Patent ID: 7030924

Claim:
An image reading device for reading an optical image of a plurality of components using a camera having pixels arrayed in a line, the image reading device comprising: (a) a pixel-selecting section for accessing the pixels individually and outputting an image signal; (b) a processing-computing section for 1) setting a plurality of image taken-in areas based on mounting data and component data, 2) outputting pixel-selecting information for selecting pixels individually from among the pixels, based on widths of the respective image-taken-in areas, and 3) setting respective start and stop timing of the image signal; (c) a relative-mounting mechanism for moving the plurality of components relative to the camera; (d) a relative-movement detector for 1) detecting the plurality of components moving a given distance in one direction relative to the camera by comparing position information from the relative-moving mechanism with each of the respective taken-in areas to determine whether each of the components is within the taken-in area and 2) providing a movement detecting signal; and (e) a controller for controlling said pixel-selecting section based on the pixel-selecting information and outputting a pixel signal supplied from the pixel specified by the pixel-selecting information when said relative-movement detector receives the movement detecting signal, wherein the widths of the image-taken-in areas corresponding to movement of the plurality of components, respectively, in the one direction relative to the camera, and the camera has a scanning width that accommodates the largest component.