JP3754699B2 - Book scanner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a book scanner that captures a document such as an old document, a book such as a valuable book, a contract or attached document, a cardboard, etc., with a digital camera.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a mounting table 51 on which a document M for imaging document data such as a book is mounted, a vertical arm 52 connected to the mounting table 51, and the vertical arm 52. An image input device is proposed in which a horizontal arm 53 attached to the camera and a camera 54 for taking an image of the document M on the mounting table 51 are attached to the horizontal arm 53.

The mounting table 51 of this conventional image input device is suitable for imaging a flat original M, but it is difficult to capture a thick book. In view of this, there has been proposed a technique for photographing a thick document or the like, that is, continuously photographing a three-dimensional product. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-162673 “Photographing Device” in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-162673, a case for accommodating a photographing target, a camera for photographing the photographing target from outside the case, and the camera aligned with the position of the photographing target A moving device for moving the imaging target, a mirror for projecting an image of the upper surface of the imaging target onto the imaging surface of the camera, an elevating unit for moving the imaging target up and down, and the elevating unit There has been proposed an imaging apparatus comprising: a detection unit that detects that an imaging target has been moved and the imaging target has approached the mirror within a predetermined distance.
JP 2000-162673 A

  However, the conventional image input apparatus including the vertical arm 52 and the horizontal arm 53 is not suitable for photographing a thick original M because the mounting table 51 is flat, and it is also valuable for old documents and valuable books. The book manuscript M was damaged. Further, in the image input apparatus having a configuration in which the vertical arm 52 is erected at an intermediate position on one side of the mounting table 51, as shown in FIG. 6, the vertical arm 52 is obstructed and stands in front of the image input apparatus. An operator who takes an image is always limited to moving the document M only in the horizontal direction with respect to the image input apparatus. For example, an original M such as a vertical scroll has a problem that it cannot perform an operation of moving the original back and forth with respect to a conventional image input apparatus.

  In addition, the photographing apparatus of Patent Document 1 can only photograph a three-dimensional object, but cannot photograph a thick document with its two-page spread and a flat surface. Further, since the photographing apparatus itself is large, it has a problem that it cannot be easily carried.

  The present invention has been developed to solve such problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to improve the workability when placing a document on the placement table by changing the configuration of the arm that supports the digital camera. Also, the document placed on the placement table. It is an object of the present invention to provide a book scanner that can capture images in a flat state regardless of the thickness and shape of the book.

According to the present invention, a document placing table (1) for placing a document (m) for image input, and an arm (2) standing upward from the document placing table (1), and an upper portion thereof. The supporting arm (4) that supports the digital camera (3) so that the imaging direction thereof is directed toward the center of the document placing table (1), and the irradiation direction on the supporting arm (4). An illumination device (5) mounted so as to face the center of the table (1), and a book scanner comprising the document table (1) on which a document (m) is placed. 7) and a transparent pressure plate (8) that is supported by the original placing body (7) so as to be swingable and presses and holds the imaging surface of the original (m) placed on the original placing body (7). And a parallel link (17) for moving the two plate members (16) up and down like a seesaw in the document placing body (7). Comprising a, a document placing plate (18) formed by connecting the, original documents (m) which placed on the document placing plate (18), left and right and up and down on a seesaw according to the left and right thickness unfolded its The left and right heights are balanced, and the imaging surface of the document (m) can be made flat by the transparent pressure plate (8). The document table (1) includes: The support arm further includes a fixing member for connecting and fixing the two plate members (16) so that the two plate members (16) do not shake when the sheet-like document (m) is imaged. In (4), two arms (2) are erected upward from both ends of one side of the substantially square document placing table (1), and a horizontal arm (2) is formed in a bowl shape on the top. The arm (2) that supports the digital camera (3) is projected in the middle and further upward. , From between the two arms (2), which is constituted so as to move the document (m), book scanners are provided, characterized in that.

  The illuminating device (5) is close to a horizontal arm (2) in which two arms (2) are erected in a bowl shape from both ends of one side of the substantially square document placing table (1) upward. Then, the lamp (12) is arranged.

In the present invention, the document placing table (1) is supported by the document placing body (7) on which the document (m) is placed and the document placing body (7) so as to be swingable. A transparent pressure plate (8) that presses and holds the original (m) placed on the paper) and a parallel link (17) that moves the two plate members (16) up and down like a seesaw in the original placing body (7). ) And a document placement plate (18) connected to the document (m), so that even a thick book with a thickness of the document (m) of about 7 cm can be imaged in a flat spread state. . In particular, the height can be adjusted according to the difference in thickness between the left and right sides of the book. The imaging surface of the original (m) can be made flat by the transparent pressure plate (8).
Furthermore, if these two plate members 16 are connected and fixed by a fixing member, the plate member 16 can be prevented from shaking.

The support arm (4) has two arms (2) erected upward from both ends of one side of the substantially square document placing table (1), and a horizontal arm (2) is provided on the upper side. In the case where the arm (2) protrudes further upward in the middle of the hook, and the digital camera (3) is supported on the upper part of the arm (2), it stands in front of the scanner of the present invention. The operator who performs imaging is not limited to the operation of always moving the document (m) in the horizontal direction as in the prior art. For the document (m) of vertical writing, the document (m) is moved to the scanner by the support arm ( The work of moving back and forth between the arms (2) of 4) becomes possible. Therefore, even a document (m) such as an attached table pasting document or a scroll can be easily imaged. This saddle-like support arm (4) prevents A3 wide-size originals and long originals (m) such as scrolls from being disturbed by the support of the conventional image input device, and does not damage the original (m). The manuscript (m) can be imaged. When taking such an image, it is possible to easily take an image of a large document (m) by preventing the two plate members 16 from being shaken by the fixing member.

  An illuminating device (5) is close to a horizontal arm (2) in which two arms (2) are erected in a bowl shape from both ends of one side of a substantially rectangular document placing table (1) upward. In the case where the lamp (12) is disposed, the irradiation light is not reflected on the transparent pressure plate (8) of the document placing table (1), so that high-definition imaging is possible.

  The book scanner according to the present invention has a document placement table for placing a document to be input with an image, and an arm standing upward from the document placement table. A support arm that supports the center of the table so as to face downward, and an illuminating device that is attached to the upper part of the support arm so that the irradiation direction faces the center of the document table. The electronic data of the original captured by the digital camera is automatically cut out by a personal computer and stored after correcting the inclination. If connected to a color printer, it can be used as a book copy.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view showing a book scanner of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the book scanner. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the document table.
In the book scanner of the present invention, a document placing table 1 for placing a document for inputting an image, and an arm 2 are erected upward from the document placing table 1. Includes a support arm 4 that supports the document placement table 1 so as to face downward in the center, and an illumination device 5 that is attached to the upper portion of the support arm 4 so that the irradiation direction faces the center of the document placement table 1. Is.

  The support arm 4 is configured to be detachably attached to the document table 1. In many cases, valuable documents cannot be taken out. The book scanner of the present invention can transport the document m to a storage location of the original m and take an image at that location. Therefore, the support arm 4 is detachable in consideration of the convenience of carrying the book scanner of the present invention. For example, a lower end portion of each arm 2 constituting the support arm 4 can be inserted into a recess opened in the document table 1 so as to be freely inserted and removed. The attachment / detachment mechanism between the support arm 4 (arm 2) and the document table 1 is not limited to this means. Further, the support arm 4 is configured so that the individual arms 2 can be disassembled and assembled. In the case of a stationary scanner, the support arm 4 and the document table 1 need not be detachable.

  Similarly, the digital camera 3 is also configured to be detachably attached to the support arm 4. This is because not only can the book scanner of the present invention be disassembled and transported, but also the digital camera 3 having different performance can be exchanged according to the type of document to be imaged. The digital camera 3 can capture a high-definition image by using, for example, a high-definition digital camera with 12 million pixels. In the illustrated example, the digital camera 3 is mounted in a camera case 6 to protect the digital camera 3 and to move up and down to finely adjust the imaging angle.

  In addition, the digital camera 3 can be configured to capture the A3 angle of view at a lower position, for example, so that the book scanner of the present invention can be made compact. That is, by using a high-definition and wide-angle dedicated lens, the height of the support arm 4 can be suppressed, and a compact book scanner can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support arm 4 of the present invention has two arms 2 erected in a hook shape from both ends of one side of a substantially square document placing table 1 and horizontally above the upper side. The arm 2 is stretched over, and the digital camera 3 is supported by the tip of the arm 2 further upward in the middle. That is, the support arm 4, a single supporting arm 4 as in the conventional image input apparatus and are erected from the intermediate portion of one side of the document table 1 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). By standing the support arm 4 in a bowl shape, the four sides of the document placing table 1 can be opened, and workability can be improved.

As described above, since the four directions of the substantially rectangular document placing table 1 are set as open spaces, the worker who takes an image while standing in front of the scanner according to the present invention always moves the document m in the lateral direction as in the past. It is no longer limited to work. For example, for an original m such as a vertical scroll, it is possible to move the original m in the front-rear direction of the operator from between the arms 2 of the support arm 4 with respect to the scanner. Further, it is possible to easily capture an image of a document m such as an attached document. As a result, A3 wide-sized originals and long originals m such as scrolls can be imaged without being disturbed by the support arm 4. In addition, it is possible to take an image with confidence without damaging the original m.

A transparent pressure plate 8 that presses and holds a document m placed on the document placing body 7 is a glass plate that is fitted to a frame so as to be freely opened and closed. The transparent pressure plate 8 has a mechanism for holding the upper surface of the book with glass in order to stabilize the spread state of the book. By suppressing the imaging surface of the book with this transparent pressure plate 8, even a document m that tends to be thin and wrinkled such as a sheet can be imaged in a stable state. In the illustrated example, the transparent pressure plate 8 can maintain an “open” state and a “closed” state by the damper 9 in order to increase work efficiency.
Further, in the case of a thick document in which the support portion 10 of the transparent pressure plate 8 has a swingable play so that the transparent pressure plate 8 floats upward in a horizontal state when the document is closed, a glass that holds the original m. The pressure is even, and the holding of the book is stabilized. The transparent pressure plate 8 is opened and closed with a handle 11.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the illuminating device 5 is close to a horizontal arm 2 in which two arms 2 are erected in a bowl shape from both ends of one side of a substantially rectangular document placing table 1 upward. A lamp 12 such as a fluorescent lamp is bridged at a position, and a reflecting plate 13 is disposed on the back surface thereof. Further, a shielding plate 14 is arranged to make the illuminance to the document table 1 uniform. The shielding plate 14 is deformed according to the size and illuminance of the lamp 12 such as a fluorescent lamp. The shielding plate 14 prevents the irradiation light from being reflected on the transparent pressure plate 8 of the document table 1, thereby enabling high-definition imaging.

  Precious book manuscripts M such as old documents and precious books are burned by ultraviolet rays, and such precious documents must be avoided by ultraviolet rays. Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a lighting device 5 in which a lamp 12 (fluorescent lamp) is housed in a tube of an ultraviolet cut filter 15 is used as an illumination device 5 for imaging.

4A and 4B show the internal structure of the document placement table. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the previous page portion of a thick book is imaged, and FIG. 4B shows the intermediate page of the book. (C) is a state in which the page portion of the latter stage of the book is being imaged.
The document placing table 1 is supported by a document placing main body 7 on which the document m is placed and the other end of the document placing main body 7 so as to be swingable, and presses the document m placed on the document placing body 7. A transparent pressure plate 8 to be held and a document placing plate 18 formed by connecting two plate members 16 to a parallel link 17 that moves up and down like a seesaw in the document placing body 7 are provided. The parallel link 17 is pivotally supported on both side surfaces of the two plate members 16 and the middle is pivotally supported. As a result, even if the document m is a thick book having a thickness of about 7 cm, for example, it can be imaged in a flat spread state. In particular, the height is adjusted by the difference in thickness between the left and right sides of the book, and the imaging surface is flattened so that the right and left document placement plates 18 move up and down in accordance with the thickness of the book in a seesaw manner so It can be in a state.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are plan views showing the auxiliary plate provided on the plate member so as to be able to appear and retract. FIG. 5A shows a state before the auxiliary plate protrudes, and FIG. 5B shows a state after the auxiliary plate protrudes.
Each plate member 16 is provided with an auxiliary plate 19 that can be moved freely. For example, when taking an image of a back cover such as a book, the auxiliary plate 19 is stored in the plate member 16 so that a gap is formed between the plate members 16 (FIG. 5A). )). However, when imaging a single sheet-like document m, this gap is a cause of wrinkles. Therefore, the auxiliary plate 19 is pulled out from the plate member 16 to form a single plate (FIG. 5B). That is, it is possible to take an image of the sheet-like original m with the original placing plate 18 in a flat state, and workability can be improved.

  Furthermore, a fixing member (not shown) for connecting and fixing these two plate members 16 can be provided. Since the two plate members 16 do not shake, the sheet-like original m can be easily imaged.

  A height adjusting mechanism 20 for adjusting the height of the document placing plate 18 is provided. The height adjusting mechanism 20 is to maintain an appropriate distance between the document placing plate 18 and the transparent pressure plate 8 at all times. The height adjusting mechanism 20 is composed of, for example, a mechanism that supports an intermediate shaft support portion of the parallel link 17 and rotates a worm gear-shaped member to move up and down. Since the height adjusting mechanism 20 serves as an outlet for the back portion of the book and the center portion can be opened and closed in accordance with the back thickness of the book, the top surface portion of the book can always be kept horizontal. Further, when placing a sheet, the original m can be placed stably by closing the opening and closing.

  Further, the surface of the document placing table 1 is processed with rubber instead of metal, and is a mechanism that is gentle to the book's non-slip and the book's spine itself. The center of the book can be opened and closed according to the thickness of the book. This keeps the upper part of the book always horizontal.

  As described above, the electronic data of the original m captured by the digital camera 3 can be automatically cut out and saved by a personal computer, for example. Scan with a black background at a size slightly larger than the target document m, drop the black frame in post-processing, and store the corrected tilt. Since there is no need to scan while correcting the position of the original m as in the prior art, the working efficiency can be improved.

  Furthermore, it is possible to binarize the data scanned in color / gray scale, that is, convert it to black and white as needed. It is possible to adjust the optimum binarization setting while comparing with the original document. The book scanner of the present invention can also be used as a book copy by connecting to a color printer.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, and any configuration that can improve workability when placing a document on a placement table by changing the configuration of an arm that supports a digital camera. For example, the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the arms 2 shown in the figure are arranged in a bowl shape, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  Further, the structure of the document placing table 1 is not limited as long as it can capture images in a flat state regardless of the thickness and shape of the document placed on the document placing table.

  The book scanner of the present invention can be used for imaging any document such as an old document, a book manuscript such as a valuable book, a contract or attached document, a document such as cardboard.

It is a side view which shows the scanner for books of this invention. It is a front view which shows the scanner for books. 2 is a plan view of a document placement table. FIG. FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of a document placement table, where (a) shows a state when an image of a previous page portion of a thick book is imaged, and (b) shows a state when an intermediate page of the book is imaged. (C) is a state when the page portion of the latter stage of the book is imaged. It is a top view which shows the auxiliary | assistant board provided in the board member so that it can protrude and retract, (a) is the state before protrusion of an auxiliary | assistant board, (b) is the state after protrusion of an auxiliary | assistant board. FIG. 10 is a front view of a conventional image input device including one vertical arm. It is a side view of the conventional image input device which consists of one vertical arm.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Document mounting base 2 Arm 3 Digital camera 4 Support arm 5 Illumination device 7 Original mounting body 8 Transparent pressure plate 12 Lamp 16 Plate member 17 Parallel link 18 Original mounting plate 19 Auxiliary plate 20 Height adjustment mechanism m Original

Claims (2)

A document placement table (1) for placing a document (m) for image input, and an arm (2) standing upward from the document placement table (1), and a digital camera (3) above it And a support arm (4) for supporting the image pickup direction in the center direction of the document placement table (1), and an irradiation direction on the support arm (4) at the center of the document placement table (1). A book scanner comprising a lighting device (5) mounted to face
The document placing table (1) is supported by a document placing body (7) on which the document (m) is placed and is swingably supported by the document placing body (7), and the document placing body (7). A transparent pressure plate (8) that presses and holds the imaging surface of the document (m) placed on the document plate, and a parallel plate that moves the two plate members (16) up and down like a seesaw in the document placement body (7). A document placing plate (18) connected to the link (17), and a seesaw type for the document (m) placed on the document placing plate (18) according to the open left and right thicknesses The left and right are up and down, the left and right heights are balanced, and the imaging surface of the document (m) is configured to be flat with the transparent pressure plate (8) .
The two plate members (16) are connected and fixed to the document table (1) so that the two plate members (16) do not shake when the sheet-like document (m) is imaged. A fixing member for
The support arm (4) has two arms (2) erected upward from both ends of one side of the substantially square document placing table (1), and a horizontal arm (2) is provided on the upper side. The arm (2) that supports the digital camera (3) protrudes in the middle from above, and the document (m) is moved between the two arms (2). A book scanner characterized by being configured to obtain . The illuminating device (5) has a horizontal arm (2) in which two arms (2) are erected in a hook shape upward from both ends of one side of the substantially square document placing table (1). The book scanner according to claim 1 , wherein the lamp (12) is arranged close to the book scanner.

Images