JP2002118695A - Manuscript reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manuscript reading device which is capable of reading a plurality of manuscripts 22 of different widths without causing the skew feeding of the manuscripts 22 and outputs image data in a required sequence. SOLUTION: Both edges 33 of each group of manuscripts 22 having different widths are guided as regulated by an adjustable guide member 23, and the manuscripts 22 are transferred to a manuscript reading means 7 sheet by sheet by a transfer means 34. The image data inputted through the reading means 7 are stored in an image memory 38 consisting of semiconductor devices and the like, and the image data are read out to lead out by a processing means 41 in an output order designated by a designating means 44 and sent in facsimile. The adjustable guide member 23 is adjusted for each width of the manuscript 22, so that the manuscripts 22 can be protected against a feed failure. As the image data are read out in an order designated by the designating means 14, the image data can be led out in the preferable order.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading a document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Document reading apparatuses are used in communication apparatuses such as facsimile apparatuses and information processing apparatuses such as scanner apparatuses, copiers and personal computer apparatuses. In such a document reading apparatus, reading means such as a line image sensor provided in a conveying path includes:
When a document is conveyed, it is necessary to prevent the document from being conveyed in a state of being inclined with respect to the conveyance direction and to prevent skew, otherwise the entire image of the document cannot be read. In the prior art, in order to prevent skew, a pair of guide members that regulate both ends in the conveyance direction of a document are provided so as to be adjustable in the width direction. When originals having a plurality of widths are vertically stacked and conveyed one by one, the guide member is adjusted and set so as to conform to the original having the widest width. Therefore, both side edges of the document having a narrow width are not guided by the guide member and skew.

That is, when a plurality of documents having different document sizes, especially in the width direction, are stacked and fed one by one, adjustment is made so that both side edges of the document having the maximum document width are transported in the transport direction. Documents having a narrow width less than the maximum document width are not regulated at both side edges, and therefore, skew frequently occurs during paper feeding. Further, in a document separation section that separates one document at a time from a plurality of documents, it is not expected that a force is uniformly applied to the center of the document, and this is a major cause of skew.

A first prior art (JP-A-2-310218) which solves this problem is provided with at least two upper and lower steps so that a document guide capable of simultaneously storing and specifying documents of different paper sizes. A document feeder having means is disclosed.

Second prior art (JP-A-4-49130)
A plurality of guide units extending in the width direction of the document tray are arranged on the document tray, and the guide unit is fixedly or movably supported by the guide plate extending in the width direction of the document feed tray. A document feeder for different size originals, comprising a side guide piece and a side guide piece is disclosed.

In the first prior art, there is a problem that the document storage space of each step becomes small, and the number of documents to be fed is greatly restricted. The second prior art also has a similar limitation problem, and also requires a complicated mechanism.

A third prior art (JP-A-8-34041)
5) means for setting a reading order of the documents placed on each document feeding device by using a plurality of document feeding devices having different document widths capable of feeding a plurality of documents; A configuration is disclosed that includes a scanner device that reads an image of a document according to a set order. In the third prior art, a plurality of document feeders are required to feed a document, and there is a problem that the configuration becomes large.

The fourth prior art (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-1660)
0) In order to accurately convey a document regardless of mixed size / non-mixed size of different sizes, in order to realize easy and inexpensive regulation of the document width direction in the document conveyance path, There is disclosed a configuration in which a side guide including a plurality of guide plates provided is provided, and in accordance with detection information of a document width sensor, any one of the plurality of guide plates is lifted and controlled to protrude into a transport path. . In this prior art, a long conveyance path for conveying a document is required, and the configuration becomes large.

As described above, in the prior art, it is desired that the configuration of the document reading apparatus be simplified. In particular, the cost of electronic components has been extremely reduced due to advances in semiconductor technology and the like, but the cost of mechanical components for transporting originals has not been reduced.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an original having a plurality of widths with a simple and thus small-sized mechanical structure to prevent undesired paper feeding defects such as skew which is obliquely fed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a document reading apparatus which can be transported without causing any trouble and accurately read image data of a document, and an information processing apparatus using the same.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a reading means for sequentially reading each original having a plurality of sizes, an image memory for storing image data read by the reading means for each image, and an image memory. A designating means for associating and specifying the image data stored in the image memory; and a processing means for responding to each output of the image memory and the designating means and reading out and deriving the image data from the image memory by the designating means. Document reading device.

According to the present invention, an original having a plurality of sizes, for example, widths, is sequentially read by the reading means, and the read image data is stored in the image memory, and is specified and associated with the specifying means. The image data read out from the image memory by the processing means is derived. Accordingly, the image data stored in the image memory can be linked and linked, ie, linked, by the specifying means, and thus can be edited as a series of originals.

According to the present invention, there is provided a guide member which guides each document along a conveyance path by regulating both side edges of a document having a plurality of widths in an adjustable manner, and moves a document guided by the guide member to the conveyance path. Conveying means for sequentially conveying the paper, reading means provided in the middle of the conveying path for reading the original, an image memory for storing the image data read by the reading means for each original, and designating the output order of the original. A document reading apparatus, comprising: a designation unit; and a processing unit that reads out image data stored in the image memory from the image memory in a designated order and derives the image data in response to an output of the designation unit. It is.

According to the present invention, a pair of guide members are adjusted to regulate both side edges of a document having a plurality of types of widths, and each document is guided along a conveyance path. Both ends of one or a plurality of documents having a certain width are regulated by a guide member and are conveyed to a reading unit by a conveyance unit to read the document having the certain width. Both sides of another type of document having a different width are regulated by a guide member, guided along a guide path, transported by a transport unit, and read by a reading unit. In this manner, the originals of each width can be accurately conveyed without causing a feeding failure such as skew that is obliquely fed, and can be read for each original of each width by the reading unit.

The image data from the reading means is temporarily stored in an image memory, and the image data is read out and derived by the processing means in the output order specified by the specifying means. In this way, the document is conveyed by adjusting the guide member for each of a plurality of types of widths, so that it is possible to prevent a document feeding defect. The image data stored in the image memory is
The data can be read out and output in a desired order. The image memory is realized by, for example, a semiconductor element to reduce the cost, and the guide member has a relatively simple structure and can be miniaturized.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the designating means includes a manually operated switch, and an order determining means for responding to the output of the switch, designating the output order of the original and outputting the original to the processing means. .

According to the present invention, a manually operated switch such as a push button is manually operated, and the output order of the image data read from the image memory is determined by the order determining means. In this manner, image data of originals having different widths can be derived in a desired order.

According to the present invention, the designating means extracts, from the image data stored in the image memory, a character representing a reading order displayed in a predetermined designated area of the document, and an output of the extracting means. Response ordering means for designating the output order of the document and outputting the same to the processing means.

According to the present invention, a character such as a numeral is displayed in a predetermined designated area of the document, for example, in a corner of the document, and the character is extracted from the image data in the image memory by the extracting means. The image data is read out and output in the order thus extracted. The character may be a character other than a number, a figure, a symbol, or the like. The character may be written by hand on a document, and the handwritten character may be extracted by the extracting means, or the character may be displayed by printed numbers or characters.

Further, the present invention relates to (a) transport means for sequentially transporting an original, (b) reading means provided in the middle of a transport path for reading the original, and (c) associating the original to be read. And (d) reading specifying means for responding to the output of the specifying means, and when the document is associated with the specifying means, the times W1 and W2 during which the document is not conveyed to the reading means after the reading of the document. Predetermined time W0
When the time is less than the predetermined time, a series of reading operations is continued, and when the time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the series of reading operations is terminated. And a reading control means for ending the reading.

According to the present invention, for example, originals having different widths are grouped without using an image memory, and for each group, for example, the originals are fed one by one along the conveying path by the above-described guide member or the like. It is guided and transported by the transport unit, and read by the reading unit. Each group is
Documents having the same width are stacked, and each document is sequentially conveyed one by one by a conveying means and fed.

The original of each group includes a rear end on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the original conveyed first by the conveying means and a front end on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyed original later described with reference to FIG. They are relatively close to each other like time W1 in 1). That is, the time W1 during which the sheet is not transported to the reading unit is:
The time is shorter than the predetermined time W01 and is short. At this time, the reading operation of each document is continuously performed, for example, for each group. After the last document is read, the reading operation by the reading means is completed in a relatively short time.

When the designating means designates that a plurality of groups of originals should be read, a later-described FIG.
After the last document of one group is read as in (2), the time W1 and W2 during which the first document of the next group is not conveyed to the reading means until the first document is read is relatively short, and a predetermined time W02. If it is less than 1, the document of each group is continuously performed in a series of reading operations. One or a plurality of originals having one width for each group are sequentially and almost continuously read by the reading means at the time W1 described above. When the time W3 is longer than or equal to the predetermined time W02, the reading operation is automatically terminated.

In the case of single or plural groups of originals, the originals are associated with each other by the specifying means.

According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including the above-described original reading apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus processes read image data.

According to the present invention, a document reading device is provided to prevent a feeding failure such as a skew of a document with a simple configuration, and to designate a sequence for deriving image data by editing the read image data. By doing so, the configuration can be simplified, and the size of the information processing device can be reduced.

[0027]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus 1 is connected to a communication line such as a public telephone network 2 by a network control device 3. The network control device 3 monitors the status of the public telephone network 2 and connects the public telephone network 2 to the modem 4.
And the handset 5 side. When the public telephone network 2 is an analog line, the modem 4 modulates the digital image signal into an analog signal suitable for the telephone network,
An analog signal of the public telephone network 2 is demodulated into a digital image signal for printing. The printing device 6 is a unit that prints an image received through the public telephone network 2 or the like or an image read by the reading unit 7, and is realized by a thermal method, an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the facsimile machine 1. The facsimile apparatus body 11 of the facsimile apparatus 1 has an operation panel 12 at a position on the front surface at which the user can easily operate. The operation panel 12 has a dial key 13, an operation key 14, and a display for inputting a dial number, designation information, and the like. A device 15 is provided. Display device 15 such as liquid crystal
Presents an instruction and guidance information from the device 1 to the user. Further, the user can interactively use the display device 15 to set various parameters of the facsimile device 1 and to instruct the facsimile sending order of the manuscript of the present invention via the dial key 13.
The operation is performed from the operation key 14. The handset 5 includes a handset as well as a cordless telephone handset via the antenna 17. The handset 16 is a receiver and a transmitter for telephone calls. The antenna 17 functions to communicate with the facsimile machine 1 and a cordless telephone as a slave unit.

FIG. 3 is a simplified longitudinal sectional view of the facsimile machine 1. In the conveying means 34, the paper feed / separation unit 25 for the document 22 is provided at the rear of the apparatus main body 11, and includes an extension hopper 18 for stacking and setting a plurality of documents 22 and both side edges 33 of the document (see FIG. 4 described later). ) And a pair of guide members 23 for preventing skew. After the operation panel 12, a plurality of documents are separated one by one by a document separation / feeding unit 25 at the lower part, and are read by the reading unit 7 at the lower part of the operation panel 12. Document separation / paper feed unit 25
Transports the uppermost original of the stacked originals 22 to the transport path 27 by driving the paper feed roller 26 to rotate. The conveyed document 21 is conveyed while being pressed against the reading means 7 provided in the middle of the conveyance path 27 by the pressing roller 28, thereby reading the image data on the upper surface of the document 22 as described above. Read by means 7. The read original 22 is stored in the facsimile apparatus main body 1.
1 is discharged to the front. A document stacker 24 is provided at the front of the facsimile apparatus main body 11 for holding the discharged document 22.

The recording paper 29 on which the received image and the read image are printed by the printing device 6 is stacked on a recording paper tray 19 below the extension hopper 18. The recording paper printed and recorded by the printing device 6 is a recording paper tray 1
It is discharged to 9. In the printing device 7, the roll-shaped recording paper 29
Passes between the print head 31 and the platen 39, the recording on the recording paper 29 is performed by the print head 31, and the recording paper is discharged onto the recording paper tray 19 as described above.

FIG. 4 is a simplified plan view of the transport path 27 showing a state in which the document 22 on the extension hopper 18 is guided by the guide member 23 and is transported in the transport direction 32. Both ends 33 of the document 22 are regulated by the guide member 23. As a result, the center position of the document 22 on the extension hopper 18 in the width direction of the transport path 7 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3 and the horizontal direction of FIG. 4) coincides with the center position of the document 22 in the width direction. It is conveyed in a state. The guide member 23 is
By means of a knob 36 provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 11,
The position can be adjusted and set in the width direction. For example, the position of the guide member 23 indicated by the solid line in FIG. 4 can be changed and adjusted as indicated by the reference numeral 23a.

The reading means 7 is an apparatus for reading an original for transmission and copying. The reading means 7 is configured by arranging lenses and CCDs (charge storage elements) in the width direction perpendicular to the transport direction 32 of the transport path 27. It may be a combination with a line image sensor or a contact sensor using a rod lens array. The reading means 7 includes an extension hopper 18 of the document separating / feeding section 25 and a pair of guide members 2.
3, and the original 22 is sent.

The image memory 38 is a unit for storing a read image and a received image. By providing this unit 38, many complicated functions, for example, proxy reception to be received by the image memory 38 when the printing paper runs out, transfer of the received image, and transmission of the stored image to a plurality of destinations are performed. Broadcasting to be transferred becomes possible. The facsimile machine 1 includes a processing circuit 41 realized by a microcomputer or the like. The processing circuit 41 is connected to the above-described components and a memory 42 used for arithmetic processing, and operates.

In the image reading device of the facsimile machine 1, the reading means 7 reads the image data of the document under the control of the processing circuit 41, and the image data is stored in the image memory 3.
8 is stored. By operating the operation keys 14 of the operation panel 12 and the like, the image data stored in the image memory 38 is linked and linked, and the image data is sequentially read out and derived according to the linked order, and the modem 4 and the network control The data can be transmitted from the device 3 to the public telephone network 2 for facsimile transmission. Operation panel 1
The two dial keys 13 and the operation keys 14 are configured by switches such as push buttons that are manually operated.

The processing circuit 41 cooperates with the memory 42 to input information from the operation keys 14 and the dial keys 13 and the device 1
Indicating the status from each unit of the public telephone network 2
The operation of the entire device 1 is determined based on information such as a signal from the device 1, a command is given to the entire device 1, and a display instruction is issued to the display device 15. Further, the processing circuit 41 is responsible for compression for shortening the transmission time of image information, and decompression for returning the compressed image signal to the original pixel string information. Operation keys 14,
The dial key 13 is a unit for a user to input information and instructions to the device 1. These keys 13 and 14
A key for designating a function of linking the read originals is included. The display device 15 is a unit in which the facsimile device 1 displays information and provides guidance to a user.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the processing circuit 41. The image data of the document 22 is
The image data is stored in an image memory 38 realized by a semiconductor element or the like, and is associated with image data by operation of the operation key 14 or the like, and is transmitted by facsimile. Manuscript 22
Are divided into several groups according to their size. When reading of the document 22 is started (step s1)
1) First, the first group of the document 22 is set on the extension hopper 18 of the facsimile machine 1 (step s1).
2). Here, in order to determine that the reading is the first group, the processing circuit 41 of the facsimile apparatus 1 sets n (group number) = 1 (step s12). In order to prevent the skew of the document, the operator adjusts the pair of guide members 23 in the width direction of the document 22 so as to regulate both side edges 33 of the document 22. The telephone number of the transmission destination is input (step s13), and the LINK key 43 of the operation key 14 is input, for example, to notify that there is a next document group (step s14). LI
The NK key 43 is designated as an independent key in this embodiment, but can be shared with another key.

Start key 44 included in operation key 14
(Step s15), the originals 22 stacked on the extension hopper 18 are fed one by one, read by the image reading means 7, and stored in the image memory 38 (step s16). Thus, reading of all originals in the first group is completed.

Then, the operator continues to set the next group of originals 22 on the extension hopper 18 and adds 1 to n corresponding to the next group (step s17). Steps
In the determination of 18, the user determines whether there is a next original group other than the currently set original group, and the affirmative Y
In the case of ES, the user inputs the LINK key 43, thereby returning to step s14 and repeating the same routine. This routine is repeated until there are no waiting document groups. If the currently set document 22 is the last group, the determination in step s18 is negative NO, and the user inputs the start key 44 (step s19),
The operation proceeds to step s19. When the manuscript 22 of the last group is read and stored in the image memory 38 (step s110), all the stored image data are linked (step s111), and facsimile transmission is performed (step s1).
12), a series of operations ends (step s113).
As a result, documents having a plurality of sizes and, therefore, widths are grouped, and an operator adjusts the guide member 23 for each group, and the documents 22 are regulated for each width, thereby causing skew such as oblique feeding. Without reading means 7
And that all originals 22
Facsimile transmission can be achieved.

Table 1 shows a part of the contents stored in the memory 42 connected to the processing circuit 41. According to Table 1, the operation shown in FIG. 5 is achieved, and a transmission specifying method for more freely specifying the transmission order is performed.

[0040]

[Table 1]

The read data of all the images shown in FIG.
At 111, the order of the images at the time of connection is designated. In Table 1, in the order of the numbers in Group G, each original is
The image data is read, for example, in group G1, indicating that a total of four documents having the size of Japanese Industrial Standard JIS A4 have been read. Further, in the next group G2, it indicates that a total of two sheets of JIS B5 have been read. By operating the operation key 4, facsimile transmission is performed in the transmission order shown in Table 1. For example, the document in group G1 is the fifth in the transmission order, and the first in the first transmission order is image data of two A4 size documents read in group G5. Thus, as the transmission order, of the image data in the image memory 28, the number of A4 originals indicated by the original size specification is transmitted first in the transmission order specification, and then the B4 size in the transmission order 2 is transmitted. Are transmitted. As described above, since the number of sheets to be sent of each size is specified according to Table 1, in image concatenation (step s111), the image originals may be rearranged by the arithmetic processing of the processing circuit 41 and transmitted in the specified order. Here, the other 1 in the document size of the transmission order 4 is a document size other than the size specified by JIS, such as A4, A3, B4. in this case,
If the design of the document size detecting section of the document separating / feeding section 25 has a high detection accuracy, the other types increase. In addition to the other 1, the size of the original to be applied to the other 2 and the like can be determined by a method of designating the size in the order in which the originals are mounted on the sheet feeding device, a method of designating the size of the document in the order of size, or the like. In order to input the transmission order in Table 1, the operation key 14 and the dial key 1
3 can be entered interactively. The input of the transmission order in Table 1 is performed in step s111 of FIG. 5 described above.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the processing circuit 41 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 described above, and in the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components. In this embodiment, it should be noted that the image memory 38 is omitted or the capacity of the image memory 38 is small and is not used in the operation of FIG. When the operation starts (step s
41), and set the original of group 1 (step s4)
2) Input the destination telephone number (step s43).
When the LINK key 43 is input (step s44), the processing circuit 41 in the apparatus 1 sets a LINK flag (step s44) and stores that there is a next document group. By inputting the start key 44 (step s45), the original 22 is read, dialed to the other party, and image data of the original is transmitted (step s46). Step s47
It is determined whether the LINK flag is set in the determination of
In the case of ES, the original of the next group is still scheduled, and the instruction to insert the original is given by the sound of the speaker 46. As a result, when the next document is set, L
The INK flag is lowered (step s48). It is determined whether there is another document group other than the currently set document group (step s49). If YES, the user sets the LINK flag to press the LINK key 43 and proceeds to the determination (step s412). . Step s4
If the determination in step 9 is NO, the user presses the start key 44 without pressing the LINK key 43, and thus the user proceeds to step s41.
The process proceeds to 0, and proceeds to the determination of step s412. In this embodiment, the start key 44 is not input with only the LINK key 43 in step s411, but in another embodiment, the start key 44 may be further input as in step s45. Good.

In step s412, after one group is transmitted, the next group is set, and LIN is set.
If a long time elapses before the K key 43 or the start key 44 is pressed, a timeout occurs in the facsimile procedure. Therefore, the timeout is determined in the determination of step s412. If YES, an alarm sound for transmission interruption is generated. (Step s413), the transmission ends (step s414). If the determination in step s412 is NO, the next group can be transmitted.
Returning to step S46, the original transmission is repeated (step s46). If there is no more original to be transmitted, the determination in step s47 is N
Since it becomes O, the process proceeds to the end of transmission and the flow is completed (step s414).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the image memory 38 can be omitted, the configuration is further simplified, and the cost is reduced.

FIG. 7 shows an original 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
2a to 22e (may be collectively indicated by reference numeral 22)
It is a figure which shows the state which was laminated | stacked. In this embodiment, the order of handwriting, printing, and the like is designated in a designated area 48, which is a designated place of the originals 22a to 22e.
In step s111 of image connection in FIG. 5, an operation of rearranging images in accordance with the order can be achieved. The number to be used is not only a printed character, a handwritten numeral, but also a method for easily and conveniently recognizing characters such as counting positive characters in order. FIG. 7 shows an example in which printed numerals are used, and numerals are printed in a designated area 48 at the lower right of the originals 22a to 22e.

Thus, the image data D1 to D5 of the originals 22a to 22e shown in the following Table 2 are transmitted by facsimile in the transmission order displayed in the designated area 48 of FIG.

[0047]

[Table 2]

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the originals 22a to 22a
e have the same size, but in another embodiment of the present invention, these originals 22a to 22e have different sizes from each other, and the originals 22a to 22e are Alternatively, the sheet may be conveyed while being regulated by the guide member 23. The designated area 48 is the original 22a
The designated area 48 may be set at another predetermined position of the originals 22a to 22e in another embodiment of the present invention. The display contents of the designated area 48 are associated with each other by the processing circuit 41 reading out the image data stored in the image memory 38 and performing arithmetic processing.

FIG. 8 is a simplified diagram showing the time lapse of the reading operation of the document 22 by the reading means 7 in each of the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. Step s14 in FIG. 5 and step s4 in FIG.
When the LINK key 43 is not pressed in the steps S4 and S411, the processing circuit 41 of the facsimile apparatus 1 reads the image data of each document by the reading means 7 in the reading operation time 52 of FIG. The time W1 between the read operation times 52 is less than the first time W01 (W1 <W01). Therefore, after time t2 when the predetermined time W01 has elapsed from time t1 when the last document 22 was read, the entire reading operation of document 22 ends. Original 22 is read operation time 5
2, the facsimile transmission may be immediately performed by the public telephone network 2 or the facsimile transmission may be performed after the image data is temporarily stored in the image memory 38. Is also good. In this way, each original has a reading operation time of 5
The sheets are continuously transported between the two by a relatively short time W1 by the transport means 34, and the reading operation is sequentially performed.

When the LINK key 43 is operated in step s14 of FIG. 5 and steps s44 and s411 of FIG. 6, the reading operation of each original 22 for each group shown in FIG. 8 (2) is performed. In the first group,
The reading operation of the image data by the reading means 7 is continuously performed at intervals of the reading operation time 53 with a time interval W1.
After the reading operation of the originals 22 of this group is completed, the operator stacks the originals of the next group on the extension hopper 18,
The guide member 36 is adjusted in the width direction.
This is performed at the time W2 of (2). Next group manuscript 22
Are sequentially performed at intervals of the time W1 in the reading operation time 54. Reading operation time of the last document of this group 5
After the end of 4, time W3 elapses. LINK key 4
3 is operated, the processing circuit 41 sets the time W1, W2, W3 during which the reading operation by the reading means 7 is not performed,
A predetermined second time W02 (W01 <W02)
If the time is less than the second time W02, the reading operation is not terminated, and in the determination step s18 of FIG.
The process moves to the next step s19, and also returns to step s41 in FIG.
In step 2, the process moves to the next step s413 (W1 <W2 <W
02). When the time W3 becomes equal to or longer than the second time W02 (W3 ≧ W02), the processing circuit 41 shifts from the judgment step s18 in FIG. 5 to the judgment step s19, and shifts from the judgment step s412 in FIG. 6 to step s413.

The present invention is not limited to a facsimile machine,
It can be implemented in a wide range in connection with other image information processing devices.

[0052]

According to the present invention, each document having a plurality of widths is sequentially read by the reading means, the image data is temporarily stored in the image memory, and the image data associated with the designating means is stored. It can be read out and derived by the processing means. Thus, for example, originals having the same width are grouped, and both sides of the originals are adjusted and set by the guide member for each group, and the originals are accurately supplied to the reading means without skew or other feeding errors. Thus, the reading operation can be performed smoothly. Further, the configuration of the guide member and the conveying means for guiding such a document is relatively simple and the size thereof can be reduced. The image memory can be realized by, for example, a semiconductor element, and cost can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the output order of image data stored in the image memory can be designated by manual operation or according to a character displayed in a predetermined designated area of the document. It is possible to easily specify the output order of the image data.

According to the present invention, when an original having a plurality of widths is read without using an image memory, when the original is associated with the designation unit, the times W1, W2 during which the original is not conveyed to the reading unit are read. However, if the time is less than the predetermined time W02, for example, originals are sequentially conveyed for each group of originals having a width for each of a plurality of types, and the original reading operation can be smoothly continued. According to such a configuration, no image memory is required, the configuration is further simplified, and the cost is reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, an information processing apparatus having such a document reading device is realized, whereby the configuration is simplified and the cost is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the facsimile machine 1;

FIG. 3 is a simplified longitudinal sectional view of the facsimile machine 1.

4 is a simplified plan view of a conveyance path 27 showing a state in which a document 22 on an extension hopper 18 is guided by a guide member 23 and is conveyed in a conveyance direction 32. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the processing circuit 41;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a processing circuit 41 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows originals 22a to 22e according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the state which was laminated | stacked.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a time lapse of a reading operation of the document 22 by the reading unit 7 in each of the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile device 6 Printing device 7 Reading means 12 Operation panel 13 Dial key 14 Operation key 15 Display device 18 Extension hopper 19 Recording paper tray 23 Guide member 34 Transport means 38 Image memory 41 Processing circuit 43 LINK key 44 Start key 48 Designated area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/21 H04N 1/21 F term (Reference) 5B029 AA01 BB02 BB12 CC25 DD10 5B047 AA01 BA01 BB02 BC18 CA09 CA15 CA23 CB16 CB22 DC09 EB02 5C062 AA02 AB02 AB20 AB32 AB42 AC11 AC22 AF14 BA01 5C073 AA02 AB12 AB14 BB07 CD12

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image memory for storing image data read by the reading unit for each image, and image data stored in the image memory. A document reading apparatus, comprising: a designating means for designating the image data; and a processing means for responding to each output of the image memory and the designating means and reading out and deriving the image data from the image memory in association with the designating means. 2. A guide member which guides each document along a conveyance path by regulating both side edges of a document having plural types of widths in an adjustable manner, and sequentially guides the document guided by the guide member to the conveyance path. Transport means for transporting, reading means provided in the middle of the transport path for reading a document, image memory for storing image data read by the reading means for each document, and designating means for designating the output order of the document. A document reading device which reads out image data stored in the image memory in response to an output of the specifying device from the image memory in a specified order of the document and derives the image data. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said specifying means includes a switch which is manually operated, and an order determining means for specifying an output order of the document in response to an output of said switch and outputting it to a processing means. Document reading device as described. 4. An extracting means for extracting, from image data stored in an image memory, a character representing a reading order displayed in a predetermined designated area of an original, and responding to an output of the extracting means, 3. The document reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an order determining means for designating an output order of the document and outputting it to the processing means. 5. A transport means for sequentially transporting an original, (b) a reading means provided in the middle of a transport path for reading an original, and (c) a specification for associating and specifying an original to be read. And (d) reading designation means, which responds to the output of the designation means and, when the original is associated with the designation means, the times W1 and W2 during which the document is not conveyed to the reading means after the original is read are determined in advance by a predetermined time When the value is less than W0, a series of reading operations is continued. When the time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the series of reading operations is terminated. A reading control unit for ending the operation. 6. An information processing apparatus comprising the original reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus processes read image data.