JP6777039B2 - Image reader and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image reading device and an image forming device using the same, and more particularly to a technique for determining whether or not the reading unit can read a document such as a card.

In recent years, in an image reading device mounted on an image forming device such as a multifunction device, for example, a reading operation is performed in a state where a plurality of cards such as business cards are placed on a platen, so that the reading operation is performed on the plurality of images. It is known that the image data of each card is organized into the image data of each card by reading the image data of the card at once and performing a crop (cutting) process from the read image data. Further, in the reading operation for such a large number of cards, the user can open and close the main body of the image reading device to hold the card (original) placed on the platen in the closed state. By performing the reading operation in the open state, the image data of a large number of cards may be acquired in a short time without the trouble of opening and closing the document holding cover.

By the way, in the crop processing, the image sensor provided in the reading unit receives the reflected light of the reading light applied to the card, so that the edge of the card is read, the size of the card is detected, and the cards are read at once. The image data of each card is cut out from the image data including a plurality of cards.

However, as described above, when the image reading device performs the reading operation with the document holding cover open, for example, the light from a lighting device such as a fluorescent lamp installed directly above the document stand. May enter the above image sensor as ambient light, and it is possible to obtain each image data of all the cards placed on the platen without being able to accurately detect the size of the card by cropping. There was something I couldn't do. Therefore, in the prior art, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, in the area of the document placing surface of the platen, an area where the size of the card cannot be detected due to ambient light is excluded. A technique has been proposed in which only the image data of a card placed in an area where the size of the card can be detected is acquired. Further, for example, as shown in Patent Document 2 below, a technique for eliminating the influence of ambient light by notifying a serviceman of the magnitude of ambient light and adjusting the angle of the document holding cover with respect to the platen by the serviceman. Has been proposed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-34609 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-111908

However, in the technique shown in Patent Document 1, when the document is read with the document holding cover open, the influence of ambient light cannot be eliminated. Further, in this conventional technique, in the area of the document placing surface of the platen, only the image data of the document placed in the area where the size of the document can be detected is acquired, so that the document reading operation can be performed. It was difficult to do it efficiently. Further, in the technique shown in Patent Document 2, it is possible to eliminate the influence of ambient light by the treatment operation of the serviceman, but the manuscript is contacted by the serviceman until the end of the treatment operation by the serviceman. It was difficult to perform a document scanning operation with the holding cover open to eliminate ambient light.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when the original is read with the original holding cover open, the influence of ambient light is eliminated, the original size can be detected, and auto cropping can be efficiently performed. The purpose is to make it possible to do.

The image reading device according to one aspect of the present invention has translucency, and is provided on a platen on which a document is placed and a document that is openably and closably provided on the main body of the device and is placed on the platen in a closed state. An image sensor that receives the reflected light of the reading light radiated to the document placed on the platen, and an light input member that allows the reflected light to enter the image sensor from the platen side. A moving mechanism that is capable of reciprocating in a predetermined document reading direction, and a reading unit that reads an image of the document while the moving mechanism moves in the document reading direction. When the scanning control unit that controls the operation of the scanning unit, the document size acquisition unit that acquires the size of the document by using the detection result of the image sensor, and the document holding cover are in the open state, the document When the scanning unit performs a pre-scan operation of scanning without placing the original on the table, it is determined whether or not the original size acquisition unit can acquire the size of the original on the original table. When it is determined that the size of the original is unobtainable, the first determination unit for determining the unobtainable non-acquirable area of the size of the original on the platen and the original holding cover are open. Occasionally, when the reading unit performs a real-time scanning operation of scanning in the non-acquirable area determined by the first discriminating unit, the size of the document is determined by the document size acquisition unit in the non-acquirable area. The reading control is provided with a second determination unit for determining whether or not an image can be acquired, an operation reception unit for receiving an operation instruction from a user, a display unit, and a display control unit for controlling the operation of the display unit. When the operation receiving unit receives an instruction from the user to execute an open scan process for reading an image of a document placed on the platen with the document holding cover open, the unit performs the prescan operation. The display control unit prompts the reading unit to select whether or not to execute the real-time scanning operation on the non-acquirable area when the first determining unit determines the non-acquirable area. When the operation receiving unit receives the start instruction of the real-time scanning operation from the user, the reading control unit causes the display unit to perform the display, and the reading control unit enters the non-acquirable area determined by the first determining unit. The optical member is moved to cause the reading unit to perform the real-time scanning operation on the non-acquirable region, and the display control unit performs the display control unit. When the second discriminating unit determines that the document size cannot be acquired by the document size acquiring unit in the non-acquirable area, the user is subjected to a predetermined response operation regarding ambient light. The display unit is made to display a message prompting the user.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the above-mentioned image reading device and an image forming unit for forming an image of an image read by the reading unit on a recording paper.

According to the present invention, when the document is read with the document holding cover open, the influence of ambient light can be eliminated, the document size can be detected, and auto-cropping can be performed efficiently. ..

It is a front sectional view which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the main part structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on the said 1st Embodiment. It is an internal side view which shows the schematic structure of the reading part. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of processing in the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which showed an example of the display screen displayed on the display part. It is a figure which showed an example of the display screen displayed on the display part. It is a figure which showed an example of the display screen displayed on the display part. It is a figure which showed an example of the display screen displayed on the display part. It is a figure which showed an example of the display screen displayed on the display part. It is a functional block diagram which shows the main part structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of processing in the image forming apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which showed an example of the display screen displayed on the display part. It is a figure which showed an example of the display screen displayed on the display part.

Hereinafter, an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention and an image forming device including the image reading device will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the structure of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 47, an image forming unit 120, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, a document feeding unit 6, a reading unit 5 as an image reading device of the present invention, and the like in the apparatus main body 2. It is composed of.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 has a translucent property and includes a contact glass 161 as a platen on which a document is placed. Then, in the image forming apparatus 1, the document feeding unit 6 as a document holding cover, which is provided on the device main body 2 so as to be openable and closable and holds the document placed on the contact glass 161 in the closed state, is closed or opened. In this state, the document is read. That is, in the image forming apparatus 1, the user performs a closed scan process in which the reading unit 5 performs a document reading operation when the document feeding unit 6 is closed, and a case where the document feeding unit 6 is opened. Select one of the scan processes, which is the open scan process for causing the scanning unit 5 to perform the document scanning operation, to scan the image of the document. Further, the image data of the original document generated by the reading operation of the reading unit 5 is stored in a storage unit described later, a computer connected to a network, or the like.

When the image forming apparatus 1 performs the image forming operation, it is stored in the image data generated by the above reading operation, the image data received from the user terminal device such as a computer or smartphone connected to the network, or the storage unit. Based on the image data and the like, the image forming unit 120 forms a toner image on the recording paper P as a recording medium to be fed from the paper feeding unit 14.

The image forming units 12M, 12C, 12Y, and 12Bk of the image forming unit 120 irradiate the surface of the photoconductor drum 122 and the photoconductor drum 122 with light to eliminate static electricity on the surface, and the photoconductor drum 122. On the surface of the photoconductor drum 122, a charging device (LSU; Laser scanning units) that exposes the surface of the photoconductor drum 122 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. It is provided with a developing device that supplies toner to develop an electrostatic latent image into a toner image, a toner cartridge (not shown) that houses the toner, and a primary transfer roller 126, respectively.

In the case of color printing, in the image forming unit 12M for magenta, the image forming unit 12C for cyan, the image forming unit 12Y for yellow, and the image forming unit 12Bk for black of the image forming unit 120, the photoconductor drum 122 The surface of the photoconductor drum 122 is charged uniformly after static elimination, and the surface of the photoconductor drum 122 is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of the color component of the color on the surface of the photoconductor drum 122. The electrostatic latent image of is developed with the toner of the color component to form a toner image on the photoconductor drum 122, and the toner image is stretched on the driving roller 125A and the driven roller 125B by the primary transfer roller 126. The image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 125.

The intermediate transfer belt 125 has an image-supporting surface on which the toner image is transferred is set on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is driven by the drive roller 125A in a state of being in contact with the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 122. The intermediate transfer belt 125 runs endlessly between the driving roller 125A and the driven roller 125B in synchronization with each photoconductor drum 122.

The toner images of each color component transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 125 are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 125 by adjusting the transfer timing to obtain a color toner image. The secondary transfer roller 210 transfers the color toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125 from the paper feed unit 14 to the transfer path 190 at the nip portion N with the drive roller 125A with the intermediate transfer belt 125 sandwiched between them. It is transferred to the recording paper P that has been used. After that, the fixing unit 13 fixes the toner image on the recording paper P to the recording paper P by thermocompression bonding. The color image-formed recording paper P for which the fixing process has been completed is discharged to the discharge tray 151.

The paper feed unit 14 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes. The control unit (not shown) rotates and drives the pickup roller 145 of the paper feed cassette containing the recording paper P of the size specified by the operator's instruction, and the recording paper P housed in each paper cassette. Is conveyed toward the nip portion N.

Here, the reading unit 5 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an internal side view showing a schematic configuration of the reading unit.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reading unit 5 includes an optical scanning unit 7 and an imaging unit 8.

The optical scanning unit 7 includes a first optical system unit 71 and a second optical system unit 72. The first optical system unit 71 includes a light source 10 such as an LED and a first mirror 711. The light source 10 is arranged below the reading surface of the document, that is, facing the contact glass 161 so as to irradiate the reading light upward.

The first mirror 711 changes the direction of the document placed on the contact glass 161 in the horizontal direction by receiving the reflected light of the reading light emitted by the light source 10 on the image reading surface. The first mirror 711 is arranged below the contact glass 161. The light source 10 and the first mirror 711 are attached to a support member 34A included in the carriage 34 described later. The first mirror 711 is an example of a light receiving member within the scope of claims.

The second optical system unit 72 includes a second mirror 721 and a third mirror 722. The second mirror 721 receives the reflected light reflected by the first mirror 711 of the first optical system unit 71, and further changes its direction substantially vertically downward. The third mirror 722 further redirects the reflected light reflected by the second mirror 721 substantially horizontally and guides it in the direction of the image pickup unit 8. The second mirror 721 and the third mirror 722 are attached to the support member 34B included in the carriage 34.

The light source 10 and each of the mirrors provided in the first optical system unit 71 and the second optical system unit 72 have an elongated shape extending in the main scanning direction with substantially the same length as the contact glass 161.

Inside the reading unit 5, a rail for movement of the drawing that guides the movement of the optical scanning unit 7 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing is provided, and a carriage 34 as a moving mechanism is attached to the rail. ing. As a result, the optical scanning unit 7 including the first optical system unit 71 and the second optical system unit 72 can read the image information of the entire reading surface of the document placed on the contact glass 161 by the operation of the carriage 34. Parallel to the surface of the contact glass 161, it is possible to reciprocate in the sub-scanning direction (direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction) as a predetermined document reading direction, that is, in the direction of the arrow in the drawing.

The image pickup unit 8 is fixed to the lower part inside the reading unit 5. The image pickup unit 8 includes an image pickup lens 81 and an image sensor 82 including, for example, a contact image sensor (CIS) or a CCD sensor. The reflected light from the reading surface of the document, which is reflected by the third mirror 722 of the second optical system unit 72, is incident on the imaging lens 81. The imaging lens 81 forms an image of the reflected light on the surface of the image sensor 82 provided on the downstream side of the optical path. The image sensor 82 obtains pixel values indicating the brightness of each of a plurality of pixels included in the image, generates a signal indicating the pixel values, and outputs the signal to a control unit described later.

Returning to FIG. 1, the operation unit 47 receives instructions such as an image formation operation execution instruction and a document reading operation execution instruction from the operator regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 such as an LCD that displays operation guidance and the like to the operator. The display unit 473 is a touch panel, and the operator can operate the image forming apparatus 1 by touching the buttons and keys displayed on the screen.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, an image memory 32 that temporarily stores image data of a document obtained by a reading operation of a reading unit 5, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and the like. It is configured to include a storage unit 92 composed of a large-capacity storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive).

The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an MPU (Micro-processing unit), or the like. The control unit 10 displays a control unit 100 that controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1, an operation reception unit 101, a reading control unit 102, a document size acquisition unit 103, and a first determination unit 104. It includes a control unit 105.

The control unit 10 is operated by the processor according to the control program installed in the storage unit 92, so that the control unit 100, the operation reception unit 101, the reading control unit 102, the document size acquisition unit 103, and the first determination unit 104 , And function as a display control unit 105. However, the control unit 100 and the like can be configured by hardware circuits, regardless of the operation by the processor according to the control program by the control unit 10.

The control unit 100 is connected to a document feeding unit 6, a reading unit 5, an image forming unit 120, an image memory 32, an operation unit 47, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, an operation unit 47, a storage unit 92, and the like. Drive control of each of these parts is performed. Further, when the image data read by the reading unit 5 is stored in the image memory 32 for a plurality of cards (original documents) placed on the contact glass 161 for example, the control unit 100 stores the stored image data. On the other hand, by performing a known cropping process, the image data is cut out into image data of each of a plurality of cards and arranged.

The operation reception unit 101 receives an operation instruction from the user.

The reading control unit 102 controls the drive of the reading unit 5. For example, the reading control unit 102 controls the reading unit 5 to read the document placed on the contact glass 161.

The document size acquisition unit 103 acquires the size of the document by using the detection result of the image sensor 82 (FIG. 3). For example, in the open scan process, the document size acquisition unit 103 acquires pixel values indicating the brightness of a plurality of pixels included in the image formed on the image sensor 82 from the image sensor 82, and the acquired pixels. Based on the value, by detecting a pixel having a pixel value higher than the pixel value of the adjacent pixel, each of the four edges around the outside of the document is detected, and the document is based on the detected four edges. Detect and get the size. When the image sensor 82 receives ambient light, the document size acquisition unit 103 may not be able to detect a pixel having a high pixel value indicating the edge from the detection result of the image sensor 82. Therefore, it may be impossible to detect the edge of the document and the size of the document.

The first discriminating unit 104 corresponds to the case where the reading unit 5 performs a pre-scan operation of scanning when the document feeding unit 6 is in the open state and the document is not placed on the contact glass 161. The contact glass 161 determines whether or not the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the document. Further, when the original size acquisition unit 103 determines that the original size cannot be acquired, the first determination unit 104 determines the unacquirable region of the original size on the contact glass 161.

The pre-scan operation is an operation in which the open scan process is performed in advance before the execution according to an operation instruction from the user, and when the open scan process is executed, illumination of a fluorescent lamp or the like installed on the upper side of the contact glass 161 is performed. Due to the light from the device (not shown) entering the image sensor 82 as ambient light, the non-acquirable region in which the document size acquisition unit 103 cannot acquire the size of the document is in contact. This is an operation for determining in advance whether or not the glass 161 exists in the entire area. Further, in the prescan operation, the first discriminating unit 104 is an image in a state where the document feeding unit 6 is in the open state and the light source 10 is turned on with the document not placed on the contact glass 161. Using the detection result of the sensor 82, it is determined whether or not the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the document with the contact glass 161.

The display control unit 105 has a function of controlling the display operation by the display unit 473. Further, when the operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction for scanning processing by the reading unit 5 from the user, the display control unit 105 reads the image of the document placed on the contact glass 161 with the document feeding unit 6 open. The display unit 473 is made to display a display prompting the selection of whether or not to execute the open scan process.

When the operation receiving unit 101 receives the execution instruction of the open scan process from the user, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform the pre-scan operation.

When the first determination unit 104 determines that the size of the original cannot be acquired by the original size acquisition unit 103 with the contact glass 161, the display control unit 105 responds to the user with a predetermined response regarding ambient light. The display unit 473 is made to display a display prompting the execution of the operation.

The corresponding operation is at least one of moving the position of the image forming apparatus 1 (that is, the image reading apparatus) from the current position or turning off the lighting device on the upper side of the image forming apparatus 1.

When the pre-scan operation is performed, the first determination unit 104 obtains pixel values indicating the brightness of each pixel for all the pixels corresponding to the entire area of the contact glass 161 from the detection result of the image sensor 82. In addition, the first determination unit 104 detects the size of a region composed of pixels having a pixel value equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold value. When the first discriminating unit 104 detects that the detected size of the region is equal to or larger than the predetermined first size, the detected region is used as the detected region of the original in the contact glass 161. It is determined that the size cannot be acquired as described above, and further, it is determined that the size of the original cannot be acquired by the original size acquisition unit 103 with the contact glass 161. As a specific example of the first threshold value, for example, when the brightness of the pixel is defined by 256 gradations, the first threshold value is 150. The first size is, for example, 2% of the area of the contact glass 161.

When the first determination unit 104 determines that the detected area is the unacquirable area, the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display the unacquirable area.

The display control unit 105 displays a display prompting the execution of the pre-scan operation again after the first determination unit 104 determines that the size of the original cannot be acquired by the original size acquisition unit 103 on the contact glass 161. Let part 473 do it.

When the operation receiving unit 101 receives the instruction to start the pre-scan operation again from the user, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform the pre-scan operation again.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. In the following description, in the reading operation of the reading unit 5, the operation for eliminating the influence of ambient light will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the operation reception unit 101 has received a request instructing the user to execute the document scanning process (reading operation) (S1). For example, in the control unit 100, as shown in FIG. 5, when the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display a display prompting the user to instruct the processing operation, is the scan processing key 473A designated to the user? By detecting whether or not, it is determined whether or not a request for instructing the execution of the document scanning process has been made. If the operation reception unit 101 does not detect that the scan processing key 473A has been specified (NO in S1), the control unit 100 does not proceed to S2 and puts the image forming apparatus 1 in the standby state.

On the other hand, when the control unit 100 detects that the scan processing key 473A has been specified by the user and has been accepted by the operation reception unit 101 (YES in S1), the control unit 100 determines that the execution of the document scanning process has been requested. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display a display prompting the selection of whether or not to execute the open scan process (S2).

Subsequently, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the user has requested the execution of the open scan process (S3). For example, when the control unit 100 detects that the closed scan process execution key 473C is specified by the user and accepted by the operation reception unit 101 on the display screen shown in FIG. 6 (NO in S3), the open scan process is performed. It is determined that the execution of the closed scan process was requested without the execution of. Then, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to execute the closed scan process (S4).

On the other hand, when the control unit 100 detects that the open scan process execution key 473B is specified by the user on the display screen shown in FIG. 6 and is accepted by the operation reception unit 101 (YES in S3), the open scan process is performed. Judge that the execution of is requested. Subsequently, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the display control unit 105 can normally perform the open scan process on the entire area of the contact glass 161 without being affected by the ambient light for the user. In order to determine, the display unit 473 is made to display to confirm that the reading unit 5 is to perform the pre-scan operation (S5).

Subsequently, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the operation reception unit 101 has received the request instructing the start of the prescan operation by the user (S6). For example, has the control unit 100 received a request instructing the execution of the prescan operation by detecting whether or not the prescan operation start key 473D has been specified by the user on the display screen of FIG. Determine if. If the operation reception unit 101 has not detected that the prescan operation start key 473D has been specified (NO in S6), the control unit 100 does not proceed to S7 and puts the image forming apparatus 1 in the standby state.

On the other hand, when the control unit 100 detects that the pre-scan operation start key 473D has been specified by the user and has been accepted by the operation reception unit 101 (YES in S6), the control unit 100 determines that the start of the pre-scan operation has been requested. Then, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform the pre-scan operation.

Then, the first discriminating unit 104 detects whether or not the unacquirable region exists in the entire area of the contact glass 161 from the detection result of the image sensor 82 when the prescan operation is performed. , It is determined whether or not the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the document (S7). When the first determination unit 104 determines that the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the original in the entire area of the contact glass 161 (YES in S7), the reading control unit 102 reads the open scan process. Let unit 5 execute (S8). After that, the control unit 100 performs, for example, auto-cropping. That is, in the open scan process in S8, when the reading unit 5 reads a plurality of cards (original documents) placed on the contact glass 161 for example, the control unit 100 reads the plurality of cards. The included image data is stored in the image memory 32. Further, at this time, since the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the document in the entire area of the contact glass 161, the control unit 100 performs the above-mentioned auto cropping with respect to the image data stored in the image memory 100. By performing the above, the image data is cut out into image data of each of a plurality of cards and arranged.

On the other hand, when the first discriminating unit 104 determines that the unobtainable region exists in the entire area of the contact glass 161 (NO in S7), the display control unit 105, for example, is shown by a shaded portion in FIG. The display unit 473 displays the non-acquirable region ImA determined by the first determination unit 104 (S9).

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9, the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display a display prompting the user to execute the predetermined corresponding operation regarding the ambient light (S10). After that, the process returns to S5 and the process is repeated. That is, as shown in the display screen of FIG. 7, the display control unit 105 determines whether or not the open scan process can be normally performed in the entire area of the contact glass 161 without being affected by the ambient light. (S5), the display unit 473 is displayed to confirm that the reading unit 5 is to perform the pre-scan operation again. Then, when the control unit 100 detects that the pre-scan operation start key 473D has been specified by the user on the display screen of FIG. 7 and has been accepted by the operation reception unit 101 (YES in S6), the control unit 100 starts the pre-scan operation. The reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform a pre-scan operation.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction for scanning processing by the reading unit 5 from the user, the display control unit 105 is in the contact glass with the document feeding unit (document holding cover) 6 open. The display unit 473 is made to display a display prompting the selection of whether or not to execute the open scan process for reading the image of the document placed on the (manuscript stand) 161. When the operation reception unit 101 receives the execution instruction of the open scan process from the user, the reading control unit 102 does not place the document on the contact glass (document stand) 161 when the document feeding unit 6 is in the open state. The reading unit 5 is made to perform a pre-scan operation of scanning in the state. The first determination unit 104 determines whether or not the original size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the original with the contact glass 161 when the reading unit 5 performs the pre-scan operation. When the first determination unit 104 determines that the size of the original cannot be acquired by the original size acquisition unit 103 with the contact glass 161, the display control unit 105 responds to the user with a predetermined response regarding ambient light. The display unit 473 is made to display a display prompting the execution of the operation. As a result, in the present embodiment, unlike the conventional example, the user can eliminate the unacquirable area ImA caused by the influence of the ambient light when the open scan process is executed, and the user can contact the contact. The open scan process can be appropriately performed in the entire area of the glass 161. That is, in the present embodiment, unlike the above-mentioned conventional example, when the document is read with the document holding cover open, the influence of ambient light is eliminated, the document size can be detected, and auto cropping is efficiently performed. Can be made possible.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the prescan operation is performed, the first determination unit 104 determines the brightness of each pixel for all the pixels corresponding to the entire area of the contact glass 161 from the detection result of the image sensor 82. Obtain the indicated pixel value. In addition, the first determination unit 104 detects the size of a region composed of pixels having a pixel value equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold value. Further, when the first discriminating unit 104 detects that the size of the detected region is equal to or larger than the predetermined first size, the detected region is set to the size of the original in the contact glass 161. It is determined that the non-acquirable region ImA cannot be acquired, and the contact glass 161 determines that the size of the original cannot be acquired by the original size acquisition unit 103. As described above, the first determination unit 104 quantitatively determines whether or not the non-acquirable region ImA exists in the contact glass 161 based on the pixel value. The presence or absence of ImA can be accurately determined.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the display control unit 105 determines that the area detected by the first determination unit 104 is the non-acquirable area ImA, the display unit 473 displays the non-acquirable area ImA. As a result, in the present embodiment, the user can visually recognize the non-acquirable area ImA, the corresponding operation can be appropriately performed, and the open scan process can be executed at an early stage.

Further, in the present embodiment, the display control unit 105 executes the prescan operation again after the first determination unit 104 determines that the original size cannot be acquired by the original size acquisition unit 103 with the contact glass 161. The display unit 473 is made to display a prompt for. Further, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives an instruction to start the pre-scan operation again from the user, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform the pre-scan operation again. Thereby, in the present embodiment, the user can eliminate the non-acquirable area ImA, and can surely execute the open scan process.

Further, in the present embodiment, the corresponding operation is at least one of moving the position of the image forming apparatus 1 from the current position or turning off the lighting device on the upper side of the image forming apparatus 1. When the user performs such a corresponding operation, in the present embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the influence of ambient light and appropriately execute the open scan process.

<Second embodiment>
Next, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 10 includes a second discriminating unit 106. In the second discriminating unit 106, when the document feeding unit 6 is in the open state, the reading unit 5 performs a real-time scanning operation of scanning in the non-acquirable area ImA determined by the first discriminating unit 104. In this case, it is determined whether or not the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the document in the non-acquirable area ImA.

In the real-time scanning operation, after the user performs the corresponding operation, the influence of the ambient light is eliminated by the corresponding operation according to the operation instruction from the user, and the non-acquirable area ImA determined by the first determination unit 104 This is an operation for determining in real time whether or not the size of the original can be acquired in FIG. 8 (FIG. 8). Further, in the real-time scanning operation, the second determination unit 106 is an image in a state where the document feeding unit 6 is in the open state and the light source 10 is turned on with the document not placed on the contact glass 161. Using the detection result of the sensor 82, it is determined whether or not the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the document in the non-acquirable area ImA.

The display control unit 105 displays a display prompting the user to execute a predetermined response operation regarding ambient light when the first determination unit 104 determines the non-acquirable area ImA, and the non-acquirable area. The display unit 473 is made to display a display prompting the user to select whether or not to execute the real-time scanning operation for the ImA.

When the operation receiving unit 101 receives the start instruction of the real-time scanning operation from the user, the reading control unit 102 moves the first mirror 711 (FIG. 3) to the non-acquirable area ImA determined by the first determining unit 104. Then, the reading unit 5 is made to perform the real-time scanning operation on the non-acquirable area ImA. Further, when the first determination unit 104 determines the non-acquirable region ImA, the reading control unit 102 positions the pixel having the highest pixel value among the pixels included in the non-acquirable region ImA. The first mirror 711 is moved to cause the reading unit 5 to perform the real-time scanning operation.

When the display control unit 105 determines that the document size acquisition unit 103 cannot acquire the size of the document in the unacquirable area ImA by the second determination unit 106, the display control unit 105 performs a new corresponding operation for the user. The display unit 473 is made to display a display prompting the execution.

When the operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction from the user not to perform the real-time scan operation, the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display a display prompting the execution of the pre-scan operation again. Further, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives an instruction to start the pre-scan operation again from the user, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform the pre-scan operation again.

When the display unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display a display prompting the user to execute the corresponding operation, the display control unit 105 displays a display prompting the display unit 473 to execute a new real-time scan operation for the unacquirable area ImA. Let me. Further, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives a new real-time scanning operation start instruction from the user, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform a new real-time scanning operation on the non-acquirable area ImA.

When the real-time scanning operation is performed, the second discrimination unit 106 obtains pixel values indicating the brightness of each pixel for all the pixels corresponding to the non-acquirable region ImA from the detection result of the image sensor 82. Further, the second discriminating unit 106 detects the size of the region composed of pixels having a pixel value equal to or higher than a predetermined second threshold value. Further, when the second discriminating unit 106 detects that the detected size of the area is equal to or larger than the predetermined second size, the size of the document is set in the non-acquirable area ImA. It is determined that the size acquisition unit 103 cannot acquire the size. As a specific example of the second threshold value, for example, when the brightness of the pixel is defined by 256 gradations, the second threshold value is 150. The second size is, for example, 2% of the area of the contact glass 161.

When the display control unit 105 determines that the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the document in the unacquirable area ImA by the second determination unit 106, the display control unit 105 performs a new prescan operation for the user. The display unit 473 is made to display a display prompting the execution of. Further, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives a new prescan operation start instruction from the user, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform the new prescan operation.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the first determination unit 104 determines the non-acquirable region ImA (NO in S7), the display control unit 105 performs a predetermined response operation regarding ambient light to the user. The display unit 473 is made to display the display prompting the execution and the display prompting the selection of whether or not to execute the real-time scanning operation for the non-acquirable area ImA (S11). For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the display control unit 105 displays a display prompting the user to select a real-time scan operation or a pre-scan operation again, and a display prompting the user to execute the corresponding operation. Let me do it.

Then, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the user has requested the real-time scan operation instruction by detecting whether or not the real-time scan operation key 473E has been specified by the user on the display screen of FIG. 12 (S12). .. When the control unit 100 detects that the pre-scan operation key 473F has been specified by the user on the display screen of FIG. 12 and has been accepted by the operation reception unit 101 (NO in S12), the control unit 100 performs the pre-scan operation again. Is determined to have been requested, and the process returns to S5 above and the process is repeated.

On the other hand, when the control unit 100 detects that the real-time scan operation key 473E is specified by the user and accepted by the operation reception unit 101 on the display screen of FIG. 12 (YES in S12), the control unit 100 performs the real-time scan operation. Is determined to have been requested. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display to confirm that the reading unit 5 performs the real-time scanning operation on the unacquirable area ImA (S13). ).

Subsequently, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the operation reception unit 101 has received the request instructing the start of the real-time scan operation by the user (S14). For example, has the control unit 100 received a request instructing the execution of the real-time scan operation by detecting whether or not the real-time scan operation start key 473G has been specified by the user on the display screen of FIG. Determine if. If the operation reception unit 101 has not detected that the real-time scan operation start key 473G has been specified (NO in S14), the control unit 100 does not proceed to S15 and puts the image forming apparatus 1 in the standby state.

On the other hand, when the control unit 100 detects that the real-time scan operation start key 473G is specified by the user and is accepted by the operation reception unit 101 (YES in S14), the control unit 100 determines that the start of the real-time scan operation is requested. Then, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform a real-time scanning operation.

Then, from the detection result of the image sensor 82 when the real-time scanning operation is performed, the second determination unit 106 has an area in the non-acquirable area ImA where the document size acquisition unit 103 cannot acquire the size of the document. By detecting whether or not to do so, it is determined whether or not the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the document in the non-acquirable area ImA at the present time (S15). After that, when the display control unit 105 determines that the document size acquisition unit 103 cannot acquire the original size in the non-acquirable area ImA at the present time (NO in S15), the user The display unit 473 is made to display a display prompting the execution of the corresponding operation. That is, the process returns to S13 and is redone, and the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display the display screen of FIG. 13 and prompts the user to execute the new corresponding operation. That is, the control unit 100 eliminates the unacquirable region ImA in the corresponding operation (for example, the operation of moving the image forming apparatus 1) performed by the user before the real-time scanning operation instructed to start in S14 is performed. When the second discriminating unit 106 determines that this has not been done, it is necessary to perform a new corresponding operation (for example, an operation of turning off the lighting device) in order to properly execute the open scan process. to decide. Then, the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display the display screen of FIG. 13 as described above.

On the other hand, when the second determination unit 106 determines that the original size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the original size in the non-acquirable area ImA (YES in S15), the display control unit 105 informs the user. The display unit 473 is made to display a display prompting the execution of a new prescan operation (S16). For example, the display control unit 105 prompts the user to execute a new prescan operation by displaying the display screen of FIG. 7 on the display unit 473. Then, when the control unit 100 detects that the pre-scan operation start key 473D has been specified by the user on the display screen of FIG. 7 and has been accepted by the operation reception unit 101 (YES in S6), the control unit 100 performs a new pre-scan operation. Judge that the start of is requested. After that, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform a new prescan operation. As a result, after it is determined by the real-time scanning operation that the size of the original can be acquired by the corresponding operation by the user in the non-acquirable area ImA, a new one is created due to the corresponding operation in the entire area of the contact glass 161. It is determined by performing a new prescan operation whether or not an unacquirable area is generated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the first discriminating unit 104 determines the non-acquirable region ImA, the display control unit 105 selects whether or not to execute the real-time scanning operation for the non-acquirable region ImA. The display unit 473 is made to display a prompt for. Further, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives the start instruction of the real-time scanning operation from the user, the reading control unit 102 moves the first mirror 711 to the non-acquirable area ImA determined by the first determining unit 104, and causes the first mirror 711. The reading unit 5 is made to perform a real-time scanning operation for the non-acquirable area ImA. Further, when the reading unit 5 performs the real-time scanning operation in the non-acquirable area ImA, the second discriminating unit 106 determines whether the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the document in the non-acquirable area ImA. To determine. Further, when the second determination unit 106 determines that the original size cannot be acquired by the original size acquisition unit 103 in the unacquirable area ImA, the display control unit 105 executes a corresponding operation for the user. The display unit 473 is made to display a message prompting the user. As a result, in the present embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the user himself / herself eliminates the unacquirable area ImA caused by the influence of the ambient light when the open scan process is executed. This makes it possible to eliminate the influence of ambient light, enable document size detection, and efficiently perform auto-cropping when the document is read with the document holding cover open. Further, in the present embodiment, since the real-time scanning operation is performed after the corresponding operation by the user is performed, it is possible to immediately determine whether or not the unacquirable area ImA is eliminated by performing the corresponding operation. It is possible to execute an appropriate open scan process earlier than that of the first embodiment.

Further, in the present embodiment, the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display a display prompting the user to execute the corresponding operation when the first determination unit 104 determines the unacquirable area ImA. .. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user can perform the corresponding operation when the non-acquirable region ImA is determined, and the non-acquirable region ImA can be eliminated at an early stage.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the first determination unit 104 determines the unacquirable region ImA, the read control unit 102 has the highest pixel value among the pixels included in the unacquirable region ImA. The first mirror 711 is moved to the position of the pixel, and the reading unit 5 is made to perform the real-time scanning operation. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the real-time scanning operation can be performed at the place where the influence of the ambient light is the largest, the discrimination accuracy of the real-time scanning operation is improved, and the area where the size of the document cannot be acquired is defined. It can be discriminated with high accuracy.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the operation reception unit 101 receives an instruction from the user that the real-time scan operation is not performed, the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to display a display prompting the execution of the pre-scan operation again. Further, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives an instruction to start the pre-scan operation again from the user, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform the pre-scan operation again. Thereby, in the present embodiment, the user can surely eliminate the non-acquirable area ImA.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the display control unit 105 causes the display unit 473 to perform a display prompting the user to execute the corresponding operation, a display prompting the user to execute a new real-time scan operation on the non-acquirable area ImA. Is performed by the display unit 473. Further, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives a new real-time scanning operation start instruction from the user, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform a new real-time scanning operation on the non-acquirable area ImA. Thereby, in the present embodiment, the user can surely and early eliminate the unacquirable area ImA.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the real-time scanning operation is performed, the second discrimination unit 106 indicates the brightness of each pixel for all the pixels corresponding to the non-acquirable region ImA from the detection result of the image sensor 82. Get the pixel value. Further, the second discriminating unit 106 detects the size of the region composed of pixels having a pixel value equal to or higher than a predetermined second threshold value. Further, when the second discriminating unit 106 detects that the detected size of the area is equal to or larger than the predetermined second size, the size of the document is set in the non-acquirable area ImA. It is determined that the size acquisition unit 103 cannot acquire the size. In this way, the second determination unit 106 quantitatively determines whether or not the original size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the original in the non-acquirable region ImA based on the pixel values. Therefore, the determination can be made accurately.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the display control unit 105 determines that the document size acquisition unit 103 can acquire the size of the document in the non-acquirable area ImA by the second determination unit 106, the user is notified. The display unit 473 is made to display a display prompting the execution of the new pre-scan operation. Further, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives a new prescan operation start instruction from the user, the reading control unit 102 causes the reading unit 5 to perform the new prescan operation. As a result, in the present embodiment, after it is determined by the real-time scanning operation that the size of the document can be acquired by the corresponding operation by the user in the non-acquirable area ImA, the corresponding operation is performed in the entire area of the contact glass 161. It is possible to determine whether or not a new non-acquirable area is generated due to the above by performing a new prescan operation, and when the document is read with the document holding cover open, the influence of ambient light is affected. By eliminating it, it is possible to detect the size of the original and to efficiently perform auto-cropping.

It should be noted that, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration and processing shown by the above-described embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to the configuration and processing.

1 Image forming device 5 Reading unit 6 Document feeding unit (Document holding cover)
34 Carriage (movement mechanism)
82 Image sensor 101 Operation reception unit 102 Reading control unit 103 Document size acquisition unit 104 First discrimination unit 105 Display control unit 106 Second discrimination unit 120 Image formation unit 473 Display unit 711 First mirror (light input member)

Claims (11)

A platen on which the original is placed, which has translucency,
A document holder cover that is provided on the main body of the device and holds the document placed on the platen in the closed state, and a document holder cover.
An image sensor that receives the reflected light of the reading light radiated to the document placed on the platen and an light input member that allows the reflected light to enter the image sensor from the platen side are mounted in advance. A reading unit having a moving mechanism capable of reciprocating in a predetermined document reading direction, and reading an image of the document while the moving mechanism moves in the document reading direction.
A reading control unit that controls the operation of the reading unit,
A document size acquisition unit that acquires the size of the document by using the detection result of the image sensor, and a document size acquisition unit.
When the scanning unit performs a pre-scan operation of scanning when the document holding cover is open and the document is not placed on the document table, the size of the document is determined by the document table. First, it is determined whether or not the size acquisition unit can acquire the size of the original, and when it is determined that the size of the original cannot be acquired, the unacquirable area of the size of the original on the platen is determined. Discrimination part and
When the scanning unit performs a real-time scanning operation of scanning in the non-acquirable region determined by the first discriminating unit when the document holding cover is open, the document is in the non-acquirable region. A second determination unit that determines whether or not the original size acquisition unit can acquire the size of
An operation reception unit that receives operation instructions from users,
Display and
A display control unit that controls the operation of the display unit is provided.
When the operation receiving unit receives an instruction from the user to execute an open scan process for reading an image of a document placed on the platen with the document holding cover open, the scanning control unit performs the prescan. Let the reading unit perform the operation.
When the first discriminating unit discriminates the non-acquirable area, the display control unit displays on the display unit a display prompting the selection of whether or not to execute the real-time scanning operation on the non-acquirable area. Let me do
When the operation receiving unit receives the start instruction of the real-time scanning operation from the user, the reading control unit moves the light input member to the non-acquirable region determined by the first determining unit to acquire the light input member. Let the reading unit perform the real-time scanning operation on the impossible area.
The display control unit is predetermined for the user regarding ambient light when the second determination unit determines that the size of the document cannot be acquired by the document size acquisition unit in the non-acquirable region. An image reading device that causes the display unit to display a display prompting the execution of the corresponding operation. In addition to the display prompting the selection of whether or not to execute the real-time scanning operation on the non-acquirable area when the first determination unit determines the non-acquirable area, the display control unit further The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit is made to display a display prompting the user to perform the predetermined corresponding operation regarding ambient light . When the pre-scan operation is performed, the first discriminating unit obtains pixel values indicating the brightness of each pixel for all the pixels corresponding to the entire area of the platen from the detection result of the image sensor. , Detects the size of a region composed of pixels having pixel values equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold value, and determines that the detected size of the region is equal to or larger than a predetermined first size. When it is detected, claim 1 or claim 2 determines that the detected area is the non-acquirable area and that the original size acquisition unit cannot acquire the size of the original on the platen. The image reader described. When the first discriminating unit discriminates the non-acquirable region, the reading control unit receives the light at the position of the pixel having the highest pixel value among the pixels included in the non-acquirable region. The image reading device according to claim 3, wherein the member is moved to cause the reading unit to perform the real-time scanning operation. The first to fourth aspects of the present invention, wherein the display control unit displays the non-acquirable area on the display unit when the first discriminating unit determines the detected area as the non-acquirable area. Image reader. When the operation reception unit receives an instruction from the user not to perform the real-time scan operation, the display control unit causes the display unit to display a display prompting the execution of the pre-scan operation again.
The reading control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the operation receiving unit receives an instruction to start the re-prescan operation from the user, the reading control unit causes the reading unit to perform the re-prescan operation. The image reader described. When the display control unit causes the display unit to perform a display prompting the user to execute the corresponding operation, the display control unit displays a display prompting the user to execute a new real-time scan operation on the non-acquirable area. Let me do
Claims 1 to claim that the reading control unit causes the reading unit to perform the new real-time scanning operation on the non-acquirable area when the operation receiving unit receives a start instruction of the new real-time scanning operation from the user. Item 6. The image reading device according to any one of items 6. When the real-time scanning operation is performed, the second discriminating unit obtains a pixel value indicating the brightness of each pixel for all the pixels corresponding to the unacquirable region from the detection result of the image sensor. , Detects the size of a region composed of pixels having a pixel value equal to or higher than a predetermined second threshold value, and determines that the detected size of the region is equal to or larger than a predetermined second size. The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when it is detected, the size of the document cannot be acquired by the document size acquisition unit in the non-acquirable area. When the second determination unit determines that the size of the document can be acquired by the document size acquisition unit in the non-acquirable area, the display control unit performs a new prescan operation for the user. To display the display prompting the execution of
The reading control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when the operation receiving unit receives an instruction to start the new prescan operation from the user, the reading control unit causes the reading unit to perform the new prescan operation. The image reader described. The corresponding operation is any one of claims 1 to 9, which is at least one of moving the position of the image reading device from the current position or turning off the lighting device on the upper side of the image reading device. The image reader described. The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit for forming an image read by the reading unit on a recording paper.