Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Detailed holder for original
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-04
2001-12-18
Metjahic, Safet (Department: 2858)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Detailed holder for original
C353S02600A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331886
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading an image recorded on a film original such as a developed photographic film.
2. Description of Related Art
The structure of a conventional film scanner serving as an image reading apparatus will be described with reference to
FIGS. 20 through 24
.
FIG. 20
is a perspective view showing the structure of the conventional film scanner.
FIG. 21
is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of the film scanner shown in FIG.
20
. Furthermore,
FIG. 22
is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of the film scanner shown in FIG.
20
.
Referring to
FIGS. 20 and 21
, a developed film
102
is fixed on a film carriage
101
which is used as an original placing board. Light emitted from a lamp
103
which is a light source passes through the film
102
and is then reflected by a mirror
104
to be imaged by a lens
105
on a line sensor
106
which is composed of a CCD.
A motor
107
moves the film carriage
101
in scanning directions (directions of arrows in FIGS.
20
and
21
), and a sensor
108
detects the position of the film carriage
101
. Reference numeral
109
denotes an optical axis directed from the lamp
103
to the line sensor
106
, reference numeral
110
denotes a control circuit, and reference numeral
111
denotes a lens holder arranged to hold the lens
105
. Reference numeral
112
denotes an exterior case of the film scanner, and reference numeral
113
denotes an input and output terminal.
The lamp
103
, line sensor
106
, motor
107
, sensor
108
, and the input and output terminal
113
are electrically connected to the control circuit
110
. Further, the control circuit
110
, as shown in
FIG. 22
, is composed of a film scanner control circuit
110
-
1
, a sensor control circuit
110
-
2
, a motor control circuit
110
-
3
, an image information processing circuit
110
-
4
, a lamp control circuit
110
-
5
, a line sensor control circuit
110
-
6
, a quantity-of-light detecting circuit
110
-
7
, and a motor-driving-speed deciding circuit
110
-
8
.
Next, the method of reading image information recorded on the film
102
will be described.
First, when a film reading command is inputted from the external through the input and output terminal
113
, the position of the film carriage
101
is detected by the sensor
108
and sensor control circuit
110
-
2
. This position information is transmitted to the film scanner control circuit
110
-
1
. Then, in order to make the film carriage
101
stand ready at a predetermined standby position, the motor
107
is driven by the motor control circuit
110
-
3
, and hence the film carriage
101
is moved to the standby position. Furthermore, the lamp control circuit
110
-
5
turns on the lamp
103
, and rough scanning is performed by rotating the motor
107
at a predetermined speed by the motor control circuit
110
-
3
so as to scan an image area of the film
102
at a predetermined speed in the direction of a film plane. During this rough scanning, image information is transmitted to the line sensor control circuit
110
-
6
by the line sensor
106
.
Next, the film carriage
101
is moved to the predetermined standby position by rotating the motor
107
. Then, fine scanning is performed by rotating the motor
107
. During this fine scanning, image information is transmitted from the line sensor
106
to the image information processing circuit
110
-
4
through the line sensor control circuit
110
-
6
. When the fine scanning is completed, the lamp control circuit
110
-
5
turns off the lamp
103
, and at the same time, the image information processing circuit
110
-
4
performs image information processing. Moreover, the image information is outputted from the input and output terminal
113
, and the operation of the film scanner is terminated.
Since the above conventional film scanner is adapted to read only a specific kind of transparent original (developed photographic film), it is not possible to read a different kind of transparent original such as a transparent original contained in a dedicated cartridge.
In addition, since a loading slot for inserting a strip film holder or a slide-mounted film is always opened in the above conventional film scanner, there is a possibility of dust entering from the loading slot. The dust entering inside the film scanner adheres to a surface of the lamp, which is an internal light source, and to optical parts such as a mirror, and hence leads to nonuniformity of the light source and reduction of luminous intensity. As a result, there happens a problem of decreasing the quality of a read image.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus which has excellent operability. In addition, another object of the present invention is to prevent invasion of foreign particles and dust, which leads to reduction of image quality and a failure, into the inside of the image reading apparatus.
To attain the above objects, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus, which comprises a mounting portion for mounting thereto a holder which holds a film original, and image reading means for reading image information recorded on the film original, wherein the film original is able to be loaded in and/or unloaded from the holder in a condition where the holder is mounted to the mounting portion. Owing to this construction, it becomes possible to increase the operability of the image reading apparatus.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus, which comprises a loading slot for inserting therein a film original, transport means for transporting the film original for reciprocating motion from the loading slot toward an inner side of the image reading apparatus, and a lid for covering the loading slot. Owing to this construction, it becomes possible to prevent the invasion of foreign particles and dust into the inside of the image reading apparatus.
The above and further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5546122 (1996-08-01), Asami et al.
patent: 5576836 (1996-11-01), Sano
patent: 5754314 (1998-05-01), Araki et al.
patent: 5973729 (1999-10-01), Washizu
patent: 5995204 (1999-11-01), Hoshino et al.
Iizuka Toshimi
Nagano Masatoshi
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
LeRoux Etienne P
Metjahic Safet
Robin Blecker & Daley
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