Nikon Corporation

Masashi Tazawa

Eisaku Maeda

Toshiya Aikawa

Nobuhiro Fujinawa

Maki Suzuki

Osamu Ikeda

Takahiro Ikeda

Kumiko Matsui

Hidehisa Tsuchihashi

Toru Ochiai

Marco Brandestini

Seiichi Morimatsu

Richard A Ferraro

Yoshiyuki Takeda

Hideaki Kishino

A transporting system for an image digitizer can handle both positive and negative transparent film material. The transport features accurate linear motion with high resolution in a single compact unit. For the processing of individually framed slides, an automatic eject mechanism is provided. Both manual and motor driven focus adjustments are provided. Individual images can be oriented by an angular adjustment option. A special carrier allows the system to process negatives in uncut strips. The transport can manage larger number of images using either a slide tray or roll feed attachment.

Image digitizing system

A film scanner device is provided with a support device that can load and hold a cartridge having a cartridge shaft. The cartridge houses a transmissive original medium that is stored around the cartridge shaft. In a device housing, a detector detects the presence or absence of the cartridge and whether or not the transmissive original medium in the cartridge has been developed. The detector has a minimal number of components to reduce the device costs. The detector can be a single electrical switch that detects at least three states of the support device holding the cartridge. A cover opens to expose and closes to cover a loading unit on the support device. The cover is provided on one portion of the outer surface of the device housing. The cover slides between an open position and a closed position by moving in a surface direction of the outer surface. Accordingly, the cover does not protrude outside the outer surface. Thus, the device provides an efficiency of space for arranging external apparatuses around the device housing while smoothly loading the film cartridge. In addition, a pressing member in the support device moves into the loading unit with the closing motion of the cover to support the cartridge shaft in the closed position of the cover. A film feeding shaft engages the cartridge shaft with the closing motion of the cover. Further, a guard unit is provided that protects the film feeding shaft during loading of the cartridge. The feeding shaft is provided in a notch that is accessed through an opening in the guard unit. The film feeding shaft can be inserted or withdrawn through the opening.

Picture image input apparatus

An image input apparatus enables image reading at a number of different resolutions including higher and lower resolutions without incurring excessive costs. In the present invention, the image input apparatus includes two scanning states. A first scanning state is achieved by performing film take-up with a take-up spool driven by a DC motor and high-speed image reading during the scan. A second scanning state is achieved by performing film feeding with a scan roller driven by a step motor and lower speed image reading during this scan.

Image input apparatus

A film image reading apparatus reads the image of a strip film and can generate index display screen data to be displayed on a monitor screen of a host apparatus with the contents arbitrarily selected and set by the user. The film image reading apparatus also includes a memory to store index display setting screen data to be displayed on the monitor screen of the host apparatus and an display data generator which takes an output from an image reader and from a magnetic information reader which are entered from the host apparatus according to setting data selected and set on the index display setting screen, and which generates index display screen data to be displayed on the monitor screen of the host apparatus.

Film image reading apparatus and method in which multiple images are

An improved image input apparatus 1 prevents foreign particles from attaching onto image reading areas of transparency media contained within the apparatus by providing feeding block structure 13 that substantially covers an area between a loading cartridge 11 and a take-up housing 15, except for a small slit-shaped window 13a formed in block 13 in a direction intersecting a direction of movement of the media through the block. The window 13a preferably has a sloping part 13d inclined toward a light axis L1 of an illumination system 12 that passes through the transparency media. The feeding block 13 may also be provided with a pressing member 13b that acts with rails 13c to press on the transparency media and prevent curling.

An image input apparatus includes an illumination unit to produce a quantity of light to illuminate a transmitting original and a support unit operable to allow the quantity of light to be scanned and to support and move the transmitting original. Additionally, the image input apparatus includes a reading unit to read light which is received by or passed through the transmitting original.

An image input system includes an image input device having a movable carriage and a feeder removably attached to the image input device. The image input device performs a reading action of image information from a source document loaded onto the carriage. The image input device uses a single opening for loading and discharging the film mounts to prevent double loading. The feeder loads the source document onto the carriage during a loading action and discharges the source document from the image input device during a discharging action. A controller controls the operation of the image input device and the feeder. The controller operates a detection system to detect the presence of a film mount remaining in an image input device.

Image input system having an auto-feeder and method

An image reading device and method for producing a uniformly focused light image on a source document includes a document mount, an imaging device, and a drive assembly for moving at least one of the mounting device and the imaging device in a secondary scanning direction. The image reading device includes a control circuit for establishing multiple designated positions on the source document in the primary scanning direction and in the secondary scanning direction and for calculating the focus position from a signal output from the imaging device for the multiple designated positions. A cam member can be provided to adjust the position of the document mount along the optical axis of the light striking the document, a cam surface of the cam member contacting the document mount.

Focus adjustable image reading device for calculating a focus position

An image input device is provided with an engagement assembly that releasably engages a document to hold the document on a carriage against the bias force of a biasing member. The engagement assembly includes a stop assembly that releasably engages the document and a release mechanism for releasing the original document from the stop assembly permitting the biasing member to urge the document in a discharge direction. The engagement can be operated either manually or by motor. The document can then be removed from the input device at any time except during the scanning operation.

Eject mechanism for an image input device

An image input device having a movable carriage is provided with an origin detection element that moves out of the path of the document when the document is inserted into the carriage. Because the origin detection element moves out of the path of the document, even long documents, such as, for example, long strips of film containing multiple frames, can be read by the image input device without increasing the size of the carriage or of the image input device. The origin detection element includes a tapered edge that functions as a contrast marker. When the edge is located in the path of the light between the illumination source and the image reading device, the edge can be used to cause the generation of a signal by the image reading device to enable the detection of the point of origin of the carriage in the secondary scanning direction and/or in the focusing direction.

Image input device having carriage that includes a movable origin

A scanning device for scanning an original which is set at a predetermined position and has information recorded thereon comprises: a plurality of light emission members for emitting lights of different wavelengths from each other; a first reflection member having a plurality of reflection planes for selectively reflecting emitted lights of a plurality of wavelengths coming from the light emission members and an optical aid portion; a second reflection member for reflecting the lights reflected by the first reflection member to focus them on the original in a linear pattern; and an imaging optical system for focusing the lights of the linear pattern onto a sensor, whereby the sensor receives the information of the original. The device has depressions arranged around the light emission members for reflecting lights and the depressions are shaped differently depending on the wavelengths of the light emissions of the corresponding light emission members so that increased light intensities of the respective wavelengths of light emissions and decrease non-uniformity of the light intensity are attained.

Scanning device

An image input system includes an image input device for reading image information from a source document and a feeder for automatically inserting the source documents into the image input device. The feeder includes a loading magazine storing source documents and an adjacent discharge magazine storing source documents discharged from the image input device. The source documents travel along a transport surface within the feeder. A dividing board controls the position of the source documents within the feeder. Detectors are provided to monitor the loading operation. A method of reading image information using the image input system is also disclosed.

Image input system having an auto-feeder including loading magazine and

An image input device that includes an illumination optical system to illuminate an original with light, a reading unit imaging light transmitted by the original, an original retaining unit retaining the original during a reciprocating motion of the original, and a reciprocating motion guide unit guiding the reciprocating motion of the original retaining unit. The original retaining unit has an aperture portion of a size not covered by the original. Output adjustment of the reading unit is performed in accordance with the light which passes through the portion of the aperture which is not covered by the original. A reciprocating motion guide unit is included to guide the reciprocating motion of the original retaining unit. The original retaining unit has an aperture portion having a first region through which the light of the original is caused to pass and a second region through which light is caused to pass in order for output adjustment of the reading unit. A drive unit causes a reciprocation motion of the original retaining unit in the direction of the optical axis of the light provided by the illumination optical system. An original ejection unit ejects the original and an original holder is slidably retained for insertion and removal in the original retaining unit. The original retaining unit has an aperture portion used by the image input device to perform output adjustment of the reading unit in accordance with light passing through the aperture portion.

Growing community of inventors

Kawasaki, Japan

Masashi Tazawa