JP2000295389A - Image reader, image reading system and image reading method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To delimit documents with simple operation by providing an operation input means for instructing the generation of a delimit signal for delimiting an original constituting one document from an original constituting the other document. SOLUTION: An operation part 112 of an image reader 100 has a delimit key. When the original bundle of a document 1 is completely read, the key is depressed and a delimit status is turned on. Concerning the document 1, a folder 1 is prepared by a controller 416 and the folder 1 stores respective image files. Next, the original bundle of a document 2 is set on an original platen. When the originals of the document 2 are completely read, the delimit status is turned on by similarly depressing the delimit key. Concerning the document 2, a folder 2 is prepared. By repeating the work of depressing the delimit key after completely reading the original bundle for each document, the documents can be delimited without inserting a special sheet between the documents.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an image reading system, and an image reading method for reading an image on a document and outputting the read image to an external device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image reading apparatus for reading an image on a document is connected to an external device, for example, a host computer, and outputs the read image to the host computer. The host computer
It has a function of inputting a read image, storing this image as an image file, performing processing such as performing image processing on the image, and issuing instructions such as an operation start instruction and an operation stop instruction to the image reading apparatus. . That is,
A control device (scan driver) for the image reading device is mounted on the host computer, and this control device is usually constructed by an application program.

Here, a configuration of a conventional image reading apparatus and a control device included in a host computer connected thereto will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional image reading device and a control device configured in a host computer connected thereto.

[0006] As shown in FIG. 6, the image reading device 415 has a reading sensor unit 40 for reading an image on a document.
9, a driving unit 410 for driving a conveyance roller for conveying a document, and a reading sensor unit 409.
Page memory 413 for storing image data for pages
And an I / F unit 414 that is communicably connected to the control device 416 and transmits image data stored in the page memory 413 to the control device 416, and the entire device including the operations of these blocks is stored in the ROM 411. And a CPU 408 for controlling based on a control program. This CP
The RAM 417 is used as a work area of the U 408, and an instruction to the CPU 408 is issued from the operation unit 412. The operation unit 412 is configured to issue an instruction to the CPU 408 and to perform input relating to mode setting and the like.

[0005] The control device 416 includes a program storage device 4
The CPU 401 performs various processes by reading a program from the memory 03 into a memory 404 and executing the program. The processing performed by the CPU 401 includes a process of receiving image data transmitted from the image reading device 415 via the I / F unit 407 and storing the received image data in the storage device 402 as an image file. The process includes a process of sending an operation instruction or the like to the device 415 via the I / F unit 407, a process of reading image data from the storage device 402, and displaying the image data on the display unit 405.

An instruction to the CPU 401 is sent to the operation unit 406
The operation unit 406 is configured to issue an instruction to the CPU 401 and to perform input relating to mode setting and the like.

Next, a description will be given of document breaks.
The image files stored in the storage device 402 of the control device 416 include files in various formats. Here, an example in which one image file is created from image data for one page of a document will be considered. In general, a document often includes a plurality of originals. For example, when the image reading device 415 reads a total of eight originals, a document 1 including five originals and a document 2 including three originals, page 1 page2, pa
Files named ge3, page4, page5, page6, page7, and page8 are created, and these eight files are stored in the storage device 402.

[0008] However, the eight files created here correspond to each image of the two documents, however, it is possible to identify which file constitutes the document 1 or the document 2. For example, when printing the document 2, the file to be printed cannot be specified. Therefore, it is very inconvenient.

In order to eliminate this inconvenience, a method for separating documents is adopted. This method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a conventional document segmentation method.

In this document separation method, as shown in FIG. 10, a special sheet 501 called a separator inserted between the documents constituting each document is used. On the surface of the special sheet 501, an identification pattern 502 capable of image recognition, for example, a bar code is drawn. Here, each document 1,
To read each of the originals constituting the documents 2 and 3, the user places the special sheet 501 between the original 1 and the original 2 and the special sheet 501 between the original 2 and the original 3. Insert each, special sheet 50
Each bundle of originals is set on the image reading device 415 in a state where 1 is inserted.

The set originals are sequentially conveyed and read by the reading sensor unit 409, and the read 1
The image data for the page is sent to the control device 416.

Here, an image reading operation using a special sheet 501 by a document separation method will be described. The operation of the control device 416 in this case will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, and the operation of the image reading device 415 will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the operation of the control device in FIG.
7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an operation of the image reading apparatus of FIG.

A user first sets a document to be read on the image reading device 415. Next, an image reading operation start instruction is input by operating the operation unit 406. The following processing is executed by the CPU 401 to which the instruction has been input. Further, the image reading device 415 receives an operation start instruction from the control device 416 and starts an image reading operation of the set document. This image reading operation is executed and controlled by the CPU 408.

In the image reading device 415, as shown in FIG. 9, first, in step S200, a break status described later is set to OFF, and in step S201, an operation start instruction from the control device 416 is waited. Control device 41
When the operation start instruction is received from Step S6, Step S202
To convey one document from the set of document bundles and read the image. The read image data is stored in the page memory 413. Subsequent step S202
Then, the image data stored in the page memory 413 is analyzed, and in step S203, it is determined whether or not the design 502 of the special sheet 501 is included from the analysis result. If the symbol 502 of the special sheet 501 is not included, the process proceeds to step S205, where one page of image data is sent to the control device 416, and the subsequent step S20
At 7, the delimiter status is set to off. This delimiter status is updated and stored in the RAM 417.

Next, the flow advances to step S208 to determine whether there is an unprocessed document. This determination is made based on the output of the document detection sensor that detects the set document. If there is an unprocessed document, the above-described step S202
Then, the next document is read. On the other hand, if there is no unprocessed document, it is determined that reading of all the documents has been completed, and the process proceeds to step S209, where the stop status (ST
OP status) to the control device 416, and this processing ends.

In step S203, the special sheet 501 is used.
If it is determined that the pattern 502 is included, the flow advances to step S206 to set the break status to ON, and in the following step S208, it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed document. , Step S202
Then, the next document is read. On the other hand, if there is no unprocessed document, the process advances to step S209 to send a stop status (STOP status) to the control device 416, and ends this processing.

In this way, until the symbol 502 on the special sheet 501 is detected, the reading of the document is continued with the delimiting status turned off, and the image data obtained each time the document is read is sent to the control unit 416. Sent out. Also,
When the symbol 502 on the special sheet 501 is detected, the next document is read after the separation status is once turned on.

In the control device 416, as shown in FIG.
5, an operation start is instructed, a variable f is initialized to 1 in a subsequent step S102, and a variable p is initialized to 1 in a step S103.

Next, the process proceeds to step S104, where the variable f
Create a folder that has the value of as part of the folder name. At this point, since the value of the variable f is 1, folder-
A folder named "1" is created. This folder is a directory created by a known file system.

Next, the process proceeds to step S106, where the image data sent from the image reading device 415 is read, and in the following step S107, an image file page- "p" is created in the folder- "1" and read into this file. Write the image data. At this point, since the variable p is 1, the image file page-1 is created.

Next, the process proceeds to step S107, where it is determined whether or not the stop status has been transmitted from the image reading device 415. When the stop status has been transmitted from the image reading device 415, the present process is terminated. On the other hand, when the stop status is not transmitted from the image reading device 415, the process proceeds to step S108, and waits until the next page of image data is received. When the next page of image data is received, the process proceeds to step S109 shown in FIG. Then, the image reading device 415 is inquired about the separation status, and determines whether or not the separation status is ON.
If the break status is not on, step S1
Proceeding to 10, the variable p is incremented by 1, and the process returns to step S105 to read the image data of the next page.
If the delimiter status is on, it is determined that the document is a document delimiter between the already read image data and the image data to be read, and the process proceeds to step S110, where the variable f
Is incremented by 1 and the process returns to step S103,
The variable p is initialized to 1.

In this manner, each image data can be classified into each folder by judging the division of the document according to the division status.

As in the above example, when reading a total of eight originals, that is, a document 1 composed of five originals and a document 2 composed of three originals, a special sheet 501 is placed between the documents 1 and 2. When the bundle of originals into which the special sheet 501 has been inserted is read, folders folder-1 and folder-2 are created, and page-1, page-2, and page-2 are stored in the folder folder-1.
Each image file of page-3, page-4, page-5 is stored, and folder-1, page-2, page-3, page-3
Are stored.

Therefore, the control device 416 can manage the image data on a folder basis, that is, on a document basis.

[0025]

However, in the above-described conventional document separation method, it is necessary to insert a special sheet 501 between document bundles constituting each document in advance. Particularly, when the number of documents is large, the special sheet 501 is used.
And the time for the insertion work becomes longer, and this work becomes troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus, an image reading system, and an image reading method that can separate documents by a simple operation.

[0027]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An image reading device that reads an image on a document and outputs the read image to an external device; a signal generating unit that generates a separation signal for separating a document forming one document from a document forming another document; Operation input means for inputting a user operation for instructing the signal generation means to generate the delimiter signal;
An image read from a document constituting one document is output to the external device as a signal for separating the image read from a document constituting another document.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the image reading of the document constituting the one document and the image reading of the document constituting the another document are successively performed. Is for instructing the generation of the delimiter signal within a period from when the image reading of the document bundle constituting the one document is completed to when the image reading of the document bundle constituting the other document is started. The user operation is input.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus having image reading means for reading an image on a document, and outputting the image read by the image reading means to an external device.
Paper feeding means for sequentially feeding the document to be read to the image reading means; detecting means for detecting whether or not all of the document to be read has been fed to the image reading means; Signal generating means for generating a delimiter signal, and when the detecting means detects that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means, the signal generating means generates the delimiter signal. The generated delimiter signal is output to the external device as a signal for regarding an image read from all of the originals to be read as an image in one document.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the third aspect, the sheet feeding means has a document table on which the document to be read is loaded, and the detecting means includes a document table on the document table. A document detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the loaded document to be read, and detecting whether or not all of the document to be read has been fed to the image reading unit based on an output of the document detection sensor It is characterized by the following.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus having image reading means for reading an image on a document, and outputting the image read by the image reading means to an external device.
Paper feeding means for sequentially feeding the document to be read to the image reading means; detecting means for detecting whether or not all of the document to be read has been fed to the image reading means; Signal generating means for generating a delimiter signal, and the delimiter signal generating means for instructing the signal generating means to generate the delimiter signal upon detecting that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means. Instructing means, and operation input means for inputting a user operation for instructing the signal generating means to generate the delimiter signal, comprising: Upon detection, the delimiter signal generation means instructs the signal generation means to generate the delimiter signal, and the delimiter signal generated by the instruction is read from all of the originals to be read. And a mode for outputting to the external device as a signal for assuming that the delimiter signal is an image in one document, and instructing the signal generating means to generate the delimiter signal by input of the user operation, Is the image read from all of the originals to be read.
It is characterized in that it is possible to select either one of a mode for outputting to the external device as a signal to be regarded as an image in one document.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the paper feeding means has a document table on which the document to be read is loaded, and the detecting means includes a document table. A document detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the loaded document to be read, and detecting whether or not all of the document to be read has been fed to the image reading unit based on an output of the document detection sensor It is characterized by the following.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading device for reading an image on a document, the image reading device outputting an image read by the image reading device, and an image reading device connected to the image reading device. An image reading system comprising: an external device that inputs an image output from the reading device; wherein the image reading device includes a sheet feeding unit that sequentially feeds a document to be read to the image reading unit; and the document to be read. And a sending unit for sending information indicating a detection result of the detecting unit to the external device, wherein the external device includes: When receiving from the image reading device information indicating that all of the target documents have been fed to the image reading means, images read from all of the target documents are regarded as images in one document. And performing writing delimiting process.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading system according to the seventh aspect, the paper feeding means has a document table on which the document to be read is loaded, and the detecting means includes a document table. A document detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the loaded document to be read, and detecting whether or not all of the document to be read has been fed to the image reading unit based on an output of the document detection sensor It is characterized by the following.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading system of the seventh aspect, it is possible to select a mode in which the information indicating the detection result received from the image reading device is ignored and the document segmentation process is prohibited. It is characterized by the following.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method for reading an image on a document and outputting the read image to an external device, a document constituting one document is separated from a document constituting another document. Inputting a user operation for instructing generation of a delimiter signal for generating the delimiter signal when the generation of the delimiter signal is instructed by the input of the user operation. Outputting an image read from a document constituting one document to the external device as a signal for separating the image from an image read from a document constituting another document.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method according to the tenth aspect, when the image reading of the document constituting the one document and the image reading of the document constituting the another document are successively performed. A user for instructing the generation of the delimiter signal within a period from when the image reading of the document constituting the one document is completed to when the image reading of the document constituting the other document is started. The operation is input.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method of reading an image on a document by image reading means and outputting the read image on the document to an external device, the document to be read is sequentially read by the image reading means. Feeding the document, and detecting whether or not all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means, and that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means. Detecting, a step of generating a separation signal for separating documents, and generating the separation signal as a signal for considering an image read from all of the originals to be read as an image in one document. And outputting to an external device.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method according to the twelfth aspect, a document detection sensor provided on a document table on which the document to be read is loaded is used to detect the object to be read loaded on the document table. A step of detecting the presence or absence of a document, and detecting whether or not all of the documents to be read have been fed to the image reading means based on an output of the document detection sensor.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method for reading an image on a document by the image reading means and outputting the read image to an external device, a step of selecting an automatic separation mode or a manual separation mode; The automatic separation mode, a step of executing one of the manual separation mode, wherein the automatic separation mode is a process of sequentially feeding the document to be read to the image reading means, A process for detecting whether or not all of the documents have been fed to the image reading means, and a process for detecting that all of the documents to be read have been fed to the image reading means. A signal generating process, and using the generated delimiter signal as a signal for regarding an image read from all of the originals to be read as an image in one document. The manual separation mode includes a process of sequentially feeding the document to be read to the image reading unit, and a process of feeding all of the document to be read to the image reading unit. Processing for generating the delimiter signal by input of a user operation, and generating the delimited signal as a signal for regarding an image read from all of the originals to be read as an image in one document, to the external device. Output processing.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method according to the fourteenth aspect, a document detection sensor provided on a document table on which the document to be read is loaded is used to detect the object to be read loaded on the document table. A step of detecting the presence or absence of a document, and detecting whether or not all of the documents to be read have been fed to the image reading means based on an output of the document detection sensor.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading device having an image reading means for reading an image on a document, outputting an image read by the image reading means, and an image reading device connected to the image reading device. An image reading method used in an image reading system including an external device that inputs an image output from a reading device, wherein the image reading device sequentially feeds a document to be read to the image reading unit,
A process of detecting that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading unit, and a process of transmitting information indicating the detection result to the external device are performed. Receiving information from the image reading device indicating that all of the originals have been fed to the image reading means, a document separation process that regards images read from all of the originals to be read as images in one document Is performed.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading method according to the sixteenth aspect, the image reading device is mounted on the original table by an original detection sensor provided on the original table on which the original to be read is mounted. Performing a process of detecting the presence or absence of the document to be read, and detecting whether or not all of the document to be read has been fed to the image reading unit based on the output of the document detection sensor. I do.

In the image reading method according to the eighteenth aspect, in the image reading method according to the sixteenth aspect, it is possible to select a process for ignoring information indicating the detection result received from the image reading device and prohibiting the document segmentation process. It is characterized by the following.

[0045]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of an embodiment of the image reading apparatus of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a sheet-through type scanner will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 100 includes a document table 5 on which a document 6 is loaded, and the document table 5 is provided with a document detection sensor PS for detecting the presence or absence of a document loaded on the document table. ing. Document 6 loaded on platen 5
Is fed into the apparatus by a feed roller 1, and the drawn document is fed to a feed roller 2 and transport rollers 3, 1.
2 transports through the apparatus.

Here, a separation roller 13 is disposed at a position facing the feed roller 2, and the feed roller 2 and the separation roller 1 are separated from each other.
The center distance 3 is variably configured.

The document thus conveyed is guided between the front image sensor 4 for reading the image on the front surface of the document and the back image sensor 9 for reading the image on the back surface of the document. While the document passes between the front image sensor 4 and the back image sensor 9, the image on the document is read by the front image sensor 4 or the back image sensor 9, and the document passing through the image sensors 4 and 9 is read. ,
The sheet is discharged to a sheet discharge table 10 by a sheet discharge roller 7.

The feed roller 1, feed roller 2, transport rollers 3, 12 and separation roller 13 are driven by a main motor (not shown), and the drive of the main motor is controlled by a control unit (not shown). You. This control unit is
A PU, a memory, and an image processing unit that performs image processing on image data read by the image sensors 4 and 10 on the front and back sides. The image processing unit controls transfer of image data to the host computer and performs other operations. Communication control.

The image reading device 100 is connected to an external device, for example, a host computer, and is configured to output the read image to the host computer. The host computer has a function of inputting the read image, storing and managing the image as an image file, and issuing instructions such as an operation start instruction and an operation stop instruction to the image reading apparatus. That is, a control device (scan driver) for the image reading device is mounted on the host computer, and this control device is usually constructed by an application program.

Here, the configuration of the image reading apparatus 100 and the control unit 416 connected to the host computer connected thereto will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image reading device of FIG. 1 and a control device configured in a host computer connected thereto.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading apparatus 100 has front and rear image sensors 4 and 9 and the like, and has a reading sensor unit 109 for reading an image on a document and a conveying sensor 109 for conveying the document. A drive unit 110 for driving the paper feed roller 1, feed roller 2, and transport rollers 3 and 12, a page memory 113 for storing image data of one page read by the read sensor unit 109, and communication with the control device 416. The I / F unit 114 is connected as possible, transmits the image data stored in the page memory 113 to the control device 416, and controls the entire device including the operation of these blocks based on a control program stored in the ROM 111. CPU
108. The RAM 117 is used as a work area of the CPU 108, and an instruction to the CPU 108 is issued from the operation unit 112. This operation unit 112
Is configured to give an instruction to the CPU 108 and to make an input regarding mode setting and the like.

The control device 416 includes the program storage device 4
The CPU 401 performs various processes by reading a program from the memory 03 into a memory 404 and executing the program. The processing performed by the CPU 401 includes a process of receiving image data transmitted from the image reading device 100 via the I / F unit 407 and storing the received image data in the storage device 402 as an image file. The process includes a process of sending an operation instruction or the like to the device 100 via the I / F unit 407, a process of reading image data from the storage device 402, and displaying the image data on the display unit 405.

An instruction to the CPU 401 is sent to the operation unit 406.
The operation unit 406 is configured to issue an instruction to the CPU 401 and to perform input relating to mode setting and the like.

Next, the operation unit 112 of the image reading apparatus 100
Will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation unit provided in the image reading apparatus of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 112 includes a start key 601 for instructing the start of a reading operation, a stop key 602 for stopping the reading operation, an automatic separation mode designation key 603, and a separation key 605. Each of the keys has a key, and when the automatic separation mode is designated by a pressing operation of the automatic separation mode designation key 603, the LED 604 is turned on.

In this embodiment, one of the manual separation mode and the automatic separation mode can be selected as the inter-document separation mode. In the manual separation mode, when the reading of the bundle of documents constituting one document is completed, the separation key is pressed down to turn on the separation status. This is a mode in which a group of images constituting one document is separated from other images. The automatic separation mode is a mode designated by pressing the automatic separation mode designation key 603. When the reading of the document bundle forming one document is completed, the automatic separation mode is set to ON to control the automatic separation mode. In this mode, each image read from the document bundle on the apparatus 416 side is separated from other images as an image group constituting the one document.

Next, the operation of the image reading apparatus 100 in the inter-document separation mode will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the operation in the inter-document separation mode in the image reading apparatus of FIG.

First, the user sets a bundle of documents constituting one document in the image reading apparatus 100. Next, when an operation start instruction is input by operating the start key 610 or the control device 416, the image reading apparatus 100 starts an image reading operation of the set document. This image reading operation is executed and controlled by the CPU 108.

In the image reading apparatus 100, first, as shown in FIG.
When the operation start instruction is input, the flow advances to step S302 to turn off the stop status, and then sets the input break status to off in step S303.

Next, the flow advances to step S304 to convey one document from the set document bundle and read the image. The read image data is stored in the page memory 11.
3 is stored. In the subsequent step S305, the image data for one page stored in the page memory 113 is sent to the control device 416, and in step S306, the delimiter status is set to off. This delimiter status is updated and stored in the RAM 117.

Next, the flow advances to step S307 to determine whether there is an unprocessed document. This determination is made based on the output of the document detection sensor PS that detects the set document. If there is an unprocessed document, the above step S3
Returning to step 04, the next document is read. On the other hand, if there is no unprocessed document, it is determined that reading of all documents has been completed, and the process proceeds to step S308, where the stop key 602
It is determined whether or not has been pressed. If the stop key 602 has been pressed, a stop status (STOP status) is sent to the control device 416, and this processing ends.

If the stop key 602 has not been pressed, the flow advances to step S310 to determine whether or not the automatic separation mode has been designated by the automatic separation mode designation key 603. When the automatic break mode is not specified, it is determined that the manual break mode is set, and FIG.
It proceeds to step S311 shown in FIG.

In step S311, the separation key 605
Is determined, and when the delimiter key 605 is pressed, step S31 is performed to convert each image data obtained from the bundle of originals into an image group constituting one document.
2. Turn on the break status. Next step 31
At 3, it is determined whether the start key 601 has been pressed. When the start key 601 is pressed, it is determined that the original document bundle of the next document is to be read, and the process returns to step S304.
The reading operation of the document bundle of the next document is started. In contrast,
If the start key 601 is not pressed within the predetermined time, the process returns to step S308, and the start key 601 is pressed.
Wait for press.

In step S311, the delimiter key 605 is used.
If is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S313 without separating documents. Here, when the start key 601 is pressed, another document is additionally read for one document. When the start key 601 is not pressed, only the document bundle of one document is read. This is the case to end.

If it is determined in step S310 that the automatic separation mode has been designated, the separation status is determined in step S312 in order to convert each image data obtained from the document bundle into an image group constituting one document. Is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S313.

When the reading of the document bundle constituting one document is completed (step S307), it is determined whether the inter-document separation mode is the manual mode or the automatic separation mode (step S310). When the mode is the manual separation mode, the separation key is pressed to turn on the separation status (steps S311 and S31).
2) If the mode is the automatic break mode, the break status is automatically turned on (step S312).

Then, on the control device 416 side, FIG.
It operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, it is possible to determine the document break according to the break status and to classify each image data into each folder.

Here, first, a document 1 composed of five originals
A case is considered in which a total of eight originals, i.e., document 2 and three originals, are read, and the inter-document separation is performed in the manual separation mode. When the reading of the document bundle of the document 1 is completed, the separation key 6
06 is pressed to turn on the delimiter status (steps S311 and S312). For this document 1, a folder folder-1 is created by the control device 416, and page-1, page-2, page-3, page-
4 and page-5 are stored. Then
The document bundle of the document 2 is set on the document table 5. This document 2
When the reading of the three originals is completed, the user presses the separator key 606 to turn on the separator status (steps S311 and S312). As a result, a folder folder-2 is created for the document 2, and the folder fol
The image files of page-1, page-2, and page-3 are stored in der-2.

As described above, in the manual separation mode, there is no need to insert a special sheet as in the related art, and a document bundle of one document is set on the document table 5 and a key operation for starting reading is performed. When the reading of the bundle of originals is completed, the operation of pressing the delimiter key 606 is repeated for each document, so that the separation between the documents can be performed. That is, the separation between documents can be performed by a simple operation.

On the other hand, when the document separation is performed in the automatic separation mode, when the reading of the document bundle of one document is completed, the separation status is automatically turned on without pressing the separation key 606. When the reading of the document bundle of one document is completed, the operation of setting the document bundle of the next document on the document table 5 and performing key operations for reading the document bundle is repeated, thereby separating the documents. Therefore, the work for separating documents can be further simplified.

In the present embodiment, the operation start instruction is given by operating the start key 601. However, the presence or absence of an unprocessed original is detected by the original detection sensor 6 provided on the original table 5. The control device 416 may issue an operation start instruction based on the detection result. In this case, the pressing operation of the start key 601 can be omitted, and the operation regarding the inter-document separation can be further simplified in any of the manual separation mode and the automatic separation mode.

In this embodiment, the image reading device 1
At 00, a break status is issued to notify the control device 416 of a break position between documents. Instead, the control device 416
When the output of the document detection sensor PS is captured and the absence of the document loaded on the document table 5 is detected based on the output, the image data captured during the period from the start of the image reading operation until the document absence is detected is converted into one document. By performing the processing that is regarded as the image data of the above, it is possible to perform the separation between documents corresponding to the above-described automatic separation mode. In this case, a program for the above processing may be stored in the program storage device 403, and the program may be read and executed. In addition, the control device 416 is provided with a mode for performing a document separation corresponding to the automatic separation mode, and the image reading device 100 is provided with the above-described automatic separation mode and the manual separation mode. It is also possible.

Further, in the present embodiment, the control device 41
6, one document is associated with a folder, which is one of the directories. However, if a file format that can store image data of a plurality of pages in one image file, for example, a TIFF file format is adopted, a negative page One image file storing the above image data can be sorted as one document. In this case, when a break between documents is detected, the image file is closed.

[0076]

As described above, according to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, signal generating means for generating a separation signal for separating an original constituting one document from an original constituting another document; Operation input means for inputting a user operation for instructing the signal generation means to generate a delimiter signal,
The delimiter signal is output to an external device as a signal for separating an image read from a document constituting one document from an image read from a document constituting another document. It can be carried out.

Further, according to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the sheet feeding means for sequentially feeding the original to be read to the image reading means, and whether or not all the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means. And a signal generating means for generating a separation signal for separating the documents. When the detecting means detects that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means, a signal is output. The generating means generates a delimiter signal and outputs the generated delimiter signal to an external device as a signal for considering an image read from all of the originals to be read as an image in one document. Separation between documents can be performed.

Further, according to the image reading apparatus of the present invention,
Paper feeding means for sequentially feeding the document to be read to the image reading means, detecting means for detecting whether or not all of the document to be read has been fed to the image reading means, and a separator for separating the documents Signal generation means for generating a signal; delimiter signal generation instructing means for instructing the signal generation means to generate a delimiter signal when detecting that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means; Operation input means for inputting a user operation for instructing the signal generation means to generate an image, and when it is detected that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means, the separation signal generation means A signal generation unit is instructed to generate a signal, and the delimiter signal generated by the instruction is used as a signal for considering an image read from all of the originals to be read as an image in one document. To the signal generating means by inputting a mode and a user operation, and outputting the delimiter signal generated by the instruction to an image read from all of the originals to be read in one document. Since it is possible to select one of the modes of outputting to an external device as a signal to be regarded as an image, it is possible to separate documents according to the number of originals to be read.

According to the image reading system of the present invention, the image reading apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit for sequentially feeding a document to be read to the image reading unit, and a sheet feeding unit for feeding all the documents to be read to the image reading unit. Detecting means for detecting that the document has been read, and transmitting means for transmitting information indicating the detection result of the detecting means to an external device. Is received from the image reading apparatus, the document read processing is performed by regarding the images read from all of the originals to be read as images in one document, so that the separation between documents can be performed by a simple operation. it can.

According to the image reading method of the present invention, a step of inputting a user operation for instructing generation of a delimiter signal for separating a document constituting one document from a document constituting another document; When generation of a delimiter signal is instructed by an input, a step of generating a delimiter signal, and an image obtained by reading an image read from a document constituting one document from a document constituting another document, And a step of outputting the signal to the external device as a signal for classification, so that the separation between documents can be performed by a simple operation.

According to the image reading method of the present invention, the step of sequentially feeding the originals to be read to the image reading means and the step of determining whether all the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means. Detecting, and when detecting that all of the documents to be read have been fed to the image reading means, generating a delimiter signal for separating the documents, and generating the delimiter signal of the document to be read. Image 1 read from all
And outputting the signal to an external device as a signal to be regarded as an image in one document, so that the separation between documents can be performed by a simple operation.

Further, according to the image reading method of the present invention,
The method includes a step of selecting an automatic separation mode and a manual separation mode, and a step of executing one of the automatic separation mode and the manual separation mode. In the automatic separation mode, originals to be read are sequentially fed to the image reading unit. Processing, detecting whether or not all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means, and detecting that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means, sets a gap between the documents. The process of generating a delimiter signal for delimiting, and the generated delimiter signal
Outputting the image read from all of the originals to be read as an image in one document to an external device as a signal. The manual separation mode sequentially feeds the originals to be read to the image reading means. Processing, when all of the originals to be read are fed to the image reading means, processing to generate a delimiter signal by an input of a user operation, and processing of the generated delimiter signal from all of the originals to be read And a process of outputting to the external device as a signal for regarding the image as an image in one document, so that the separation between documents can be performed by a simple operation.

Further, according to the image reading method of the present invention,
A process of sequentially feeding a document to be read to the image reading unit by the image reading device, a process of detecting that all of the document to be read has been fed to the image reading unit, and transmitting information indicating the detection result to an external device. When the external device receives, from the image reading apparatus, information indicating that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means, the image read from all of the originals to be read is performed. Is performed as a document in one document, the document can be separated by a simple operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image reading apparatus of FIG. 1 and a control device configured in a host computer connected thereto;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation unit provided in the image reading apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation in a document separation mode in the image reading apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an operation in a document separation mode in the image reading apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional image reading device and a control device configured in a host computer connected to the image reading device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an operation of the control device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an operation of the control device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation of the image reading apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a conventional document segmentation method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 paper feed roller 2 feed roller 3, 12 transport roller 4 front image sensor 5 document table 6 document 9 back image sensor 13 separation roller 100 image reading device 108 CPU 111 ROM 109 reading sensor unit 113 page memory 117 RAM 416 control device 402 storage Device 403 Program storage device

Claims (18)

[Claims] An image reading apparatus for reading an image on a document and outputting the read image to an external device generates a delimiter signal for separating a document constituting one document from a document constituting another document. And an operation input means for inputting a user operation for instructing the signal generating means to generate the delimiter signal, wherein the image obtained by reading the delimiter signal from a document constituting the one document is provided. An image reading device for outputting to the external device as a signal for distinguishing the image from an image read from a document constituting another document. 2. When reading an image of a document forming the one document and reading an image of a document forming the other document continuously, the image reading of the document bundle forming the one document ends. 2. A user operation for instructing generation of the delimiter signal is input during a period from when the image reading of the bundle of originals constituting the other document is started. Image reading device. 3. An image reading apparatus having an image reading means for reading an image on a document and outputting the image read by the image reading means to an external device, wherein the documents to be read are sequentially fed to the image reading means. Paper feeding means, detecting means for detecting whether or not all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means, and signal generating means for generating a separation signal for separating between documents, When the detecting means detects that all of the document to be read has been fed to the image reading means, the signal generating means generates the delimiter signal, and outputs the generated delimiter signal to the document to be read. An image reading device which outputs an image read from all of the above to the external device as a signal to be regarded as an image in one document. 4. A document detecting sensor for detecting presence or absence of the document to be read loaded on the document table, wherein the sheet feeding means has a document table on which the document to be read is loaded. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: detecting whether all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading unit based on an output of the original detection sensor. 5. An image reading apparatus having an image reading means for reading an image on a document and outputting the image read by the image reading means to an external device, wherein the documents to be read are sequentially fed to the image reading means. Feeding means, a detecting means for detecting whether or not all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means, a signal generating means for generating a separation signal for separating between documents, Upon detecting that all of the target documents have been fed to the image reading unit, the delimiter signal generation instructing unit instructs the signal generation unit to generate the delimiter signal, and the signal generation unit generates the delimiter signal. Operation input means for inputting a user operation to instruct the means, and when it is detected that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means, the separation signal generation means More instructing the generation of the delimiter signal to the signal generating means, the delimiter signal generated by the instruction as a signal for considering an image read from all of the originals to be read as an image in one document A mode for outputting to an external device, and the generation of the delimiter signal is instructed to the signal generation means by input of the user operation, and the delimiter signal generated by the instruction is read from all of the originals to be read. An image reading apparatus characterized in that it is possible to select any one of a mode for outputting to the external device as a signal to be regarded as an image in one document. 6. A document detection sensor for detecting whether or not the document to be read is loaded on the document table, wherein the sheet feeding means has a document table on which the document to be read is loaded. 6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: detecting whether or not all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading unit based on an output of the original detection sensor. 7. An image reading device having image reading means for reading an image on a document, and outputting an image read by the image reading means, and an image reading device connected to the image reading device and output from the image reading device. In an image reading system including an external device that inputs an image, the image reading device includes a sheet feeding unit that sequentially feeds a document to be read to the image reading unit, and an image reading unit that reads all of the document to be read. Detecting means for detecting that paper has been fed to the means, and transmitting means for transmitting information indicating a detection result of the detecting means to the external device, wherein the external device is configured to read all of the originals to be read. When information indicating that paper has been fed to the image reading means is received from the image reading device, a document separation process is performed in which images read from all of the originals to be read are regarded as images in one document. And an image reading system. 8. A document detecting sensor for detecting whether or not the document to be read is loaded on the document table, wherein the sheet feeding means has a document table on which the document to be read is loaded. 8. The image reading system according to claim 7, further comprising: detecting whether all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading unit based on an output of the original detection sensor. 9. The image reading system according to claim 7, wherein a mode for prohibiting the document segmentation processing by ignoring information indicating the detection result received from the image reading device can be selected. 10. An image reading method for reading an image on a document and outputting the read image to an external device.
A step of inputting a user operation for instructing the generation of a delimiter signal for separating a document configuring one document from a document configuring another document, and when the generation of the delimiter signal is instructed by the input of the user operation, Generating the delimiter signal, and outputting the delimiter signal to the external device as a signal for separating an image read from a document constituting the one document from an image read from a document constituting another document And an image reading method. 11. When reading an image of a document constituting the one document and reading an image of a document constituting the another document continuously, the image reading of the document constituting the one document is terminated. 11. The image according to claim 10, wherein a user operation for instructing the generation of the delimiter signal is input during a period from when the image reading of the document constituting the another document is started. Reading method. 12. An image reading method in which an image on a document is read by an image reading means and the read image on the document is output to an external device, wherein a document to be read is sequentially fed to the image reading means; Detecting whether or not all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means; and detecting that all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading means. Generating a delimiter signal for delimiting, and generating the delimiter signal,
Outputting an image read from all of the originals to be read as a signal to be regarded as an image in one document to the external device. 13. A step of detecting presence / absence of the document to be read loaded on the document table by a document detection sensor provided on a document table on which the document to be read is loaded;
13. The image reading method according to claim 12, wherein it is detected whether or not all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading unit based on an output of the original detection sensor. 14. An image reading method for reading an image on a document by an image reading means and outputting the read image to an external device, the method comprising: selecting an automatic separation mode and a manual separation mode; Executing one of a manual separation mode, wherein the automatic separation mode sequentially feeds the document to be read to the image reading means, and the entire document to be read has the image A process of detecting whether or not the document is fed to the reading unit, and a process of generating a separation signal for separating between documents when detecting that all of the documents to be read have been fed to the image reading unit. , The generated delimiter signal,
Outputting the image read from all of the originals to be read to the external device as a signal to be regarded as an image in one document, wherein the manual separation mode sequentially prints the originals to be read A process of feeding the document to the reading unit, a process of generating the delimiter signal by an input of a user operation when all of the originals to be read are fed to the image reading unit, and Outputting an image read from all of the originals to be read as a signal to be regarded as an image in one document to the external device. 15. A step of detecting presence / absence of the document to be read loaded on the document table by a document detection sensor provided on a document table for loading the document to be read,
15. The image reading method according to claim 14, wherein it is detected whether or not all of the documents to be read have been fed to the image reading unit based on an output of the document detection sensor. 16. An image reading device having image reading means for reading an image on a document, and outputting an image read by the image reading device, and an image reading device connected to the image reading device and output from the image reading device. An image reading method used in an image reading system having an external device for inputting an image, wherein the image reading device sequentially feeds a document to be read to the image reading means, Performs a process of detecting that the document is fed to the image reading unit, and a process of sending information indicating the detection result to the external device. When receiving information indicating that paper has been fed to the reading unit from the image reading device, a document delimiter that regards images read from all of the originals to be read as images in one document An image reading method comprising performing processing. 17. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a document detection sensor provided on a document table on which the document to be read is loaded detects a presence or absence of the document to be read loaded on the document table. 17. The image reading method according to claim 16, wherein whether or not all of the originals to be read have been fed to the image reading unit is detected based on an output of the original detection sensor. 18. A process for ignoring information indicating the detection result received from the image reading device and selecting a process for prohibiting the document segmentation process.
The image reading method described in the above.