A device and method for improving the reproducibility of image captures are provided. The device comprises a guide device (1) configured to guide at least one object (2) in an object plane (1a); at least one driving device (3) configured to transport the object (2) in the object plane (1a) in a transport direction (8); an image plane (5); at least one contact image sensor comprising at least one light source (4) for illuminating the object (2); a plurality of rod-shaped lenses (6) arranged between the object plane (1a) and the image plane (5) and in a row along a direction transverse to the transport direction (8) of the object (2); and at least one light-sensitive in-line pixel array (7) arranged in the image plane (5); a control device (9) configured to control at least one of the light source (4) and the light-sensitive in-line pixel array (7) and to capture a signal generated by the light-sensitive in-line pixel array (7). A light emitted from the light source (4) may be at least partially scattered by the object (2) toward the rod-shaped lenses (6), imaged by means of the rod-shaped lenses (6), and incident on at least a region of the light-sensitive in-line pixel array (7). The photosensitive in-line pixel array (7) may comprise a plurality of one-dimensional in-line pixel arrays (7a, 7b), each extending along the direction transverse to the transport direction (8) of the object (2), arranged parallel to each other and adjacent to each other. Each in-line pixel array (7a, 7b) may comprise a length transverse to the transport direction (8) of the object (2) that completely covers the object (2) to be captured.

The present disclosure relates to an image reading device having a highly-accurate structure that enables an easy increase in depth of field, that is, improvement in the depth of the field, without need for a change in basic characteristics of lenses. An overlap preventer (5) disposed between a lens array (1) and a sensor element array (3) to prevent overlap of images formed by lenses (2) is included. A slit section (5) that is the overlap preventer (5) includes multiple slit plates (7) arranged in a main scanning direction and extending in a sub-scanning direction to partition off a space, and the slit plates (7) are fixed to fixing plates (13).

The present disclosure relates to an image reading device having a highly-accurate structure that enables an easy increase in depth of field, that is, improvement in the depth of the field, without need for a change in basic characteristics of lenses. An overlap preventer (5) disposed between a lens array (1) and a sensor element array (3) to prevent overlap of images formed by lenses (2) is included. A slit section (5) that is the overlap preventer (5) includes multiple slit plates (7) arranged in a main scanning direction and extending in a sub-scanning direction to partition off a space, and the slit plates (7) are fixed to fixing plates (13).

An image sensor unit includes a light condenser that collects light from a reading target object; an image sensor that receives light and converts the light into an electric signal; an elongated housing that houses the light condenser and the image sensor; and an elongated rigid member attached to a side surface extending in the elongated direction of the housing. The side surface of the housing is provided with an attachment protrusion. The rigid member is provided with an attachment hole that penetrates from a surface facing the side surface of the housing to a non-facing surface on the opposite side, and the non-facing surface of the rigid member is provided with a concave. The attachment protrusion is inserted into the attachment hole, and a part of the attachment protrusion is fit into the concave.

An image sensor unit includes a light condenser that collects light from an object to be read, an image sensor that receives the light collected by the light condenser and outputs an image, and a housing that houses the light condenser and the image sensor. The housing includes a plurality of spacer attachment portions to which a first spacer that keeps a distance between the housing and a mount member can be detachably attached and for which distances between the housing and the mount member in a state where the attached first spacer abuts against the mount member differ from each other.

A light scanning apparatus including: a first holder attached to a housing and configured to hold a first laser light source; a second holder attached to the housing and configured to hold a second laser light source; and a lens to which the laser lights are first incident, wherein the first holder and the second holder are attached to the housing in mutually different positions in a rotation axis direction of a rotary polygon mirror and in an optical axis direction of the lens, so that a first incident light path from the first laser light source to the rotary polygon mirror is placed between a second incident light path from the second laser light source to the rotary polygon mirror and the lens, and the first holder and the second holder overlap one another in the rotation axis direction.

An image sensor unit includes: multiple first light guides that shape light emitted by light sources into a line and emit linear light elongated in longitudinal direction to an object to be read (P); multiple holding members that hold each of the first light guides on a frame; and an image sensor that detects light from the object to be read (P). The multiple first light guides are parallel, and in a range in which the image sensor detects the light from the object to be read (P) in the longitudinal direction of the first light guides, center positions in the main-scan direction of the multiple holding members that hold one first light guide of the multiple light guides and center positions in the main-scan direction of the multiple holding members that hold another light guide different from the one first light guide deviate from each other.

An image reading apparatus includes a light source, a light receiving unit, and an optical system. The light receiving unit includes a plurality of light receiving elements. The optical system includes a plurality of optical components for splitting the light reflected from the object to be read, and guiding the split light to each of the plurality of light receiving elements. The plurality of optical components include a splitting component that splits the light reflected from the object to be read in a direction corresponding to a main direction, and a common component provided with a common portion. The common portion has an optically acting area causing a common effect on the tight split by the splitting component. A cross sectional shape of the optically acting area orthogonal to a direction corresponding to the main direction is the same shape along the direction corresponding to the main direction.

A contact image sensor can illuminate a portion of a banknote with one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), capture an image of the portion of the banknote with illumination reflected from or transmitted through the banknote, and generate a digital output signal that represents the captured image. A controller board can receive the digital output signal, generate one or more LED control signals, each LED control signal including changes in voltage to indicate times to switch a light emitting diode on or off, direct the one or more LED control signals to the contact image sensor, bypass digital LED control circuitry that is included with the contact image sensor, and switch the one or more LEDs in the contact image sensor on or off at the times indicated by the respective light emitting diode control signals.

An image sensor unit includes: a light source that illuminates a document; a rod-shaped light guide including a reflection surface that reflects light from the light source and an emission surface provided on a side opposite to the reflection surface that emits light reflected by the reflection surface to the document; a thermal conductor provided so as to cover the reflection surface of the light guide; an image forming element that forms an image of reflected light from the document on a photoelectric conversion element; a sensor substrate on which the photoelectric conversion element is mounted; and a frame including a locator for mounting the light guide.