JP2001251494A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus which decides the direction of an original copy set on an ADF before reading it and outputs the image of the original copy in a unified direction without using complicated image processing. SOLUTION: A main controlling part 51 decides whether a hole is formed in the side part of an original on the basis of the level change of a signal output of an optical sensor 16 while the ADF 1 carries the original and whether the hole is formed on a regular side when the hole is formed, performs bit switching of the original image in a reverse direction on an image memory 57 or the like and outputs the original image turned by 180 deg. through a recording part 52, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to the documents set on the document table, successively, an automatic document feeding mechanism for automatically conveyed to the reading position one by one (ADF: A uto D oc
ument F eeder) with a copying machine, an image processing apparatus of the facsimile apparatus or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image processing apparatus equipped with an ADF optically reads a document automatically conveyed one by one to a document reading position, and outputs data of the read image in an order corresponding to the reading order. Print on recording paper. Therefore, when an original is set on the original platen in a state where the orientations are not aligned, the orientation of the copied document printed on the recording paper is also irregular.

By the way, as a method of filing a document, it is common to punch a hole in the document or to bind the document with staples. However, if a punched hole or staple is made based on the orientation of the top copy document while the orientation is not aligned as described above, the side to be punched should be Punch holes are formed on the opposite side, or stapled in the opposite direction.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to take out only the reverse copy document and make a punching hole on the correct side to re-file the file, or remove the staples and correct the direction of the reverse copy document to re-bind. No. Also,
If part of the image is missing as a result of punch holes on both sides, or if the appearance of the filing document is poor, remove and copy only the copy original with the punch hole on the opposite side The punch must be re-punched on the right side.

As described above, if an original is set on the original platen with the orientation not aligned, a part of the image may be missing, recording paper may be wasted due to re-copying, or re-copying may be performed. Problems such as extra work such as re-punching holes and re-stapling with staples occur.

In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, an image obtained by reading a document is subjected to image processing, and a punch hole, a staple hole, etc. are detected from the result, and the orientation of the document is determined. An apparatus has been proposed that displays a warning when it is determined that the document is in the reverse direction, performs image rotation processing (reversal on a memory), and scans in the reverse direction when reading a document.

[0007]

However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, filing holes such as punch holes and staple holes are detected by using complicated image processing to determine the orientation of the original. And reduce the processing speed of the device. Moreover, since the image processing is complicated, there is a possibility that a hole is erroneously detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. Before reading an original, the original is read by a simple process such as detecting a level change of an output signal from an optical sensor. By detecting which side the hole is formed in to determine the orientation of the original, rotating the image read from the opposite original, and outputting the rotated image, simple image processing is performed without using complicated image processing. By processing
Provided is an image processing apparatus that determines the orientation of an original set on an ADF before scanning the original, and outputs an image obtained by scanning the original in a uniform direction regardless of whether the orientation of the original is irregular. With the goal.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for outputting an image obtained by reading a conveyed original, wherein a hole is formed in a side portion of the original being conveyed. Detecting means for detecting whether or not a document having a hole formed in a side other than the predetermined side where a hole is to be formed is detected. Output means for outputting in a state of being rotated by an angle corresponding to the side portion.

In the first invention, before reading a document, that is, A
During conveyance of the document in the DF, it is detected whether or not a hole is formed in the side of the document.
The orientation of the document is determined based on whether a hole is formed on a predetermined side to be formed or whether a hole is formed on the other side, and a hole is formed on a side other than the predetermined side. If an original is detected, an image obtained by reading the original is read, for example, if the original is 180 degrees different,
For example, by exchanging bits on the memory storing the image, the side where the hole is formed is rotated and output by an angle corresponding to the predetermined side where the hole is to be formed.

Thus, without using complicated image processing,
The orientation of the document set on the ADF can be determined.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the detecting means includes a sensor disposed on a transport path through which a hole to be formed on a predetermined side of the document to be transported passes. Means for detecting the presence and position of the hole based on a change in the level of the output signal.

[0013] In the second invention, the detection means is provided on a conveyance path through which a hole to be formed on a predetermined side of the document to be conveyed, that is, an output signal from a sensor such as a photo interrupter disposed in the ADF. The presence of a hole is detected by detecting a level change of the hole. Further, when a document is set vertically on the ADF, the hole passes through either the left side or the right side in the transport direction, so that the level changes to which of the two sensors arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction. Is determined on the left or right side of the transport direction, that is, the orientation of the document.

When a document is set horizontally on the ADF, the presence of a punch hole is detected by detecting a change in the level of output signals from two sensors arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. Further, for example, when the next level change after the detection of a punched hole continues for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that a hole exists on the downstream side in the transport direction. On the other hand, when the next level change after the detection of the punched hole does not continue for a predetermined time. Determines that there is a punch hole on the upstream side in the transport direction.

Thus, the existence and position of the hole formed in the document can be determined by a simple component and a simple determination process.

An image processing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises the first or second image processing apparatus.
The output means of the invention is characterized in that it comprises means for printing an image.

Since the orientation of the document after printing is uniform, a punched hole is punched in the right side of the document in a state where the document is discharged after printing without checking the orientation. Or stapled.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. This image processing apparatus uses an ADF (automatic document feeder: Auto Document Feede).
r) a document placement unit 2 and a reading unit 3; In the following description, a case where the filing hole is a punch hole will be described.

The ADF 1 includes a document table 11 on which a plurality of documents can be placed, and a separation roller 1 for separating and supplying the documents one by one.
2 and a plurality of transport rollers 13 for transporting the separated document
, A light-transmitting plate 14 through which the original passes, and an original discharge table 15 for storing the discharged original. Further ADF
Reference numeral 1 denotes a reflection-type sensor and a transmission-type sensor arranged on a transport path through which a punch hole to be formed on a predetermined side of a document passes and arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport path. It has an optical sensor 16 for detecting punched holes, such as a sensor and a line sensor.

The position at which the optical sensor 16 is arranged is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 1 as long as it is on the original conveyance path and has a space for installation.

The document placing section 2 has a transparent document placing plate 21 on which a document is placed on the upper surface thereof, and a holding lid 22 disposed on the document placing plate 21 so as to be openable and closable. . The document table 11 and document discharge table 15 of the ADF 1 are disposed on a holding cover 22 of the document placing section 2, and
It is opened and closed and rotated integrally with 2.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the arrangement of the optical sensor 16 for detecting punch holes. When a document is set vertically on the ADF 1, the punch holes pass through either the left side or the right side in the transport direction.
When a level change is detected in one of the output signals 6a and 16a, the presence of a punched hole can be detected. Further, it can be determined which of the optical sensors 16a, 16a has a level change, which side of the transport direction the punch hole has passed, that is, the direction of the document.

When the original is set horizontally on the ADF 1, if there is a change in the level of the output signal from the pair of sensors 16b, the presence of a punch hole can be detected. Furthermore, for example, when the next level change after the detection of the punched hole continues for a predetermined time or more, since the document passes following the punched hole, it can be detected that the punched hole exists on the downstream side in the transport direction, On the other hand, if the next level change after the detection of the punched hole does not continue for the predetermined time, the end of the document has passed after the punched hole, so that the presence of the punched hole on the upstream side in the transport direction can be detected.

These optical sensors 16 are provided in accordance with the number of originals to be conveyed, such as A4, B5, and B4, when there are a plurality of types, and when the originals can be set vertically and horizontally, they are further set. What is necessary is just to provide the number of sets according to the direction to perform.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates a center-aligned model in which an original is set at the center of the original table 11, the present invention sets the original at one end of the original table 11. The present invention is also applicable to a model, and in this case, the number of sets of the optical sensors 16 may be smaller than that in the case of center alignment.

The reading unit 3 illuminates a document passing on the light transmitting plate 14 or a document placed on the document placing plate 21 with a light source 31 and changes an optical path of light reflected from the document. Mirrors 32, 33, 34, light source 31 and mirror 3
A moving mechanism 35 for moving 2, 33, 34;
A condenser lens 36 for condensing the light from the light source 4 and an image sensor (CCD) 37 for reading a document based on the light incident through the condenser lens 36 are provided. The moving mechanism 35 includes a pair of left and right large diameter pulleys 41 and 42 and a pair of left and right small diameter pulleys 4.
3, 44 and the first pulley mounted between the large-diameter pulleys 41, 42.
A belt 45, a second belt 46 mounted between the small-diameter pulleys 43 and 44, a first carriage 47 connected to the first belt 45, a second carriage 48 connected to the second belt 46, And a motor 49. The light source 31 and the mirror 32 are supported on the first carriage 47,
The mirrors 33 and 34 are supported on the second carriage 48. Large diameter pulleys 41 and 42 by step motor 49
By rotating the small-diameter pulleys 43 and 44, the first and second carriages 47 and 48 are moved via the first and second belts 45 and 46.

The ADF 1 and the reading section 3 constitute a multiple document automatic reading system for automatically transporting and reading originals one by one from a plurality of stacked originals and sequentially stacking the read originals. In a state where the first and second carriages 47 and 48 are moved and arranged below the light transmitting plate 14, a document passing through the light transmitting plate 14 is read. Further, the first and second carriages 47 and 48 are attached to the original placing plate 21.
Is scanned, and the original placed on the original placing plate 21 is also read.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration in a case where the image processing apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 is embodied as a facsimile apparatus having a copying function. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 3, a main control unit 51 is specifically constituted by a CPU, and is connected to each of the hardware units described below via a bus 60 to control them and perform various operations. Perform software-like functions.
The main control unit 51 determines the direction of the original by detecting the passage of the original through the punched hole based on the level change of the output signal from the optical sensor 16 disposed in the ADF 1, and determines the orientation of the original. Irrespective of the orientation in which a plurality of originals are set, such as by exchanging bits of image data stored in an image memory 57 described later, the image data of these originals is recorded in a unified direction. 52 and the like.

The recording unit 52 has a printer device such as an electrophotographic system, reads a document, and stores an image
7 is printed out as a hard copy of the image data of the document stored in 7 and the image data received by facsimile communication from another facsimile machine.

The display unit 53 is a liquid crystal display or a CRT.
It has a display device such as a display, and displays the operation state of the facsimile apparatus with a copy function, and displays image data of a document read or transmitted for transmission. The operation unit 54 includes character keys, numeric keys, speed dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the facsimile machine. In addition, by using the touch panel method for the display unit 53, some or all of the various keys of the operation unit 54 can be substituted.

The ROM 55 stores in advance various software programs necessary for the operation of the facsimile apparatus with a copying function. The RAM 56 is composed of an SRAM, a flash memory, or the like, and stores temporary data generated when executing software. Image memory 57
Is composed of a DRAM or the like, and stores image data of a document read or copied or transmitted for copying or transmission.

The modem 58 is a modem having a function for performing facsimile communication of image data of a read original and image data from another facsimile apparatus.
Reference numeral 8 is connected to an NCU 59 for closing and opening the analog line L.

The facsimile apparatus of the present invention has a facsimile communication function of a normal G3 system or the like by the above-described hardware configuration, and converts the image data of the original into the image data shown in FIG.
And the image data is transmitted to a desired destination, and the image data is received from the transmission destination and printed out by the recording unit 52.

Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given based on the flowchart of FIG. When the originals set on the original platen 11 of the ADF 1 are sequentially conveyed one by one, the main control unit 1 determines that the output end from the optical sensor 16 has changed after the original end of the original has passed through the optical sensor 16. Depending on whether or not the level of the output signal from the optical sensor 16 has changed before the end of the document has passed, whether a filing hole such as a punch hole exists on any side of the document being conveyed. It is determined whether or not it is (step S1).

When the level of the output signal from the optical sensor 16 changes before the end of the document passes after the start of the document passes through the optical sensor 16 and the output signal from the optical sensor 16 changes, That is, when the presence of a filing hole is detected, it is determined whether or not the detected filing hole exists on a predetermined regular side (step S2).

On the other hand, the level of the output signal from the optical sensor 16 changes after the start of the original passes through the optical sensor 16 and the output signal from the optical sensor 16 changes and before the end of the original passes. If not (NO in step S1),
That is, when the presence of the filing hole is not detected, the main control unit 51 outputs the image data via the recording unit 52 and the like in a normal order (step S3).

As a result of the determination in step S2, if the filing hole exists on the regular side (including the case where the filing hole exists on both sides opposite to the regular side), the main control unit 5
1 outputs the image data via the recording unit 52 and the like in a normal order without performing the bit exchange of the image data in the image memory 57 (step S3).

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S2 is that the filing hole does not exist on the regular side, the main control unit 51 determines that the document is in the opposite direction, and stores the document in the image memory 57 by replacing bits. In the state where the image obtained by reading the original is rotated by an angle corresponding to the side on which the filing hole is present coincides with the side on the regular side by performing a 180 degree rotation process on the image data For example, it is output from the recording unit 52 and printed on recording paper (step S4).

[0040]

According to the first aspect of the invention, before reading a document, that is, while the document is being conveyed in the ADF, it is detected whether or not a hole is formed in the side of the document. The orientation of the document is determined based on whether a hole is formed on a predetermined side to be formed or whether a hole is formed on the other side, and a hole is formed on a side other than the predetermined side. If an original is detected, an image obtained by reading the original is read, for example, in the case of an original whose orientation is different by 180 degrees, a hole is formed by, for example, exchanging bits on a memory storing the image. Since the output side is rotated by an angle corresponding to a predetermined side where a hole is to be formed, the output is output. Therefore, it is possible to determine the orientation of the original set on the ADF without using complicated image processing. It has an excellent effect that it can be done.

In the second invention, the detecting means arranges a sensor such as a photo interrupter on a conveyance path through which a hole to be formed in a predetermined side of the document to be conveyed, that is, in the ADF, The presence of a hole is detected by detecting a change in the level of the output signal, and the orientation of the document is determined. Therefore, the presence and position of the hole formed in the document are determined by simple components and simple determination processing. It has an excellent effect that it can be performed.

In the third aspect of the present invention, since the orientation of the document after printing is uniform, a punched hole is formed in the correct side of the document without being checked after the printing, as it is discharged after printing. It has an excellent effect that it can be opened or stapled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an arrangement state of an optical sensor for detecting a punched hole.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration when the image processing apparatus of the present invention is embodied as a facsimile apparatus with a copy function.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 ADF 11 Document table 15 Document discharge table 16 Optical sensor 3 Reading unit 51 Main control unit 52 Recording unit 55 ROM 56 RAM 57 Image memory

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H076 AA58 BA87 BB05 BB10 3F048 AB02 BA26 BB02 CA06 CC17 DB06 DC12 EA06 EA15 EB23 EB39 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB02 AB22 AB30 AB32 AB42 AC18 AC24 AC58 AC66 BA00 5C076 AA24 BA03A01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for reading a conveyed document and outputting an image obtained, wherein a detecting means for detecting whether or not a hole is formed in a side of the document being conveyed, and a hole being formed. When a document having a hole formed in a side other than the predetermined side to be detected is detected, an image obtained by reading the document is output with the side rotated by an angle corresponding to the predetermined side. An image processing apparatus comprising: an output unit. 2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes a sensor disposed on a conveying path through which a hole to be formed on a predetermined side of the document to be conveyed passes, and a level change of an output signal from said sensor. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for detecting the presence and position of the image. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit includes a unit that prints an image.