Page-turning device and document camera system

A page-turning device turning a page of a book includes a sticking part, an arm part and a first drive unit. The sticking part sticks to the page of the book being opened. The arm part is provided with the sticking part on a top end and swings such that the sticking part sticks to the page at a departure position of the page and separates from the page at a destination position of the page while the sticking part goes to and fro between the departure position and the destination position over the page of the book. The first drive unit swings the arm part around a drive shaft of the drive unit. An effective surface of the sticking part obliquely comes into contact with the page at the departure position at an initial stage of the contact.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-127095 filed on Jun. 18, 2013, the entire disclosure of which, including the descriptions, claims, drawings and abstracts, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a page-turning device and a document camera system.

2. Description of Related Art

A known automatic page-turning device sticks to one of the stacked pages of a book, for example, to turn over the pages one by one (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H5-201174, for example). In specific, a vertically movable adhesive member is moved to adhere onto the uppermost page with a supporting lever of the adhesive member, and is then upwardly moved to separate the uppermost page from the remaining pages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Unfortunately, the page-turning device, which upwardly and downwardly moves the adhesive member such that the adhesive member adheres to the page to turn over the page, may have a risk of failure in holding (adhesion) of (to) the page.

An object of the present invention is to provide a page-turning device having improved performance in holding (adhesion) of (to) a page to be turned, and enhanced reliability of the page-turning.

In order to achieve at least one of the objects, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a page-turning device turning a page of a book including a sticking part which sticks to the page of the book being opened, an arm part with the sticking part provided on a top end, the arm part swinging such that the sticking part sticks to the page at a departure position of the page and separates from the page at a destination position of the page while the sticking part goes to and fro between the departure position and the destination position over the page of the book, and a first drive unit which swings the arm part around a drive shaft of the first drive unit, wherein an effective surface of the sticking part obliquely comes into contact with the page at the departure position at an initial stage of the contact.

In order to achieve at least one of the objects, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document camera system including the page-turning device and an imaging unit which images pages of the book.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Though various technical limitations which are preferable to carry out the present invention are added to the after-described embodiment, the scope of the invention is not limited to the following embodiment and the illustrated examples.

FIG. 1is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a document camera system according to the embodiment.FIG. 2AandFIG. 2Billustrate the configuration of the essential part of the document camera system, whereinFIG. 2Ais a top view, andFIG. 2Bis a side view.FIG. 3is an elevation view showing the essential part of the document camera system. In the explanation hereinafter, pages P of a book B are turned from left to right.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 3, a document camera system1includes: a document camera2as an image pickup unit which picks up images of pages P of the book B; a page-turning device3which turns pages P of the book B; and a personal computer4connected to the document camera2and the page-turning device3such that the computer4can communicate with the document camera2and the page-turning device3.

The document camera2includes a stand part21and a camera22attached to the upper end of the stand part21. The stand part21is inclinable in the front-back direction and the left-right direction, and extensible in the up-down direction, so that a positional relationship of the book B and the camera22can be adjusted. A lens of the camera22faces downward such that the book B comes within an angle of view. A position-adjustment mechanism is disposed at the joining portion of the camera22and the stand part21, so that the facing direction of the lens of the camera22can be adjusted.

The page-turning device3includes: a support base6which supports the book B being opened; a turning unit30which holds a page P at a departure position of pages P of the book B and which releases the holding of the page P at a destination position of pages P; a blower5which sends air above a page P at the departure position to blow against a page P at the destination position; and a control unit36which controls these parts and the like.

As shown inFIG. 3, the support base6includes a couple of support plates61,62. The support base6can be folded up by using a hinge, which is not shown in drawings. When pages P of the book B are turned from left to right as shown inFIG. 3, a first support plate61of the support plates61,62which is disposed on the left is laid on the desk D, and a second support plate62which is disposed on the right is placed on the desk D such that the second support plate62is inclined at a predetermined angle as if the second support plate62approaches the first support plate61. Pages P at the departure position is placed on the first support plate61, while pages P at the destination position is placed on the second support plate62.

When pages P of the book B are turned from right to left, the second support plate62which is disposed on the right is laid on the desk D, and the first support plate61which is disposed on the left is placed on the desk D such that the first support plate61is inclined at a predetermined angle as if the first support plate61approaches the second support plate62. Pages P at the departure position is placed on the second support plate62, while pages P at the destination position is placed on the first support plate61.

Thereby, the support base6supports the book B such that a destination position inclined angle between the pages P at the destination position and an horizontal plane is larger than a departure position inclined angle between the pages P at the departure position and the horizontal plane. Since the support base6can be folded up by using a hinge between the support plates61,62, an angle between the support plates61,62is adjustable. Therefore the destination position inclined angle θ between the pages P at the destination position and the horizontal plane is adjustable. The destination position inclined angle θ is preferably adjusted to 30 to 45 degrees.

The turning unit30includes: a base31; a first drive unit (drive unit)33, such as a motor, disposed on the base31and having a drive shaft32; an arm part34which swings around the drive shaft32; and a sticking part35attached to the top end of the arm part34, the sticking part35sticking to a page P of the book B.

The base31is disposed on a desk D such that one side of the base31is parallel to the upper side b1of the book B opened on the support base6. In the explanation hereinafter, “back” is defined as a side where the book B is disposed, i.e. the book B side, and “front” is defined as a side where the base31is disposed, i.e. the base31side. The seam b2of the book B is along the front-back direction. The base31includes a main base311and a sub base312which is superposed on the main base311and can adjust an angle α between the main base311and the sub base312. On the back end (the end on the book B side) of the sub base312, a hinge (not shown) is disposed. This hinge makes the angle α between the sub base312and the main base311adjustable. The sub base312is provided with a rotating plate313which is rotatable and supports the first drive unit33. The drive shaft32of the first drive unit33is disposed parallel to the upper surface of the rotating plate313.

When pages P of the book B are turned from left to right, the angle of the rotating plate313is determined such that the back end (the end on the book B side) of the drive shaft32turns to right-hand side with respect to the seam b2of pages P and the front end (the end on a side opposite to the book B side) of the drive shaft32as the base end turns to left-hand side with respect to the seam b2of pages P. On the other hand, when pages P of the book B are turned from right to left, the angle of the rotating plate313is determined such that the back end (the end on the book B side) of the drive shaft32turns to left-hand side with respect to the seam b2of pages P and the front end (the end on the side opposite to the book B side) of the drive shaft32turns to right-hand side with respect to the seam b2of pages P.

Whichever the turning direction is, the drive shaft32is inclined such that the base end of the drive shaft32is on a side where a departure position of pages P exists (departure position side) with respect to the seam b2of the book B and also inclined at the angle α with respect to a plane on which the book B is put (horizontal plane).

Also, a mark314for locating is formed at the back end (the end on the book B side) of the sub base312. It is preferable to locate the base31such that this mark314is on the extension of the seam b2.

The arm part34is inclined with respect to the drive shaft32toward the book B side. As the drive shaft32rotates, the arm part34goes to and fro (shuttle operation) between the departure position and a destination position of pages P as if the arm part34draws a circular arc around the drive shaft32. That is to say, the drive shaft32is a symmetry axis of swing of the arm part34. In the explanation hereinafter, a movement from the departure position to the destination position of pages P is referred to as an outward movement (a motion of going), and a movement from the destination position to the departure position is referred to as a homeward movement (a motion of return).

FIG. 3is an elevation view (viewed in a direction along an axis of the seam b2of pages P or viewed from a plane side, the normal line of which is parallel to the seam b2) showing a route of the sticking part35provided on the top end of the arm part34. As shown inFIG. 3, in the outward movement, the sticking part35on the top end of the arm part34moves from a position which contacts the departure position of pages P to the destination position of pages P as if the sticking part35draws a circular arc over pages P.

FIG. 4A,FIG. 4BandFIG. 4Cschematically illustrate how the inclination of the drive shaft32affects the page-turning operation of pages P.FIG. 4A,FIG. 4BandFIG. 4Cshow the book B placed not on the support base6but directly on the desk D so that the configuration can be easily understood.FIG. 4Aillustrates a case where the drive shaft32is horizontally disposed on the extension of the seam b2. In this case, since the sticking part35moves along a route the symmetry axis of which corresponds to the seam b2, the sticking part35keeps in contact with the right-side page P at the destination position of pages P without being able to separate from the page P.

FIG. 4Billustrates a case where the drive shaft32is horizontal and inclined such that the back end of the drive shaft32turns to right-hand side with respect to the seam b2of pages P and the front end of the drive shaft32as the base end turns to left-hand side with respect to the seam b2of pages P. In this case, after the sticking part35sticks to a page P at the departure position, the arm part34rotates around the drive shaft32, and at the end point of the outward movement, the sticking part35separates from the book B forward. Therefore, the sticking part35can easily separate from the sticking page P.

In this case, however, pages P cannot always be turned smoothly. One possible cause is that the distance between the book B and the sticking part35becomes long in the first phase to the middle phase (the ellipse S) of the page-turning operation.

FIG. 4Cillustrates a case where the drive shaft32is inclined with respect to the seam b2of the book B and is also inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, i.e. a case of the drive shaft32according to the embodiment. In this case, the distance between the book B and the sticking part35in the first phase to the middle phase (the ellipse S) of the page-turning is shorter than that in the case shown inFIG. 4B.

To be more specific,FIG. 5A,FIG. 5BandFIG. 5Cschematically illustrate difference of routes of the sticking part35between a case where the drive shaft32is horizontal and a case where the drive shaft32is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, whereinFIG. 5Ais a top view,FIG. 5Bis a side view, andFIG. 5Cis an elevation view. InFIG. 5A,FIG. 5BandFIG. 5C, the left-right direction, the up-down direction and the vertical direction of the book B are respectively defined as an x direction, a y direction and a z direction. InFIG. 5A,FIG. 5BandFIG. 5C, the drive shaft32aligns with the seam b2of the book B in order to clarify the point that the drive shaft32of the embodiment is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. As shown inFIG. 5A,FIG. 5BandFIG. 5C, in the case where the drive shaft32is horizontal (dot lines in the figures), the locus n1of the sticking part35is a straight line along the left-right direction in the top view (FIG. 5A), a straight line along the vertical direction in the side view (FIG. 5B) and a semicircle in the elevation view (FIG. 5C). On the other hand, in the case where the drive shaft32is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane (solid lines in the figures), the locus n2of the sticking part35is a circular arc being convex backward in the top view (FIG. 5A), a straight line with its upper end being inclined backward in the side view (FIG. 5B) and a deformed semicircle in the elevation view (FIG. 5C). The locus n2inFIG. 5Bshows the locus plane of the driven sticking part35viewed from the side. It shows that the locus n2is inclined with respect to a plane (x-z plane) including the left-right direction of the book B and a normal line of the book B.

As is known fromFIG. 5C, the distance from the sticking part35to the seam b2when the sticking part35passes over the seam b2is shorter than the distance from the sticking part35to the seam b2when the sticking part35sticks to a page P at the departure position. That is to say, the locus n2can make the distance from the book B to the sticking part35when the sticking part35passes over the seam b2shorter than the locus n1.

Thus, according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 4C, in the second phase of the page-turning, the distance between the book B (the seam b2) and the sticking part35becomes long, so that the sticking part35can easily separate from the sticking page P. Also, in the first phase to the middle phase (the ellipse S) of the page-turning operation, the distance between the book B (the seam b2) and the sticking part35becomes short, so that a page P can be slackened appropriately. Therefore, pages P can be reliably turned.

In the homeward movement, the moving direction is opposite to that in the outward movement, and the sticking part35takes the same route as that of the outward movement, moves keeping a distance from pages P and, in the end, sticks to another page P at the departure position of pages P. Repeating this shuttle operation progresses the page-turning operation of pages P.

In the present embodiment, the drive shaft32is inclined with respect to the seam b2of the opened book B and is also inclined with respect to the horizontal plane as shown inFIG. 4Cas an example. It is needless to say that if the drive shaft32is inclined with respect to either the seam b2or the horizontal plane, these cases have their respective effects.

If the drive shaft32is inclined only with respect to the horizontal plane, as described later, a second drive unit37is driven or the sticking part35is configured in such a way as to stay at a higher position on the right than that on the left so that the sticking part35can easily separate from a page P.

Next, specific configurations of the arm part34and the sticking part35will be explained.FIG. 6is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the arm part34.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the drive shaft32has a rotator321attached to one end of the drive shaft32. The rotator321is attached to the arm part34such that the arm part34extends along a plane orthogonal to the drive shaft32. The arm part34is a rectangular plate made of resin, for example. The arm part34has a flat planar cross-section cut along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the arm part34. The sticking part35is attached to the top end of the arm part34via the second drive unit (suction rotation drive unit)37such as a motor.

The second drive unit37is disposed such that a drive shaft39of the second drive unit37is along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the arm part34. The sticking part35is removably attached to the drive shaft39, and the sticking part35rotates as the drive shaft39rotates.

The second drive unit37and the sticking part35are covered with a cover38.

FIG. 7is an elevation view schematically showing the configuration of the sticking part35.

As shown inFIG. 7, the sticking part35is an adhesive member having a substantially-columnar shape.

The sticking part35includes a columnar rotating roller351and an adhesive component352wound around the rotating roller351.

There has been desire to improve working efficiency in replacement of the sticking parts35with respect to the drive shaft39of the second drive unit37. Hence, the rotating roller351is made of an elastic body such as a sponge, and a fit hole353into which the drive shaft39is fitted is formed at the center of the rotating roller351. Other than the sponge, examples of the elastic body include rubber and foam. The inner diameter of the fit hole353is formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the drive shaft39. By pushing the drive shaft39into the fit hole353, the rotating roller351contracts, and the drive shaft39fits in the fit hole353. Consequently, at the replacement, the rotating roller351can be removed from the drive shaft39only by pulling the rotating roller351to be detached from the drive shaft39. Thus, since the rotating roller351is elastic, the sticking part35can be easily put on and removed from the drive shaft39, and accordingly the sticking part35can be easily replaced with another.

FIG. 8is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the adhesive component352. As shown inFIG. 8, the adhesive component352is sheet-shaped and has, for example, a double-sided adhesive structure like a double-sided tape. The adhesive component352has a two-layer structure of a weak adhesive layer354and a strong adhesive layer355. The weak adhesive layer354is provided on a side which sticks to the book B (surface side). The weak adhesive layer354has: weak adhesive power so that pieces of the weak adhesive layer354do not remain after the adhesive component352is removed; and a property that the weak adhesive layer354can be used multiple times. On the other hand, the strong adhesive layer355is provided on the opposite side. The strong adhesive layer355has adhesive power stronger than the weak adhesive layer354so that the strong adhesive layer355maintains a state of being wound around the rotating roller351. Perforations356are formed at predetermined length intervals on the adhesive component352.

FIG. 9AandFIG. 9Billustrate a process of removing the adhesive component352when the adhesive power has weakened. When a user feels that the adhesive power has weakened, the user removes the most outer surface of the adhesive component352by one round to expose a new portion of the weak adhesive layer354of the adhesive component352as shown inFIG. 9A. Then, the portion, the adhesive power of which has weakened, can be cut along the perforation356. At the time of cutting, if a portion thereof temporarily peels off as shown inFIG. 9B, the user puts the portion back. Thus, a new portion of the weak adhesive layer354is exposed, so that the page-turning operation can be appropriately resumed.

FIG. 10is a schematic view of the sticking part35at the initial stage of the contact with the page P at the departure position. As illustrated inFIG. 10, the arm part34moves in the direction of the arrow Y3, so that an effective (adhesive) surface of the sticking part35obliquely comes into contact with the page P at the departure position at the initial stage of the contact with the page P. In specific, the drive shafts32,39and the arm part34each have a predetermined length and angle and are disposed at a predetermined position such that a part of one circumferential end portion35aof the substantially-columnar sticking part35obliquely comes into contact with the page P. The effective surface of the sticking part35is the outer surface made of a generating line.

Since the effective surface of the sticking part35obliquely comes into contact with the page P, the area of the contact between the sticking part35and the page P at the initial stage of the contact is small. Thereby a high pressure can be applied on the page P. This ensures the sticking (adhesion) of the sticking part35to the page P.

FIG. 11is a schematic view showing a state in which the arm part34has moved from the position illustrated inFIG. 10. The arm part34of the sticking part35at the initial stage of the contact with the page P at the departure position is still moved to the direction of the arrow Y3by the first drive unit33. Since the sticking part35remains in contact with the page P, the arm part34is twisted around its axis, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the arm part34, and bows in the longitudinal direction. This causes the deformation of the rotating roller351, and thereby the drive shaft39fitted into the rotating roller351is shifted from the central axis T1of the rotating roller351, so that a generating line (or a band including the generating line) of the sticking part35comes into close contact with the page P. The sticking part35is in close contact with the page P in a larger contact area than the area of the contact between the sticking part35and the page P at the initial stage of the contact.

FIG. 12is a schematic front view of the sticking part ofFIG. 10. As shown inFIG. 12, even if the page P at the departure position is warped, the effective surface of the sticking part35can obliquely come into contact with the page P. The area of the contact between the sticking part35and the page P at the initial stage of the contact is thus small. This can apply a high pressure on the page P, ensuring effective sticking of the sticking part35to the page P.

Such a two-step sticking operation of the sticking part35ensures the sticking of the sticking part35to the page P.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 3, the blower5is disposed upstream from the departure position of the book B. For example, when pages P of the book B is turned from left to right, the blower5is disposed on the left side of pages P which is placed at the departure position of the book B. When pages P of the book B is turned from right to left, the blower5is disposed on the right side of pages P which is placed at the departure position of the book B. Therefore the blower5is disposed outside the angle of view of the camera22. The blower5includes a blower body52and a blower base53which supports the blower body52. The blower body52includes an air outlet51which sends out air.

The blower body52is provided with a fan unit54(seeFIG. 13) and a wind-direction control unit55(seeFIG. 13). The fan unit54sends air from the air outlet51. The wind-direction control unit55changes a moving direction of a wind (a wind direction) sent from the fan unit54. The wind-direction control unit55changes the wind direction such that the wind blows upward or downward (the direction of the arrow Y2inFIG. 3) from the air outlet51.

The blower base53supports the blower body52at a predetermined height. This blower base53is configured such that the air outlet51is disposed higher than pages P at the destination position. Therefore a wind which blows from the air outlet51passes above pages P at the departure position and blows against pages P at the destination position. Pages P at the departure position is not much affected by the wind, while pages P at the destination position is much affected by the wind.

Next, the main control configuration of a document camera system1according to the embodiment will be explained.FIG. 13is a block diagram showing the main control configuration of the document camera system1. As shown inFIG. 13, the control unit36of the page-turning device3includes: a motor driver361which drives the first drive unit33; a motor driver362which drives the second drive unit37; a motor driver368which drives the fan unit54; a motor driver369which drives the wind-direction adjustment unit55; a ROM363where a variety of programs are stored; a RAM364where the programs stored in the ROM363are opened when the programs are executed; an operation unit365where a variety of instructions are inputted; a CPU366which controls the motor drivers361and362by opening and executing the programs, which are stored in the ROM363, in the RAM364on the basis of the instructions from the operation unit365; an I/F367to which the computer4is connected; and a power source370.

The operation unit365includes a start switch365afor starting page-turning processing and a stop switch365bfor stopping the page-turning processing. The CPU366counts turned pages as a value N from the time when the start switch365ais operated to the time when the stop switch365bis operated. The value N is stored in the RAM364.

An image-reading method by the document camera system1will be explained hereinafter.

FIG. 14is a flowchart of the page-turning processing.

First, preparation before execution of the page-turning processing will be explained.

In the page-turning device3, the position of the arm part34is adjusted such that the sticking part35is disposed at the starting point (the end point of the homeward movement) in advance. At the time, a user checks the adhesive power of the adhesive component352. If the adhesive power is weak, the user removes the weak portion to expose a new portion of the adhesive component352. Then, the user opens the book B such that one page (one double-page spread) P before a page (a double-page spread) P from which the user would like to start image pickup is exposed and moves the sticking part35to the end point of the outward movement (the start point of the homeward movement). When the power source of the page-turning device3is turned on, the CPU366opens in the RAM364a program for the page-turning processing stored in the ROM363to execute the program.

As shown inFIG. 14, at Step S1, the CPU366determines whether or not the start switch365ais operated. When determining that the start switch365ais not operated, the CPU366keeps the state as it is. When determining that the start switch365ais operated, the CPU366shifts the processing to Step S2.

At Step S2, the CPU366resets the value N, which is stored in the RAM364, at zero.

At Step S3, the CPU366drives the fan unit54to carry out blowing with the blower5. At this time, an air volume of the fan unit54is set at an initial air volume. In the beginning of turning pages P, a large number of pages P exist at the departure position, so the thickness of pages P as a whole is large. Therefore the wind-direction adjustment unit is controlled such that a wind from the blower5blows in a direction slightly upward from a horizontal plane.

At Step S4, the CPU366controls the first drive unit33such that the arm part34moves from right to left (homeward movement).

At Step S5, the CPU366determines whether or not a driving time of the first drive unit33exceeds a first predetermined time. When determining that the driving time does not exceed the first predetermined time, the CPU366keeps driving the first drive unit33. When determining that the driving time exceeds the first predetermined time, the CPU366shifts the processing to Step S6. The first predetermined time is set at a time length enough for the arm part34to move from the start point to the end point of the homeward movement.

At Step S6, the CPU366stops the first drive unit33. Thereby, the sticking part35sticks to a page P on the left with rotation of the sticking part35stopped.

At Step S7, the CPU366controls the first drive unit33such that the arm part34moves from left to right (outward movement).

At Step S8, the CPU366determines whether or not a driving time of the first drive unit33exceeds a second predetermined time. When determining that the driving time does not exceed the second predetermined time, the CPU366keeps driving the first drive unit33. When determining that the driving time exceeds the second predetermined time, the CPU shifts the processing to Step S9. The second predetermined time is set at a time (time length) shorter than the first predetermined time. In particular, it is preferable that the second predetermined time period is set from a time for the arm part34to move from the start point to around the middle point of the outward movement to a time for the arm part34to move from the start point to almost the end point of the outward movement.

At Step S9, the CPU366controls the second drive unit37to rotate the sticking part35while keeping driving the first drive unit33. This rotation changes the adhesive power of the sticking part35when the sticking part35separates from a page P, so that the sticking part35can reliably separate from the page P. As shown inFIG. 15, the arm part34rotates clockwise (arrow Y1) in the outward movement. In order to improve the separation performance, it is preferable that the second drive unit37rotate the sticking part35in a direction opposite to the swing direction of the arm part34, i.e. counterclockwise.

At Step S10, the CPU366determines whether or not the driving time of the first drive unit33exceeds the first predetermined time. When determining that the driving time does not exceed the first predetermined time, the CPU366keeps driving the first drive unit33and the second drive unit37. When determining that the driving time exceeds the first predetermined time, the CPU366shifts the processing to Step S11.

At Step S11, the CPU366stops the first drive unit33and the second drive unit37. The sticking page P is separated from the sticking part35while the second drive unit37rotates. Thereby, the sticking part35is located at a position apart from pages P of the destination position with no page P sticking thereto. The sticking part35and the arm part34at this position are outside the angle of view of the camera22. Thus the whole turning unit30is outside the angle of view of the camera22. (SeeFIG. 2A.)

FIG. 16illustrates drive timings of the first drive unit33and the second drive unit37in the page-turning operation for one page.

In the embodiment, a drive end timing when the second drive unit37stops coincides with a drive end timing when the first drive unit33stops. However, the drive end timing when the second drive unit37stops may be earlier than the drive end timing when the first drive unit33stops.

At Step S12, the CPU366outputs a signal which indicates completion of the page-turning processing to the computer4.

At Step S13, the computer4controls the camera22on the basis of the inputted signal which indicates completion of the page-turning operation so that the pages P opened at present (spread state) are imaged (image pickup). At the time, since the turning unit30and the blower5are outside the angle of view of the camera22, only the pages P opened at present are imaged. Picked-up image data generated by the camera22are numbered one by one (each imaging) and stored in a storage unit41of the computer4.

In a preferred embodiment, Step S13may involve capturing images on only odd-numbered flat pages P at the departure position, placing even-numbered pages P at the departure position, capturing images on even-numbered pages P, and collating all the pages P in numerical order into one scanned image, instead of capturing opened two pages P at once.

At Step S14, the CPU366adds one to the value N and stores the result in the RAM364.

At Step S15, the CPU366determines whether or not the value N exceeds a first threshold. When determining that the value N exceeds the first threshold, the CPU366shifts the processing to Step S16. When determining that the value N does not exceed the first threshold, the CPU366shifts the processing to Step S17. When many pages P are piled up at the destination position, the pages P are likely to return to the departure position. Therefore the first threshold is set at such an amount of turned pages that a wind of the initial air volume can reliably push pages P against the destination position.

At Step S16, the CPU366controls the fan unit54to make the air volume larger than the initial air volume.

At Step S17, the CPU366determines whether or not the value N exceeds a second threshold. When determining that the value N exceeds the second threshold, the CPU366shifts the processing to Step S18. When determining that the value N does not exceed the second threshold, the CPU366shifts the processing to Step S19. As many pages P are turned, the height of the pages P at the departure position as a whole gets lower, and the lower edge of the last turned page P at the destination position gets lower. Therefore the second threshold is set at such an amount of turned pages that a wind in the initial wind direction can reliably push pages P against the destination position.

At Step S18, the CPU366controls the wind-direction adjustment unit55to make the wind direction downward as compared with the initial wind direction.

At Step S19, the CPU366determines whether or not the stop switch365bis operated. When determining that the stop switch365bis not operated, the CPU366shifts the processing to Step S2. When determining that the stop switch365bis operated, the CPU366ends the page-turning processing. In this way, the page-turning operation and the image pickup operation are alternately carried out, and image pickup of designated pages P is completed.

As described above, according to the embodiment, since the effective surface of the sticking part35obliquely comes into contact with the page P at the departure position, the area of the contact between the sticking part35and the page P at the initial stage of the contact can be small. This can apply a high pressure on the page P at the initial stage of the contact of the sticking part35with the page P, ensuring the sticking of the sticking part35to the page P. The page-turning device according to the embodiment of the present invention can thereby have improved performance in holding (adhesion) of (to) a page to be turned, and enhanced reliability of the page-turning.

Furthermore, after the sticking part35comes into contact with the page P at the departure position, the effective surface of the sticking part35comes into close contact with the page P in a larger contact area. Thus the contact area of the sticking part35which sticks to the page P at the initial stage of the contact is expanded, which allows the sticking part35to stick to the page P more effectively.

Since the arm part34has a flat planar cross-section cut along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof, the arm part34can be readily twisted. Such a twist of the arm part34allows for a simple configuration to expand the area of the contact between the sticking part35and the page P.

Since the arm part34is twisted around its axis in the longitudinal direction after the sticking part35comes into contact with the page P at the departure position, the force required for the twist of the arm part34is less than the force required for the twist around the axis of the arm part34in the width direction.

Since one circumferential end portion of the substantially columnar sticking part (adhesive part)35obliquely comes into contact with the page P, reduction of the contact area is achieved with a simple configuration.

Since a generating line (or a band including the generating line) of the substantially-columnar sticking part35comes into close contact with the page P after the sticking part35comes into contact with the page P at the departure position, a corner portion of the sticking part35does not come into contact with the page P even after the contact area become larger. This prevents the page P from being damaged.

Since the rotating roller351is made of an elastic body, the rotating roller351can absorb shock caused by the contact of the sticking part35with page P. This prevents the page P from being damaged.

Since the arm part34is made of resin, the arm part34can easily have an appropriate elasticity suitable for desired twisting characteristics.

Since the sticking force of the sticking part35is changed in conjunction with the rotation of the sticking part35upon the release of the page P from the sticking part35, the sticking force can be weaken by the rotation of the sticking part35. This ensures the release of the page P from the sticking part35.

Since the document camera system1including the camera22which captures images of the pages P of the book B is provided with the page-turning device3, the document camera system1securely captures the images of the pages P during an automatic page-turning of the pages P.

It should be understood that any alteration other than the embodiments described above can be applied to the present invention.

The exemplary sticking part35described above includes the adhesive component352and sticks to the page P by the adhesion of the adhesive component352. Alternatively, the sticking part35may stick to the page P by suction force using a negative pressure caused by suction of air, for example.FIG. 17is a perspective view of a sticking part35A, illustrating an outline configuration of a sticking part35A to suck the page P. As illustrated inFIG. 17, the sticking part35A has a main body357which has a substantially triangular-pyramid shape, and an air pipe358which extends from the upper portion of the main body357and is in communication with a pump (not shown). The main body357is provided, on the bottom surface thereof, with a suction port359through which the negative pressure is applied to suck the page P. The suction port359is in communication with the pump via the air pipe358. The pump is driven to evacuate the inner space of the main body357via the air pipe358so that a negative pressure is applied to the suction port359to suck the page P. Such suction force allows the sticking part35A to stick to the page P. The sticking part35A is attached to the top end of the arm part34.

FIG. 18is a schematic view of the sticking part35A at the initial stage of the contact with the page P at the departure position. As illustrated inFIG. 18, an effective (bottom) surface of the sticking part35A obliquely comes into contact with the page P at the departure position at an initial stage of contact. For the sticking part35A obliquely coming into contact with the page P in such a manner, the suction port59is not entirely covered by the page P upon the contact with the page P, so that a negative pressure does not directly applied on the page P at the initial stage. In contrast, for a sticking part coming into contact with the page P such that the effective surface of the sticking part is parallel to the page P upon the contact with the page P, a negative pressure is applied on the contacting surface at once. This may cause undesirable distortion of the page P. The sticking part35A, which does not directly apply the negative pressure on the page P upon the contact with the page P, prevents the distortion of the page P and can effectively come into contact with the page P in a stable and gentle manner.

FIG. 19is a schematic view showing a state in which the arm part34has been moved from the position illustrated inFIG. 18. The arm part34of the sticking part35A at the initial stage of the contact with the page P at the departure position is still moved by the first drive unit33. Since the sticking part35A remains in contact with the page P, the arm part34is twisted around its axis, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the arm part34. This allows the entire effective surface of the sticking part35A to come into close contact with the page P. The sticking part35A in such a state begins to apply the negative pressure directly on the page P, thereby can effectively come into contact with the page P in a stable and gentle manner to stick to the page P.

As described above, even when suction force is used to stick to the page P, the two-step sticking operation is applied to the sticking part35A. Therefore the sticking part35A can effectively stick to the page P utilizing configuration of the present invention appropriately.

The sticking part may stick to the page P by electrostatic sticking or adhesion instead of suction or adhesion.

The sticking (adhesion, suction) to the page and the release of the page are opposite operations; thus an increase in sticking (adhesive, suction) force may cause problems with the releasing operation of a page. According to the present invention, the two-step sticking operation of the sticking part upon the sticking (adhesion) to the page can increase reliability of the sticking (adhering, suction) operation of the sticking part without changing sticking (adhesive or suction) force, and can ensure the sticking (adhering, suction) operation of the sticking part to the page and the releasing operation of the page that are opposite to each other.

Though several embodiments of the present invention are illustrated, the scope of the invention is not limited to the above embodiments but includes the scope of claims attached below and the scope of their equivalents.