved from the transport position to the home position in Step 2, a return is made during normal image reading preset in the memory 33 (when returning to the home position). The stepping motor 18 is driven with reference to the speed profile of FIG.

In the following step S13, it is determined whether or not the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 have reached their home positions. Home position sensor 35
Is ON (Y in step S13),
Since the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 have reached the home position, the process is terminated.

On the other hand, when the home position sensor 35
In the case of F (N in step S13), since the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 have not reached their home positions for some reason, error processing such as notifying the fact is executed. (Step S14),
The process ends.

Here, for example, after the image scanner 1 is relocated to another location, the first carriage 5 and the second carriage 7 are moved to the home position only by turning on the power switch as shown in FIG. , The maintenance personnel removes fixing members such as screws, binding members, cushioning materials, etc.
The image scanner 1 can be used immediately without adjusting the position of the image scanner, so that the installation time can be shortened and the work efficiency can be improved.

[0047]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the contact glass is connected via the reading optical system mounted on each of two carriages which are connected to the wire extended between the pulleys and are movable in the sub-scanning direction. In an image reading apparatus for forming an image of a document placed thereon on an image sensor and reading the image, a transfer position for moving each carriage from a home position of each carriage to a transfer position located near the pulley. Means, and a transfer position movement start means for declaring the start of movement of each of the carriages to the transfer position by the transfer position moving means, for example, when the image reading apparatus is relocated to another location. , Declare the start of movement of each carriage by the transfer position movement start means, and Each step positions each carriage at the transport position located near the pulley, and the distance between the carriage and the pulley around which the wire supporting the carriage is bridged can be reduced. Even when vibration is applied, the swing width of the carriage can be minimized,
It is possible to prevent the reading optical system mounted on the carriage from being damaged and the positional relationship from being out of order. In other words, even if the carriage is not fixed using the fixing member, the carriage can be transported without damaging the reading optical system mounted on the carriage.

Further, when the image reading apparatus is shipped from the factory or when the image reading apparatus is relocated to another place, it is not necessary to fix the carriage using fixing members such as screws, binding members, and cushioning materials. Thereby, troublesome work for fixing the carriage can be eliminated, and discharge of waste such as cushioning material can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, a home position movement for moving each of the carriages moved to the transport position by the transport position moving means to the home position. Means, and home position movement start means for declaring the start of movement of each of the carriages to the home position by the home position movement means, for example, after the image reading apparatus is moved to another location, The start of the movement of each carriage is declared by the position movement start means, and each carriage can be positioned at the home position by the home position movement means, so that the maintenance specialist can use fixing members such as screws, bundling members, and cushion materials. Remove and carry Without the position adjustment of di, the image reading apparatus can be used, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the shortened and working installation time.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the second aspect, since the home position movement start means is a power switch, the image reading apparatus can be used immediately.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, a ratio of a moving speed of each carriage between the transport position and the home position is: By following the speed ratio in normal image reading, a special algorithm is not required for setting the moving speed of the carriage between the transport position and the home position, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, when each of the carriages is moved to the transport position by the transport position moving means, Arrival determining means for determining whether or not each carriage has reached the transport position, and when it is determined that each of the carriages has not reached the transport position,
By providing re-moving means for enabling the function of the transfer position movement start means to be executed again, the carriage can be reliably moved to the transfer position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view schematically showing a structure of an image scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a mechanism for moving a first carriage and a second carriage in a sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 3 is a front view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection of a control system of the image scanner.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an operation panel.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically showing a flow of a transfer position moving process.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory view showing a first carriage and a second carriage in a state where they are located at a home position;
(B) is an explanatory view showing the first carriage and the second carriage located at the transport position.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart schematically showing a flow of a home position moving process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reading apparatus 2 Contact glass 3,4,6 Reading optical system 5,7 Carriage 9 Image sensor 21,22,23,24 Pulley 25,26 Wire K3 Transport position movement start means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image of a document placed on a contact glass via a reading optical system mounted on each of two carriages connected to a wire bridged between pulleys and movable in a sub-scanning direction. An image reading apparatus which forms an image on an image sensor and reads the image, comprising: a transfer position moving unit configured to move each of the carriages from a home position of each of the carriages to a transfer position located near the pulley; An image reading device comprising: a transfer position movement start unit that declares a start of movement of each carriage to a transfer position. 2. A home position moving means for moving each of the carriages, which have been moved to the transfer position by the transfer position moving means, to the home position, respectively; and moving each of the carriages to the home position by the home position moving means. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a home position movement start unit that declares a start of movement. 3. The home position movement start means,
3. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein the image reading device is a power switch. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a moving speed of each of the carriages between the transport position and the home position follows a speed ratio in a normal image reading. Image reading device. 5. An arrival judging means for judging whether each of the carriages has reached the transport position when the carriages are moved to the transport position by the transport position moving means, and an arrival judging means. And re-moving means for enabling the function of the transfer position movement start means to be executed again when it is determined that the respective carriages have not reached the transfer position. 5. The image reading device according to any one of 4.