JP4584198B2 - Measuring apparatus, document reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a measuring apparatus, an original reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a measuring method for adjusting an attachment position of an original feeding apparatus with respect to an original reading apparatus.

  The document reading device is provided in, for example, a copying machine, and a document feeding device is attached to the document reading device. The document feeding device automatically and sequentially feeds the document placed on the first tray to the document reading device, and then discharges the sent document onto the second tray. The document reading device reads the documents sequentially sent from the document feeding device and converts them into image data. The copying machine performs copying of a document based on image data obtained from the document reading device.

  Specifically, the document reading device has a CCD sensor arranged in a line and a light source for irradiating light to the document, and the moving document sent from the document feeder is irradiated by the light source. Then, the reflected light from the original can be collected and read on the CCD by the imaging lens, and image data of the original can be created.

  Further, the document reading apparatus is adjusted so that accurate reading without distortion can be performed on a document image before shipment after assembly at a factory.

  Regarding this adjustment, Patent Document 1 discloses the following adjustment method. That is, a specific original (reference chart) for measuring image distortion is read by an original reading device, and the specific original read image obtained thereby is compared with a specific image stored in the image processing unit in advance as an image without distortion. To do. In this case, the leading edge image and the trailing edge image in the document scanning direction of the specific document read image are compared with the leading edge image and the trailing edge image of the specific image, respectively. Then, the difference in position between the leading edge images in the specific document read image and the specific image and the difference in position between the trailing edge images in the specific document read image and the specific image are set as distortion amounts to eliminate the distortion. Adjust the tilt of the CCD.

Further, in Patent Document 2, the inclination of the reference image obtained by reading the reference chart formed on the document placing table of the document reading device is compared with the initial value stored in advance, thereby obtaining the image data light receiving element. It is disclosed to correct the tilt. Specifically, the image data light receiving element is rotatably supported around the optical axis of an imaging lens that forms an image of reflected light from the original on the image data light receiving element, and can be rotated by a motor. ing. When the inclination of the reference image obtained by reading the reference chart is different from the initial value, the inclination of the image data light receiving element is adjusted so that the inclination of the reference image matches the initial value.
JP-A-9-116688 (May 2, 1997) JP 2001-144898 (May 25, 2001)

  When the attachment position of the document feeder with respect to the document reading device is not adjusted, the image data of the document obtained from the document reading device may be distorted as in the case where the document reading device is not adjusted. Specifically, when the document feeding device is attached to the document reading device while being inclined in the horizontal direction (mounting surface direction), the document sent from the document feeding device is obliquely fed to the document reading device. In this case, for example, image data obtained by reading a rectangular frame-like image (for example, a reference chart) is parallel squares shown in FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B according to the inclination direction of the document feeder. It becomes a shape.

  In such a case, it is necessary to adjust the attachment position of the document feeding device with respect to the document reading device so that the document reading device can accurately read the document image without distortion. However, in this adjustment, the reference chart is sent from the document feeder, read by the document reader, printed, and compared with the print image and the reference chart. You have to repeat the work. For this reason, this adjustment work places a heavy burden on the operator.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a measuring apparatus, an original reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a measuring method that can easily adjust the attachment of the original feeding apparatus to the original reading apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a measurement apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that a reference image is drawn in a measurement apparatus that measures the amount of inclination of the document feeder attached to the attachment surface of the document reading device in the attachment surface direction. An inclination amount for calculating an inclination amount of the document feeding device in the mounting surface direction from a read image of the reference image obtained by reading the reference chart being read by the document reading device while being fed by the document feeding device It is characterized by comprising: a calculation unit; and display means for displaying the inclination amount of the document feeder obtained from the inclination amount calculation unit.

  Further, the measurement method of the present invention is the measurement method for measuring the amount of inclination in the direction of the attachment surface of the document feeder attached to the attachment surface of the document reading device. An inclination amount calculating step for calculating an inclination amount of the document feeder in the mounting surface direction from a read image of the reference image obtained by reading with the document reader while feeding by the document feeder, and the amount of inclination And a display step for displaying on the display means the amount of inclination of the document feeder obtained in the calculation step.

  According to the above configuration, the measuring device measures the amount of inclination of the document feeding device attached to the attachment surface (for example, the document placement table) of the document reading device in the attachment surface direction. The amount of inclination of the document feeding device in the mounting surface direction is, for example, a document feeding direction with respect to the direction in which the reading window extends in a configuration in which an image of a moving document is read from a reading window formed at an end of the document table. This is the amount of tilt of the device.

  In the case of the above-described configuration, the inclination amount calculation unit calculates the direction of the attachment surface from the read image of the reference image obtained by reading the reference chart on which the reference image is drawn with the document reading device while feeding the reference chart. The amount of inclination of the document feeder at is calculated. The display means displays the inclination amount of the document feeder obtained from the inclination amount calculation unit.

  Therefore, the operator can easily perform an operation of attaching the document feeding device so that the document feeding device does not tilt with reference to the tilt amount of the document feeding device displayed on the display unit.

  In the measuring apparatus, the reference image may be configured by a frame image written along a paper outer edge portion of the reference chart.

  According to the above configuration, since the reference image is a frame image written along the outer edge of the reference chart, the inclination amount calculation unit can easily calculate the inclination amount of the document feeder from the read image of the frame image. Can be done.

  In the measurement apparatus, the reference chart may be configured such that a gradation pattern for γ adjustment is drawn in a frame in the frame image.

  According to the above configuration, the reference chart can be used both as a reading adjustment chart and a γ adjustment chart of the document reading apparatus, which contributes to cost reduction.

  The measuring apparatus measures a distortion amount of a reference image obtained by reading a reference chart on which a reference image is drawn, which is placed on the document placing table of the document reading apparatus, with the document reading apparatus. A skew amount measuring unit, and the tilt amount calculating unit calculates the tilt amount of the document feeder only when the strain amount of the reference image measured by the strain amount measuring unit is a predetermined value or less. It is good also as composition which performs.

  According to the above configuration, the inclination amount calculation unit performs the operation of calculating the inclination amount of the document feeder only when the distortion amount of the reference image measured by the distortion amount measurement unit is equal to or less than the specified value. When the image distortion amount exceeds a specified value, that is, when the reading adjustment of the document reading device is insufficient, the amount of inclination of the document feeding device is calculated to avoid a situation where an inaccurate calculation result is obtained. be able to.

  An original reading apparatus according to the present invention irradiates light on the above-described measuring apparatus, imaging device, and original moved by the original feeding device and guides reflected light from the original to the imaging device. It is characterized by having.

  An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes the above document reading device and a document feeding device that sends a document to the document reading device, and the document feeding device has a rotation fulcrum on the mounting surface of the document reading device. It is characterized in that it can be rotated at the center and can be fixed at an arbitrary rotational position.

  According to the above configuration, the operator can easily perform the work of attaching the document feeding device so as not to tilt by rotating the document feeding device while referring to the tilt amount of the document feeding device displayed on the display means. be able to.

  In the image forming apparatus described above, a scale for adjusting a rotation angle of the document feeding device may be provided on the mounting surface of the document reading device.

  According to the above configuration, the operator can easily perform adjustment work for eliminating the inclination of the document feeder while referring to the inclination amount of the document feeder displayed on the display unit and the scale for adjusting the rotation angle. Can be done.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the worker can easily perform the work of mounting the document feeder so that the document feeder does not tilt while referring to the tilt amount of the document feeder displayed on the display unit. Can do.

[Embodiment 1]
In the configuration of the present embodiment, so-called continuous scanning is performed in which the scanner unit reads an image of the reference chart while the reference chart is sent by the document feeder, and the image forming apparatus ( By measuring the amount of inclination of the document feeder with respect to the scanner unit, the inclination of the document feeder with respect to the image forming apparatus (scanning window of the scanner unit) can be adjusted with reference to the measured value. It is.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the multifunction peripheral 1100 according to the present embodiment. The multifunction machine 1100 includes a document feeder (hereinafter referred to as “SPF: Single Pas Feeder”) 1001 and an image forming apparatus 1110.

  The image forming apparatus 1110 forms a monochrome image on a recording sheet (sheet) according to image data obtained by scanning a document conveyed by the SPF 1001 or image data input from the outside. The image forming apparatus 1110 includes a scanner unit (original reading device) 1111, a printer unit 1112, and a paper feeding unit 1113.

  The printer unit 1112 includes an optical writing unit 1003, a developing unit 1004, a photoconductor 1005, a charger 1006, a cleaner unit 1007, a transfer unit 1008, a fixing unit 1009, a paper transport path 1010, a paper discharge tray 1012, and a manual feed tray 1026. ing. The paper feed unit 1113 includes a paper feed tray 1011 and a large capacity paper feed cassette (LCC) 1025. These paper feed tray 1011 and large-capacity paper feed cassette 1025 contain recording paper used for image formation.

  The scanner unit 1111 includes a document placing table 1051 made of glass on the upper surface, and a light source holder 1013, a mirror group 1014, and a CCD (imaging device) 1015 below the document placing table 1051. In the scanner unit 1111, when scanning the document sent from the SPF 1001, the light source holder 1013 and the mirror group 1014 are stopped at a position on one end side of the document placing table 1051. In this case, when the document is conveyed from the SPF 1001, light is emitted from the light source of the light source holder 1013 to the document, and reflected light from the document is imaged on the CCD 1015 via the mirror group 1014, and an electronic image is obtained by the CCD 1015. Converted to data. In order to perform such an operation, a reading window 1052 is formed at one end of the upper surface of the scanner unit 1111 as shown in FIG.

  In the printer unit 1112, the charger 1006 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 1005 to a predetermined potential. In the image forming apparatus 1110, the charger type charger 1006 is used. However, a contact type roller type or brush type charger can also be used.

  The optical writing unit 1003 employs a two-beam system including two laser irradiation units 1016a and 1016b in order to cope with high-speed printing processing, and the burden associated with increasing the irradiation timing is reduced. The optical writing unit 1003 emits laser light from the laser irradiation units 1016a and 1016b according to the input image data. The laser light is irradiated to the uniformly charged photosensitive member 1005 through the mirror groups 1017a and 1017b to expose the photosensitive member 1005. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 1005.

  In the image forming apparatus 1110, a laser scanning unit (LSU) including laser irradiation units 1016a and 1016b and mirror groups 1017a and 1017b is used as the optical writing unit 1003. The light emitting elements are arranged in an array. An EL write head or an LED write head can also be used.

  The developing device 1004 is disposed to face the photoconductor 1005 and visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 1005 with black toner. The cleaner unit 1007 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 1005 after development and image transfer.

  The transfer unit 1008 transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 1005 onto the recording paper. The transfer unit 1008 includes a transfer belt 1019, a driving roller 1020, a driven roller 1021, and an elastic conductive roller 22. The elastic conductive roller 22 is provided at a contact portion between the photoconductor 1005 and the transfer belt 1019 and applies a transfer electric field.

  The fixing unit 1009 heats and melts the toner image transferred onto the recording paper and fixes it on the recording paper. The fixing unit 1009 includes a heating roller 1023 and a pressure roller 1024. The heating roller 1023 includes a heat source, and the pressure roller 1024 is pressed against the heating roller 1023 with a predetermined pressure.

  A recording sheet on which an image is printed is discharged to a discharge tray 1012. The manual feed tray 1026 is for feeding recording paper of an irregular size.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the SPF 1001. As shown in FIG. 3, the SPF 1001 includes a document tray 1027, a pickup roller 1028, a paper feeding roller 1029, a separating roller 1030, a conveying roller 1031, a pressing roller 1032, a registration roller 1033, a reading unit 1034, a paper discharging roller 1035, and paper discharging. A tray 1036 is provided.

  A document is placed on the document tray 1027. Pickup roller 1028 feeds a document from a bundle of documents on document tray 1027 to document transport path S1. The paper feed roller 1029 and the separation roller 1030 convey the documents sent to the document conveyance path S1 to the downstream side of the document conveyance path S1 while separating the documents one by one. The pressing roller 1032 presses the document against the conveying roller 1031. The conveyance roller 1031 and the pressure roller 1032 convey the document along the sheet conveyance path S1.

  The registration roller 1033 sends the document to the reading unit 1034 at a predetermined timing. The reading unit 1034 is an area corresponding to the reading window 1052 shown in FIG. A paper discharge roller 1035 discharges the document whose image has been read to a paper discharge tray 1036.

  The multifunction device 1100 includes an operation panel 1240 as a user interface. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel 1240 includes a touch panel liquid crystal display device (hereinafter referred to as LCD) 241, a numeric keypad 242, a start key 243, a clear key 244, a full release key 245, a printer key 246, and facsimile / image transmission. A key 247, a copy key 248, a job status confirmation key 249, and the like are arranged.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a functional configuration of the multifunction peripheral 1100. As shown in the figure, the MFP 1100 controls a main controller 1401 that controls the entire MFP 1100, a printer unit 1112, a printer controller 1402 that controls the printer unit 1112, a scanner unit 1111, and a scanner unit 1111. A scanner control unit 1403, an image processing unit 1404, a γ adjustment unit 1405, a storage unit 1500, an SPF 1001, and an operation panel 1240 are provided. The main control unit 1401 includes, for example, a CPU and a ROM that stores a control program executed by the CPU. The storage unit 1500 includes, for example, a RAM, and includes an image data storage unit 1501 and a reference data storage unit 1502.

  The image data storage unit 1501 stores image data read by the scanner unit 1111. The image data storage unit 1501 serves as a work area for the main control unit 1401. The reference data storage unit 1502 stores various reference values necessary for adjusting the SPF 1001 and adjusting the scanner unit 1111.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a reference chart 701 used in the MFP 1100 according to the present embodiment. The reference chart 701 includes an SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 composed of a rectangular frame-shaped image, and a γ adjustment chart (tone adjustment chart) that is an image used for γ adjustment inside the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711. 712. Accordingly, the reference chart 701 can be used for adjusting the attachment position of the SPF 1001 and γ adjustment of the scanner unit 1111. It should be noted that the reference chart 701 is not necessary for the γ adjustment chart 712 when it is used only for adjusting the mounting position of the SPF 1001.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main part of the functional configuration of the main control unit 1401 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the main control unit 1401 includes an image segmentation unit (image segmentation unit) 421 and an adjustment amount calculation unit (inclination amount calculation unit) 1431.

  The image segmentation unit 1421 uses the SPF attachment adjustment image (image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 shown in FIG. 5), which is a rectangular frame image, from the reference chart image obtained from the scanner unit 1111 and the SPF attachment. A γ adjustment chart image (an image of the γ adjustment chart 712 shown in FIG. 5) that is an image inside the adjustment image is cut out. The γ adjustment chart image thus obtained is input to the adjustment amount calculation unit 1431, and the γ adjustment chart image is input to the γ adjustment unit 1405.

  Based on the SPF attachment adjustment image obtained from the image segmentation unit 1421, the adjustment amount calculation unit 1431 calculates the amount of horizontal inclination in the SPF 1001 attached on the document placement table 1051 of the scanner unit 1111. Further, the adjustment amount calculation unit 1431 displays the calculated inclination amount of the SPF 1001 on the LCD (display unit) 241 of the operation panel 1240. The γ adjustment unit 1405 performs γ adjustment of the scanner unit 1111 based on the γ adjustment chart image obtained from the image cutout unit 1421. This γ adjustment is performed by a known method. For example, in the γ adjustment, when the color data of the read reference chart image is A1, and the color data when this is corrected with the initial color correction coefficient B1 is A2, the reference values Aref and A2 are compared. If the allowable range is exceeded, the color correction coefficient is changed so as to be within the allowable range. Thus, the output color data is made close to the reference value.

  Next, the inclination adjustment of the SPF 1001 will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a structure for adjusting the inclination of the SPF 1001 with respect to the scanner unit 1111 (image forming apparatus 1110) in the multifunction peripheral 1100. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing an operation state for adjusting the inclination of the SPF 1001.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the SPF 1001 is attached on the scanner unit 1111 of the image forming apparatus 1110 by an operator. In this case, the SPF 1001 is first disposed so as to be rotatable about the rotation fulcrum 1601 with respect to the scanner unit 1111, for example. The rotation fulcrum 1601 is, for example, a pin provided in the SPF 1001 or the scanner unit 1111, and this pin is fitted into a pin fitting hole provided in the SPF 1001 or the scanner unit 1111.

  On both sides of the attachment position of the SPF 1001 on the upper surface of the scanner unit 1111, an angle adjustment scale 1602 for adjusting the attachment angle of the SPF 1001 is written. In addition, SPF1001 shown with a continuous line in the same figure is arrange | positioned in the inclined state, and SPF1001 shown with a dashed-two dotted line is arrange | positioned in the appropriate state.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the operator rotates the SPF 1001 to the right or left around the rotation fulcrum 1601, arranges the SPF 1001 at an appropriate position, and then fixes it. In this case, the worker refers to the inclination angle of the SPF 1001 displayed on the LCD 241 of the operation panel 1240 and rotates the SPF 1001 while viewing the angle adjustment scale 1602.

  Next, an inclination amount calculation operation of the SPF 1001 in the adjustment amount calculation unit 1431 illustrated in FIG. 6 will be described. FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view illustrating a state in which the SPF 1001 is inclined in the horizontal direction with respect to the scanner unit 1111 (a state in which the SPF 1001 is rotated leftward about the rotation fulcrum 1601). FIG. 10A shows an image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 obtained by reading the reference chart 701 sent from the SPF 1001 when the SPF 1001 is attached in a state of being rotated leftward about the rotation fulcrum 1601. FIG. 10B is an SPF attachment adjustment chart obtained by reading the reference chart 701 sent from the SPF 1001 when the SPF 1001 is attached in a state of being rotated rightward about the rotation fulcrum 1601. 711 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of 711. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the SPF 1001 is attached in an inclined state (rotated state), the document feed direction by the SPF 1001 is inclined with respect to the reading window 1052. Therefore, an image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 obtained by reading the reference chart 701 using the SPF 1001 is as shown in FIG. In this case, it is necessary to correct the inclination by rotating the SPF 1001 rightward by a predetermined angle θ. When the image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 shown in FIG. 10B is obtained, it is necessary to perform the reverse correction operation. Accordingly, the adjustment amount calculation unit 1431 obtains the angle θ from the image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 and displays the angle on the LCD 241 of the operation panel 1240.

  Next, a method for calculating the angle θ in the adjustment amount calculation unit 1431 will be described. FIG. 11 shows the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 of the reference chart 701 sent by the SPF 1001 and the SPF obtained by reading the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 by the scanner unit 1111 when the SPF 1001 is attached at an angle θ. It is explanatory drawing which shows the image of the front-end | tip part of the chart 711 for attachment adjustment.

  Note that a line Lr is a reading position (a reading center position from the reading window 52) by a line-shaped CCD sensor. Further, the triangle of the two-dot chain line on the left side of the line Lr is a diagram when all of the left side of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 has just passed through the line Lr, and the solid line triangle on the left side of the line Lr is It is an image obtained by reading a two-dot chain line triangle.

In FIG. 11, the equation including the angle θ is
sin θ = Lf1 / Ld2
It becomes. Therefore,
θ = sin ⁻¹ (Lf1 / Ld2) (1)
It is. Here, Lf2 in the read image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 is
Lf2 = Lf1
Then, since Lf1 (= Lf2) and Ld2 in Expression (1) are obtained from the read image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711, the angle θ can be calculated from these values.

  Next, the operation when adjusting the inclination of the SPF 1001 in the MFP 1100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12 and FIG. FIG. 13 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an arrangement state of the reference chart 701 when the inclination of the SPF 1001 is adjusted.

  In this embodiment, when the inclination adjustment of the SPF 1001 is performed, the reference chart 701 is arranged on the document tray 1027 of the SPF 1001 and the document placement table 1051 of the scanner unit 1111 as shown in FIG.

  First, the reference chart 701 is placed on the document tray 1027 of the SPF 1001 and the document placement table 1051 of the scanner unit 1111 by the operator's manual work (S1001).

  On the other hand, the MFP 1100 is set to the adjustment mode by a predetermined key operation on the operation panel 1240. When the start key (adjustment start button) 243 is pressed in this state (S1002), the scanner unit 1111 scans the reference chart 701 on the document table 1051 with the light source of the light source holder 1013, and reads the image (S1003). .

  Next, the adjustment amount calculation unit 1431 calculates the distortion amount of the image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 from the read image and displays it on the LCD 241 of the operation panel 1240 (S1004). Note that the distortion amount of the image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 here occurs because the position of the optical system member in the scanner unit 1111 cannot be adjusted.

  The main control unit 1401 determines whether or not the calculated distortion amount is equal to or less than a specified value (S1005), and if it exceeds the specified value, displays an error on the LCD 241 (S1006) and ends the process. The reason why the processing is finished in this way is that the adjustment of the inclination of the SPF 1001 cannot be performed properly because the reading adjustment of the scanner unit 1111 itself is incomplete.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S5 that the image distortion amount of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 is equal to or less than a specified value (within an allowable range), the reference chart 701 on the document tray 1027 is sent to the scanner unit 1111 by the SPF 1001. The scanner unit 1111 reads the image of the reference chart 701 (S1007). In this case, the reference chart 701 is read through the reading window 1052 with the light source holder 1013 disposed below the reading window 1052.

  Next, the adjustment amount calculation unit 1431 calculates the inclination amount of the SPF 1001 from the image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 among the read images of the reference chart 701 as described above, and the result is displayed on the LCD 241 of the operation panel 1240. (S1008).

  Therefore, the operator can easily adjust the inclination of the SPF 1001 with reference to the inclination amount of the SPF 1001 displayed on the LCD 241. Further, in the above processing, it is determined whether or not the reading adjustment of the scanner unit 1111 is appropriately performed (S1003 to S1005), and the inclination adjustment of the SPF 1001 is performed only when it is appropriately performed. Thus, it is possible to adjust the inclination of the SPF 1001 appropriately.

  Note that the processing of S1003 and S1004 described above is performed by reading adjustment of the document reading device described later in the second embodiment. Therefore, when performing the series of processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, the main control unit 1401 shown in FIG. 1 has the function of the main control unit 401 shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, after determining whether or not the reading adjustment of the scanner unit 1111 is appropriately performed (S1003 to S1005), measurement of the amount of inclination of the SPF 1001 for adjusting the inclination of the SPF 1001 (S7, S8). However, if it is assumed that the reading adjustment of the scanner unit 1111 is appropriately performed, the processing of S1003 to S1005 is not necessary.

  Further, in the processing of S1003 to S1005, it is assumed that the reference chart 701 is accurately placed at a predetermined position on the document placement table 51, and the apparent strain obtained from the apparent distortion amount calculation unit 601 shown in FIG. Based on only the distortion amount (without correcting the apparent distortion amount), it may be determined whether the distortion amount is equal to or less than a specified value.

[Embodiment 2]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the configuration of the present embodiment, even when the reference chart is placed on the original placement table in a state inclined (rotated) from the normal position, the adjustment of the original reading device based on the reference chart is accurately performed. To be able to do that.

  In the present embodiment, the SPF attachment adjustment chart 711 of the reference chart 701 functions as a reading adjustment chart 711 of the document reading apparatus. Therefore, it will be referred to as a reading adjustment chart 711 below.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the multifunction machine (copier) 1 includes a printer 2, a scanner 3 serving as a document reading device on the printer 2, and a document feeding device 4 on the scanner 3. A paper feed desk device 5 is provided below the printer 2.

  The printer 2 forms a toner image on a sheet based on image data supplied from the scanner 3 or image data supplied from an external device, fixes the toner image on the sheet, and outputs the toner image.

  The scanner 3 has a document placing table 30 on the upper surface, and exposes and scans the document placed on the document placing table 30 to generate image data of a document image.

  The document feeder 4 supplies the documents set on the document tray 11 one by one onto the document placement table 30, and discharges the document whose image has been read by the scanner 3 to the sheet discharge tray 12.

  The paper feed desk device 5 includes, for example, three stages of paper feed cassettes 5 a to 5 c, and supplies paper to the printer 2 from any one of these paper feed cassettes 5 a to 5 c.

Next, the scanner 3 will be described in detail.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the main part of the scanner 3. FIG. 17 is a plan view of the first scanning unit 31 built in the scanner 3. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the first scanning unit 31.

  In the scanner 3 shown in FIG. 16, the upper left position in the scanning direction S is the scanning start end side, the lower right position in the scanning direction S is the scanning end side, and the near side position in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction S. Is called the scanner front side, and the opposite side is called the scanner rear side. The scanning start end side corresponds to the leading end side of the image read by the scanner 3, and the scanning end side corresponds to the trailing end side of the image.

  The scanner 3 includes a first scanning unit 31 and a second scanning unit 32 as shown in FIG. The first and second scanning units 31 and 32 are provided so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction of the original (hereinafter simply referred to as the width direction of the apparatus). The scanning units 31 and 32 are provided on optical system member holding portions 31a and 32a for holding optical components such as light sources and mirrors, and on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the optical system member holding portions 31a and 32a, and the optical system member holding portions 31a. , 32a and guide drive units 31b, 32b for driving in the scanning direction.

  Each guide drive unit 31b, 32b is provided with a slider 317 (see FIG. 17). The slider 317 of the first scanning unit 31 scans on the first guide rail 36 provided on the inner wall of the housing 35 (two-dot chain line in FIG. 16) of the apparatus body in the scanning direction S (first and second scanning units 31, 32 moving directions). The slider 317 of the second scanning unit 32 is provided so as to slide along the scanning direction S on the second guide rail 37 provided at a position below the first guide rail 36 on the inner wall of the housing 35. The first and second guide rails 36 and 37 extend along the scanning direction S of the housing 35 and are respectively provided on a pair of opposed inner walls.

  A stepping motor 38 as a drive source for the first and second scanning units 31 and 32 is attached to the first and second guide rails 36 and 37 on the outer side in the width direction of the apparatus and in the vicinity of the end in the scanning direction. ing.

  An output gear is provided on the output shaft of the stepping motor 38. The output gear meshes with a gear portion of a gear / pulley (in which the gear and the pulley are integrally formed) rotatably disposed on a rotation shaft fixed to the inner wall of the housing 35.

  A drive shaft 43 is provided near the end of the housing 35 in the scanning direction S with respect to the stepping motor 38. The drive shaft 43 is provided such that its axial direction is along the width direction of the apparatus, and is rotatably supported by the housing 35 via a bearing (not shown). A pulley 44 and two wire drive pulleys 39, 39 provided in the vicinity of both end portions in the axial direction are fixed to the drive shaft 43. A timing belt 61 is wound between the pulley 44 of the drive shaft 43 and the pulley portion of the gear / pulley, and the driving force from the stepping motor 38 is output gear, the gear / pulley, the timing belt 61 and the drive shaft. It is transmitted to the drive shaft 43 through 43 pulleys 44.

  Wires 45, 45 wound around wire drive pulleys 39, 39 provided in the vicinity of both ends in the axial direction of the drive shaft 43 are each provided with first ends cut and raised from the bottom of the housing 35. Are fixed to the fixing portions 46, 46. The other ends of the wires 45, 45 are fixed to second fixing portions 47, 47 provided on the inner wall of the housing 35 on the scanning start end side in the scanning direction S via tension springs 48 for applying tension. These wires 45 are wound around the first pulley 46 sequentially from the second pulley 49, the wire drive pulley 39 of the drive shaft 43, the fixed pulley 55, the second pulley 49 and the auxiliary pulley 56, and finally the other end. It is fixed to the second fixing portion 47. The double pulley 49 is rotatably provided in the second scanning unit 32, and the fixed pulley 55 is rotatably provided in the vicinity of the second fixed portion 47 and on the inner wall of the housing 35 in the apparatus width direction. The auxiliary pulley 56 is provided coaxially with the fixed pulley 55 and is provided on the inner side in the apparatus width direction with respect to the fixed pulley 55.

  The wire 45 is wound around the wire driving pulley 39 many times. Of the portion of the wire 45 wound many times, even when the first and second scanning units 31 and 32 are moved to both ends in the scanning direction in the figure, the portion wound around the wire drive pulley 39 is fixed screw. To the wire drive pulley 39. Thus, the driving force can be accurately transmitted without the wire 45 slipping in the circumferential direction with respect to the wire driving pulley 39.

  The first scanning unit 31 is fixed to a portion between the wire driving pulley 39 and the double pulley 49 in the wire 45 wound in this manner by a wire fixing means 316 described later. The first fixing portion 46 is configured to fix the end portion of the wire 45 by fixing a fixing bracket provided at the end portion of the wire 45 with a screw to the cut and raised portion of the housing 35. Further, the second fixing portion 47 is configured such that a fixing bracket provided at an end portion of the wire 45 is engaged with one end of a spring 48 and the other end of the spring 48 is engaged with a cut and bent portion of the housing 35. Has been. The auxiliary pulley 56 prevents the casing 35 from becoming large in the scanning direction S by bending the wire 45 from the bottom surface of the casing 35 to the upper surface side when the end of the wire 45 is locked via the spring 48. Yes.

  With the above configuration, when the stepping motor 38 rotates forward or backward, the first and second scanning units 31 and 32 are guided by the first and second guide rails 36 and 37 to reciprocate in the scanning direction S. During this movement, the moving speed of the first scanning unit 31 becomes twice the moving speed of the second scanning unit 32 due to the winding action of the wire 45.

  In the first scanning unit 31, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, an optical system member holding portion 31 a and a guide driving portion 31 b are integrally provided on the first scanning unit carriage 311.

  The optical system member holding portion 31a includes a xenon lamp 310, a slit 312, a reflector 313, a first mirror 314, a light source driving circuit board 315, and a driving circuit board fixing screw 315a. A xenon lamp 310 is a light source for irradiating a document. The slit 312 guides the reflected light from the original to another optical component by limiting it to a predetermined range. The reflector 313 reflects light from the light source toward the document. The drive circuit board fixing screw 315 a fixes the drive circuit board 315 to the first scanning unit carriage 311. The guide drive unit 31b includes a wire fixing member 316, a slider 317, and the like. The wire fixing member 316 fixes the first scanning unit 31 to the wire 45. The slider 317 is for the first scanning unit 31 to slide on the first guide rail 36 described above.

  In the first scanning unit 31, the xenon lamp 310 held by the optical system member holding portion 31a includes a portion where the phosphor is applied and a portion where the phosphor is not applied, and a portion where the phosphor is not applied. Since it emits light from inside the lamp, it acts as an aperture. The light emitted from the xenon lamp 310 is applied to the document G placed on the document table. Further, part of the light emitted from the xenon lamp 310 reaches the reflector 313, and the light reflected by the reflector 313 is applied to the original G on the original table.

  The reflected light reflected by the original G passes between the xenon lamp 310 and the reflector 313, passes through the slit 312 formed on the bottom surface of the optical system member holding portion 31a, and then passes through the slit of the optical system member holding portion 31a. The first mirror 314 held by the mirror holding unit is irradiated. Light incident on the first mirror 314 from above in the vertical direction is reflected, deflected in the optical direction in the horizontal direction, and incident on the second mirror 321 provided in the second scanning unit 32.

  In the second scanning unit 32, the optical system member holding part 32 a holds the second mirror 321 and the third mirror 322. The light reflected by the first mirror 314 of the first scanning unit 31 is incident on the second mirror 321 of the second scanning unit 32, and after being incident, the light path is deflected in a right angle direction and reflected. The light reflected by the second mirror 321 enters the third mirror 322 and is reflected by deflecting the optical path in a right angle direction. The reflected light is incident on the imaging lens 33 and collected, and forms an image on a CCD line sensor (imaging device) 34 disposed at the focal position.

  The CCD line sensor 34 uses a three-line image sensor of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and can read the image after being separated into three colors.

  Next, the printer 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, the printer 2 has four image forming stations for handling color images. The image data handled in the printer 2 corresponds to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y).

  For this reason, the printer 2 uses the exposure unit 201, the developing unit 202, the photosensitive drum 203, the cleaner unit 204, the charging unit 205, and the transfer roller 206 so as to form four types of latent images corresponding to the respective colors. It is provided for each image forming station. Each image forming station is set to correspond to black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y).

  The printer 2 further includes a transfer conveyance belt unit 208, a fixing unit 209, a paper feed cassette 210, paper discharge trays 211 and 212, an image processing board 220, a control circuit board 230, and the like. The image processing board 220 includes an image processing unit 404. The control circuit board 230 includes a main control unit 401, a printer control unit 402, a scanner control unit 403, a γ adjustment unit 405, and a storage unit 500, which will be described later.

  In the printer 2, the charger 205 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 203 to a predetermined potential, and the exposure unit 201 exposes the charged photosensitive drum 203 to convert image data onto the surface. A corresponding electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing device 202 visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 203 with toner. The cleaner unit 204 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 203 after development and image transfer.

  The toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums 203 are sequentially transferred onto the sheet on the transfer belt 207. This toner image is fixed on the paper by the fixing device 209.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a functional configuration of the multifunction machine 1. As shown in the figure, the multifunction device 1 includes a main control unit 401 that controls the entire multifunction device 1, a printer 2, a printer control unit 402 that controls the printer 2, a scanner 3, and a scanner control unit 403 that controls the scanner 3. An image processing unit 404, a γ adjustment unit 405, and a storage unit 500. The storage unit 500 includes an image data storage unit 501 and a reference data storage unit 502.

  The image data storage unit 501 stores image data read by the scanner 3. The image data storage unit 501 serves as a work area for the main control unit 401. The reference data storage unit 502 stores various reference values necessary for reading adjustment of the scanner 3. For example, data relating to a read image of the reference chart 701 obtained when the reference chart 701 is read in a state where the scanner 3 is accurately adjusted is stored as a reference value.

  FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the main part of the functional configuration of the main control unit 401 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the main control unit 401 includes an image segmentation unit (image segmentation means) 421 and a reading adjustment unit 431.

  The image cutout unit 421 reads a read adjustment image (an image of the read adjustment chart 711 shown in FIG. 19), which is an image of a rectangular frame, from each reference chart image obtained from the scanner 3, and the read adjustment image. Is divided into a γ adjustment chart image (an image of the γ adjustment chart 712 shown in FIG. 19). The read adjustment image thus obtained is input to the read adjustment unit 431, and the γ adjustment chart image is input to the γ adjustment unit 405.

  The reading adjustment unit 431 performs reading adjustment of the scanner 3 based on the reading adjustment image cut out from the reference chart image read by the scanner 3. The γ adjustment unit 405 performs γ adjustment of the scanner 3 based on the γ adjustment chart image cut out from the reference chart image read by the scanner 3.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the reading magnification of the scanner 3 in the main scanning direction has already been correctly adjusted. This is because the scanner 3 mechanically adjusts the magnification in the main scanning direction with a jig or the like during assembly at the factory.

  FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of the reading adjustment unit 431 shown in FIG. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing an image of the reading adjustment chart 711 obtained by reading the reference chart 701 shown in FIG. 5 with the scanner 3 when the scanner 3 is not adjusted.

  In FIG. 21, the read image 711a of the read adjustment chart 711 is distorted where the front end side of the image should coincide with the reference line L1 orthogonal to the scanning direction S because the scanner 3 is not adjusted in the read adjustment. Yes. Further, since the reference chart 701 is arranged in a bent state with respect to the reference guide on the document placing table 30, the read image 711a itself is inclined (rotated) with respect to the reference line L2.

  20 includes an apparent distortion amount calculation unit 601, an inclination amount calculation unit 602, a corrected distortion amount calculation unit (adjustment amount calculation unit, distortion amount measurement unit) 603, an adjustment amount calculation unit 604, and an adjustment motor. A control unit (control unit) 605 is provided.

  The apparent distortion amount calculation unit 601 calculates the apparent distortion amount of the read image 711a in a state where the inclination amount of the read image 711a of the reading adjustment chart 711 is not taken into consideration. An inclination amount calculation unit 602 calculates an inclination amount with respect to the reference line L2 of the reading adjustment chart 711. The corrected distortion amount calculation unit 603 corrects the apparent distortion amount calculated by the apparent distortion amount calculation unit 601 with the inclination amount calculated by the inclination amount calculation unit 602, and the read image 711a of the reading adjustment chart 711. Calculate the corrected distortion amount. The adjustment amount calculation unit 604 calculates a specific adjustment amount of the position of the optical system member in the scanner 3 for setting the correction distortion amount calculated by the correction distortion amount calculation unit 603 within an allowable range.

  The calculation result by the adjustment amount calculation unit 604 is sent to the operation panel 240 and displayed on the LCD 241. Therefore, when the operator manually adjusts the scanner 3, the work can be performed with reference to the adjustment amount displayed on the LCD 241.

  The configuration of the present embodiment includes the adjustment motor control unit 605, the adjustment motor of the scanner 3, and the adjustment mechanism for the position of the optical system member driven by this motor. Adjustments can also be made automatically. That is, the adjustment motor control unit 605 determines that the correction distortion amount of the read image 711a of the read adjustment chart 711 falls within the allowable range based on the adjustment amount of the position of the optical system member calculated by the adjustment amount calculation unit 604. Thus, the adjustment motor of the scanner 3 is controlled.

  In the present embodiment, the first scanning unit 31 is slid as the position adjustment of the optical system member for eliminating the distortion of the read image 711a of the read adjustment chart 711 (or to make it within an allowable range). The height of the first guide rail 36 is adjusted (tilt adjustment in the scanning direction S). This eventually adjusts the position (tilt) of the first reflecting mirror (optical system member) 314.

  FIG. 22A is an explanatory diagram of a specific operation of the reading adjustment unit 431 shown in FIG. 20, and FIG. 22B is an explanatory diagram of the rail interval used for calculating the adjustment amount. Here, the distance between the first guide rails 36 is 300 mm, and among the read image 711 a of the reading adjustment chart 711, the image vertical length (reference portion vertical length) and image horizontal length (reference portion horizontal length) of the portion used for calculation. ) Is 200 mm, the scanner tip distortion amount in the reference portion vertical length is A, the rail movement amount for adjustment is B, and the inclination amount (image inclination amount) of the read image 711a with respect to the reference line L2 is C. As shown in FIG. 22B, the rail interval here is provided on the lower surface of the first scanning unit 31, and the slider 317 mounted on one first guide rail 36 and the other. This is the distance from the slider 317 mounted on the first guide rail 36.

In the example of FIG. 22A, the height at the scanning start end side of the first guide rail 36 on the scanner front side in FIG. 16 is relatively high. At this time, when the scanner tip distortion amount A in the reference portion vertical length is 1 mm and the image inclination amount C is 0.5 mm, the rail movement amount B is:
B = (A + C) × (300 ÷ 200) (1)
Because
B = (1 + 0.5) × (300 ÷ 200) = 2.25 mm
It becomes. Therefore, by reducing the height of the scanning start end side of the first guide rail 36 (the first guide rail 36 on the front side of the scanner in FIG. 16) on the side where the scanner tip distortion amount A is generated, the read image is reduced. The distortion of 711a can be eliminated.

  FIG. 23 shows the principle that the distortion in the read image 711a of the read adjustment chart 711 can be adjusted by changing the height (inclination) of the first guide rail 36. In addition, the example shown in the figure is a case where the front side of the scanner in the first reflecting mirror 314 is depressed (lowered). The inclination angle α of the first reflecting mirror 314 with respect to the horizontal direction (the upper surface of the document table 30) is set to 45 °.

  In the same figure, when the front side of the scanner on the first reflection mirror 314 falls as indicated by a broken line, the same state as that the front side of the scanner of the first reflection mirror 314 is preceded in the scanning direction S is obtained. For this reason, compared with the normal case where the scanner front side is not depressed, the image capturing position is shifted to the scanning start end side in the portion corresponding to the scanner front side. As a result, the read image 711a of the read adjustment chart 711 is distorted in a shape in which the portion corresponding to the front side of the scanner is relatively preceded.

  Note that examples of adjusting the height of the first guide rail 314 on the scanning start end side include those shown in FIG. 29A in addition to those shown in FIG.

  In the example of FIG. 16, since the height of the scanning start end side of the first guide rail 36 on the scanner front side in FIG. 16 is relatively low, the side of the start end side of the read image 711 a is inclined downward to the left. It has become. In this case, the scanner tip portion distortion amount A is substituted as a negative value (A = −1 mm) into the above equation (1). When the start side of the read image 711a is inclined downward to the left, the amount of inclination C is substituted as a negative value (C = −0.5 mm) into the above equation (1).

Therefore,
B = (− 1−0.5) × (300 ÷ 200) = − 2.25 mm
It becomes. In this way, when the calculation result B becomes a negative value, the scanning start end side of the first guide rail 36 on the rear side of the scanner may be lowered by B (2.25 mm).

  Next, an example of adjusting the height of the first guide rail 314 on the scanning end side will be described.

  In the example of FIG. 29 (b), since the scanning end side height of the first guide rail 36 on the scanner front side in FIG. 16 is relatively high, the end side of the read image 711a is lowered to the right. It has become an inclination. In this case, the scanner tip distortion amount A is substituted into the above equation (1) as a positive value (A = 1 mm). When the end side of the read image 711a is inclined downward to the right, the inclination amount C is substituted as a positive value (C = 0.5 mm) into the above equation (1).

Therefore,
B = (1 + 0.5) × (300 ÷ 200) = 2.25 mm
It becomes. Thus, when the calculation result B becomes a positive value, the scanning end side of the first guide rail 36 on the front side of the scanner may be lowered by B (2.25 mm).

  Next, another example of adjusting the height of the first guide rail 314 on the scanning end side will be described.

  In the example of FIG. 29C, since the scanning end side height of the first guide rail 36 on the scanner rear surface side in FIG. 16 is relatively high, the end side of the read image 711a is lowered to the left. It has become an inclination. In this case, the scanner tip portion distortion amount A is substituted as a negative value (A = −1 mm) into the above equation (1). When the end side of the read image 711a is inclined downward to the left, the amount of inclination C is substituted as a negative value (C = −0.5 mm) into the above equation (1).

Therefore,
B = (− 1−0.5) × (300 ÷ 200) = − 2.25 mm
It becomes. Thus, when the calculation result B becomes a negative value, the scanning end side of the first guide rail 36 on the rear side of the scanner may be lowered by B (2.25 mm).

  Further, the image vertical length and the image horizontal length shown in FIG. 22A can be arbitrarily changed. For example, when the image vertical length after change is 100 mm and the scanner tip distortion amount A is 0.5 mm, the reference image vertical length is 200 mm as described above, and 0.5 × (reference image vertical length) / (change The subsequent image vertical length can be corrected to 100 mm) = 1 (mm). Then, by substituting A = 1 mm into the equation (1), it becomes the same as the example of FIG.

  Similarly, with respect to the image horizontal length, for example, when the changed image horizontal length is 100 mm, when the inclination amount is 0.25 mm, the reference image horizontal length is set to 200 mm as described above, and 0.25 × (reference image horizontal length 200 mm) / (image lateral length after change 100 mm) = 0.5 mm. Then, by substituting C = 0.5 mm into the equation (1), it becomes the same as the example of FIG.

  Next, the operation when the reading adjustment of the scanner 3 is performed in the multifunction machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  In this adjustment, the reference chart 701 is placed on the document placement table 30 by manual operation by the operator or by the document feeder 4, and the scanner 3 reads the reference chart 701. The reading adjustment unit 431 of the main control unit 401 performs the above-described operations by the apparent distortion amount calculation unit 601, the inclination amount calculation unit 602, the correction distortion amount calculation unit 603, and the adjustment amount calculation unit 604, thereby adjusting the distortion amount (adjustment) of the read image 711a. Amount). The calculation result is displayed on the LCD 241 of the operation panel 240 (S2).

  The adjustment motor control unit 605 determines whether or not the distortion amount is greater than or equal to an allowable range (S3). If the distortion amount is greater than or equal to the allowable range, the adjustment motor is driven to drive the first guide rail 36. Is moved up and down (S4). Thereby, the position of the first reflection mirror 314 as an optical system member is adjusted so that the amount of distortion falls within an allowable range.

  Here, the position of the first reflecting mirror 314 is automatically adjusted by the adjustment motor control unit 605, the adjustment motor, and the drive mechanism based on the adjustment amount obtained by the adjustment amount calculation unit 604. However, the operator may adjust the position of the first reflecting mirror 314, that is, the first guide rail 36 by referring to the adjustment amount displayed on the LCD 241. In this case, the adjustment motor control unit 605, the adjustment motor, and the drive mechanism are not necessary.

  In this embodiment, since the reference chart 701 serves as both the reading adjustment chart 711 and the γ adjustment chart 712, the main control unit 401 changes the read image of the reference chart 701 to the reading adjustment chart 711. The corresponding image and the image corresponding to the γ adjustment chart 712 are separated and used for each adjustment. In other words, the image segmentation unit 421 of the main control unit 401 shown in FIG. 19 corresponds to the reference chart image obtained from the scanner 3 as a read adjustment image (read adjustment chart 711) that is an image of a rectangular frame shape. Image) and a gamma adjustment chart image (an image corresponding to the gamma adjustment chart 712) which is an image inside the reading adjustment image. Then, the image segmentation unit 421 outputs the reading adjustment image to the reading adjustment unit 431 and outputs the γ adjustment chart image to the γ adjustment unit 405.

  The γ adjustment unit 405 performs γ adjustment of the scanner 3 based on the γ adjustment chart image, and this γ adjustment is performed by a known method. For example, in the γ adjustment, when the color data of the read reference chart image is A1, and the color data when this is corrected with the initial color correction coefficient B1 is A2, the reference values Aref and A2 are compared. If the allowable range is exceeded, the color correction coefficient is changed so as to be within the allowable range. Thus, the output color data is made close to the reference value.

  Next, an optical system member position adjustment mechanism for correcting the distortion of the read image will be described. The following is for correcting the distortion of the read image by moving the first guide rail 36 up and down.

  FIG. 25 is for moving the first guide rail 36 up and down manually by the operator. In the drawing, a long hole 802 extending in the vertical direction is formed in the side wall 801 of the scanner 3, and a screw 803 is attached to the first guide rail 36 through the long hole 802 from the outside of the side wall 801. The first guide rail 36 is fixed to the inner surface of the side wall 801 by tightening the screw 803, and can be moved up and down by loosening the screw 803. A scale is added to the side of the elongated hole 802, and the adjustment amount displayed on the LCD 241 corresponds to this scale. Therefore, the operator reads the adjustment amount displayed on the LCD 241, loosens the screw 803, moves the first guide rail 36 up and down while looking at the scale, and tightens the screw 803 to fix the first guide rail 36.

  26 to 28 show an optical system member position adjusting mechanism (optical system member moving means) 810 for automatically adjusting the position of the first guide rail 36. FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the optical system member position adjusting mechanism 810. FIG. 27A is a front view showing the state of the inner surface of the side wall 801 where the first guide rail 36 of the scanner 3 is provided, and FIG. 27B is the position adjustment of the optical system member provided under the scanner 3. 10 is a front view of a mechanism 810. FIG. FIG. 28A is a front view showing a state where the optical system member position adjusting mechanism 810 is attached to the scanner body, and FIG. 28B is a view for moving the first guide rail 36 up and down by the adjusting motor 812. It is a front view of the principal part which shows a structure.

  As shown in FIG. 26, the optical system member position adjusting mechanism 810 is provided with adjusting motors 812 and positioning pins 814 at positions corresponding to the four corners of the scanner 3 on the substrate 811. A worm gear 813 is provided concentrically on the shaft of the adjustment motor 812. The worm gear 813 is rotated by the rotation of the adjustment motor 812.

  In a state where the optical system member position adjusting mechanism 810 is mounted on the scanner 3, the worm gear 813 meshes with gears 361 formed at both ends of the first guide rail 36, as shown in FIGS. ing. Since the first guide rail 36 is provided so as to be vertically movable, the first guide rail 36 is vertically moved by the rotation of the adjustment motor 812. Further, the positioning pin 814 is fitted to a pin fitting portion (not shown) made of, for example, a recess formed on the bottom surface of the scanner 3. Thereby, the positional relationship between the scanner 3 and the optical system member position adjusting mechanism 810 is fixed.

  A CCD 815 is attached to the inner surface of both side walls 801 on the side where the first guide rail 36 of the scanner 3 is provided. These CCDs 815 image the first guide rail 36 on the inner surface of the opposing side wall 801, and the output signal is input to the adjustment motor controller 605 as shown in FIG. The adjustment motor control unit 605 controls the adjustment motor 812 so that the first guide rail 36 is disposed at a predetermined adjustment position based on the output signal from the adjustment amount calculation unit 604 and outputs from the CCD 815. Based on the signal, the arrangement position of the first guide rail 36 is confirmed. The control state and result of the adjustment motor control unit 605 are displayed on the LCD 241.

  In the present embodiment, since the scanner 3 is provided in the multifunction device 1, the control circuit board 230 including the main control unit 401, the scanner control unit 403, the storage unit 500, and the like is provided in the multifunction device 1. However, in the case of the configuration of the scanner 3 alone, the functional units included in the control circuit board 230 are naturally included in the scanner 3 itself.

  As described above, in the scanner 3 according to the present embodiment, in the reading adjustment of the scanner 3, the adjustment based on the read image of the reference chart 701 is performed with the placement reference when the reference chart 701 is arranged on the document placement table 30. This is done by taking into account the inclination (rotation) of the reference chart 701 from the position. Therefore, for example, even when the reference chart 701 is arranged on the document placing table 30 by an operator's manual operation and this arrangement state is not accurate, accurate reading adjustment can be performed.

  Further, the position adjustment of the optical system member accompanying the reading adjustment can be performed by a simple manual operation from the outside of the scanner 3 while referring to the display on the LCD 241 or can be automatically performed. It has become easy.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The configuration of the present invention can be applied to a copying machine or a multi-function machine equipped with a scanner, in addition to a single scanner device to which an automatic document feeder is attached.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a functional configuration of a multifunction machine including a scanner unit serving as a document reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a structure of a multifunction machine including a scanner unit as a document reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of the document feeding device illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a front view of an operation panel included in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a reference chart that is also used for tilt adjustment of the document feeder and γ adjustment of the image forming apparatus in the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the functional structure of the main control part shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a structure for adjusting the inclination of the document feeder in the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an operation state for adjusting the inclination of the document feeder in the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the document feeder is inclined in the horizontal direction in the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 10A shows an image of the SPF attachment adjustment chart obtained by reading the reference chart sent from the document feeder when the document feeder is attached in a state of being rotated leftward about the rotation fulcrum. FIG. 10B shows an SPF attachment adjustment obtained by reading a reference chart sent from the document feeder when the document feeder is mounted in a state of being rotated rightward about the rotation fulcrum. It is explanatory drawing which shows the image of a chart. In the multi-function apparatus shown in FIG. 2, when the document feeder is mounted inclined at an angle θ, the reference chart attachment adjustment chart sent by the document feeder and the attachment adjustment chart are read by the scanner unit. It is explanatory drawing which shows the image of the front-end | tip part of the chart for attachment adjustment obtained. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when adjusting the inclination of the document feeder in the multifunction machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating an arrangement state of a reference chart when the inclination of the document feeder is adjusted in the multifunction machine illustrated in FIG. 2. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a functional configuration of a multifunction machine including a scanner as a document reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a structure of a multifunction machine including a scanner as a document reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the scanner illustrated in FIG. 15. FIG. 16 is a plan view of a first scanning unit provided in the scanner shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first scanning unit provided in the scanner shown in FIG. 15. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the functional structure of the main control part shown in FIG. FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating in detail a configuration of a reading adjustment unit illustrated in FIG. 19. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an image of a reading adjustment chart obtained by reading the reference chart shown in FIG. 5 with a scanner when the scanner is not adjusted. FIG. 22A is an explanatory diagram of a specific operation of the reading adjustment unit shown in FIG. 20, and FIG. 22B is a rail interval used for calculating the adjustment amount in the reading adjustment unit shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the principle of the reading adjustment of the scanner in the reading adjustment part shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in the case where reading adjustment of the scanner is performed by the main control unit illustrated in FIG. 14. FIG. FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing a structure for moving the first guide rail up and down manually by an operator in reading adjustment of the scanner shown in FIG. 16. It is a disassembled perspective view of the optical system member position adjustment mechanism with which the scanner shown in FIG. 16 is provided. FIG. 27A is a front view showing the inner surface of the side wall provided with the first guide rail of the scanner shown in FIG. 16, and FIG. 27B is the optical system member position adjusting mechanism shown in FIG. It is a front view. FIG. 28A is a front view showing a state in which the optical system member position adjusting mechanism shown in FIG. 27 is attached to the scanner body, and FIG. 28B is a diagram showing the first adjustment motor shown in FIG. It is a front view which shows the principal part of the structure for moving a guide rail up and down. FIG. 29A is an explanatory view showing a read image of a read adjustment chart when the height of the first scanning end side of the first guide rail on the rear side of the scanner is relatively low, and FIG. FIG. 29C is an explanatory view showing a read image of the read adjustment chart when the height of the scanning end side of the first guide rail on the front side is relatively high, and FIG. 29C is the first guide rail on the rear side of the scanner FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a read image of a read adjustment chart when the height on the scanning end side is relatively high.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP 2 Printer 3 Scanner (Original Reading Device)
4 Document Feeder 30 Document Placement Table 31 First Scan Unit 32 Second Scan Unit 34 CCD Line Sensor (Imaging Device)
36 1st guide rail 230 Control circuit board 241 LCD (display means)
314 First reflection mirror (optical system member)
317 Slider 361 Gear 405 γ adjustment unit 431 Reading adjustment unit 601 Apparent distortion amount calculation unit 602 Inclination amount calculation unit 603 Correction distortion amount calculation unit (adjustment amount calculation unit, distortion amount measurement unit)
604 Correction amount calculation unit 605 Adjustment motor control unit (control unit)
701 Reference chart 711 Reading adjustment chart 711a Read image 712 γ adjustment chart 810 Optical system member position correcting mechanism 812 Adjustment motor 813 Worm gear 814 Positioning pin 815 CCD (Imaging device)
1001 Document Feeder 1013 Light Source Holder 1051 Document Placement Table 1052 Reading Window 1100 Multifunction Machine 1110 Image Forming Apparatus 1111 Scanner Unit 1241 LCD
1401 Main control unit 1421 Image segmentation unit 1431 Adjustment amount calculation unit (inclination amount calculation unit)
1601 Rotation fulcrum 1602 Scale for angle adjustment

Claims (6)

In the measuring device for measuring the amount of inclination in the mounting surface direction of the document feeding device attached to the mounting surface of the document reading device,
From the read image of the reference image obtained by reading the reference chart on which the reference image is drawn by the original reading device while being fed by the original feeding device, the inclination amount of the original feeding device in the mounting surface direction is calculated. An inclination amount calculation unit to calculate,
Display means for displaying the amount of inclination of the document feeder obtained from the inclination amount calculator ;
A distortion amount measuring unit for measuring a distortion amount of a reference image obtained by reading a reference chart on which a reference image is drawn, which is placed on a document placing table of the document reading device, with the document reading device;
When receiving an instruction to measure the amount of inclination of the document feeder, the distortion amount measurement unit is operated, and the distortion amount of the reference image measured by the distortion amount measurement unit is equal to or less than a specified value. And a control unit that controls the tilt amount calculation unit to operate .   The measurement apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference image includes a frame image written along a paper outer edge portion of a reference chart.   The measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a gradation pattern for γ adjustment is drawn in the frame of the frame image on the reference chart. A measuring device according to claim 1;
An imaging device;
An original reading apparatus, comprising: an optical system member that irradiates light to a moving original sent by the original feeding device and guides reflected light from the original to the imaging device. A document reading device according to claim 4 and a document feeding device for sending a document to the document reading device,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document feeder is rotatable about a rotation fulcrum and fixed at an arbitrary rotational position on the mounting surface of the document reader. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein a scale for adjusting a rotation angle of the document feeding device is marked on the mounting surface of the document reading device.

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