JP2002262039A - Image input device, dust detection method, recording medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image input device that detects dust existing between an optical system section and an image read position in the case that the position of the optical system section is fixed to read an original image by moving an original and prevents mis-detection of dust on the occurrence of a fault during read of the original image. SOLUTION: In the case of detecting dust, a read image is divided in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of an original, a mean value of the density of each divided image is calculated and the mean value is used to detect dust (STEP 25). On the occurrence of a fault (paper jamming or the like) while the original is moved (paper feed), no dust is detected (STEPS 22, 27). On the occurrence of a fault during discharge of original, it is also possible that no dust is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device (for example, a scanner, a digital copying machine, a facsimile), a dust detection method, a recording medium, and a program. In `` document drift reading '' where the image is read by fixing the position of the optical system when reading the document and passing the document through the reading position, dust detection at the drift reading position is performed after reading the document image, and when reading the document, The present invention relates to an image input device or the like that prevents erroneous detection of dust when an abnormality occurs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the reading speed of a document has been remarkably improved in fields such as a scanner, a digital copying machine, and a facsimile. Further, in order to improve the reading speed, an image reading apparatus has been increasing in which the position of an optical system portion equipped with a large number of CCDs for reading a document is fixed and the document is moved at a constant speed over the CCD. .

[0003]

In such an image input apparatus in which the position of the optical system portion is fixed to read such an image and the image is read by moving the document, the optical system portion and the image reading position ( There is a case where dust (dirt or the like) exists between the positions where the document passes). For example, there is a case where dust is attached to glass or the like between the optical system portion and the image reading position. When an image is read in such a case, since the optical system portion does not move, the dust portion appears as a line in the original moving direction, that is, the sub-scanning direction, and a black line enters in the sub-scanning direction on the read image. In many cases, the image quality was significantly deteriorated.

[0004] Therefore, it is desired to prevent black lines from entering an image by detecting such dust.

In the dust detection, if an abnormality occurs during reading of a document image (during movement of a document) or the like, there is a risk that dust is erroneously detected.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to detect dust between the optical system portion and the image reading position when the original is read while the position of the optical system portion is fixed and the original is moved. .

Another object is to prevent erroneous detection of dust when an abnormality occurs during reading of a document image or the like.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an image input apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image reading unit having a fixed position and a document passing through an image reading position of the image reading unit. Using a document moving means for moving the document, and an image read by the image reading means,
A dust detection unit that detects dust between the image reading unit and the image reading position.

Here, the dust detecting means may not perform dust detection when an abnormality occurs during the movement of the document by the document moving means.

Here, the image input apparatus further includes a document discharging means for discharging the document, and the dust detecting means determines whether an error occurs during the discharging of the document by the document discharging means. , Dust detection may not be performed.

Here, the dust detection means divides the image read by the image reading means in a vertical direction of the original moving direction, calculates an average value of the density of the divided images, and calculates the average value. Used for dust detection.

Here, the image input device further includes input means for allowing a user of the image input device to input a parameter for dust detection, and the dust detection means performs dust detection using the parameter. You can do it.

Here, the image input device may further include display means for displaying a result of dust detection by the dust detection means.

A dust detection method according to the present invention includes image reading means having a fixed position, and document moving means for moving the document so that the document passes the image reading position of the image reading means. A dust detection method in an image input device, comprising: an image reading step of reading an image by the image reading means; and a dust between the image reading means and the image reading position using the image read by the image reading means. And a dust detection step of detecting

A program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the dust detection method.

A computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention stores a program for causing a computer to execute the dust detection method.

According to the above arrangement, when the position of the optical system is fixed and the original is moved to read the original image, dust between the optical system and the image reading position can be detected.

Further, when an abnormality occurs during reading of a document image or the like, erroneous detection of dust can be prevented.

[0019]

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

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image input device (data processing device) equipped with a controller unit as an electronic component according to the present invention. PC) 116
LAN (Local Area Network) such as Ethernet (registered trademark)
A plurality of host computers (in this embodiment, first and second host computers 113 and 114) are connected via an area network (120). Further, it is also connected to a printer 111, a facsimile 112 and a scanner 115.

In this embodiment, the image input device 100
Also has an image output function. That is, the image input device 100 includes a reader unit 1 that performs a process of reading image data.
01 and a printer unit 109 that performs output processing of image data
And an operation unit 108 including a keyboard for inputting / outputting image data and a liquid crystal panel for displaying image data and various functions, and a CD-ROM in which a control program, image data, and the like are written in advance. , The CD-ROM
CD-ROM drive 11 for reading the stored contents of
0, and a controller unit 104 that is connected to each of these components and controls the components, and is composed of a single electronic component. The recording medium is a CD-R
Media other than OM (eg, magnetic disk, magnetic tape)
May be used.

Further, the reader unit 101 has a document feeding unit (unit) 102 for conveying a document sheet, and a scanner unit (unit) 103 for optically reading a document image and converting it into image data as an electric signal. , Printer unit 1
Reference numeral 09 denotes a paper supply unit (unit) 107 having a plurality of paper feed cassettes for accommodating recording paper, a marking unit (unit) 105 for transferring and fixing image data on the recording paper, and sorting processing on the printed recording paper. And a paper discharge unit (unit) 106 for performing stapling processing and discharging the paper to the outside.

Next, the reader unit 101 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the reader unit 101 is equipped with a stack tray 201 as a first document tray on which a bundle of documents is set. In addition, the stacking tray 201 is provided with a feeding unit that constitutes one part of the document feeding unit. The feeding unit includes a half-moon roller 210, a separation conveyance roller 207, and a separation motor SPRMTR (not shown). Illustrated) and the resist roller 206
, Full belt 202, belt motor BELMTR
(Not shown), large conveying roller 203, and conveying motor F
An EEDMTR (not shown), a paper discharge roller 204, a flapper 205, a recycle lever 208, a paper feed sensor ENTS (not shown), a reversing sensor TRNS, a paper discharge sensor EFTS, and the like are provided. Here, the half-moon roller 210 and the separation conveyance roller 207 are rotated by the operation of a separation motor SPRMTR (not shown) to separate the documents one by one from the lowermost portion of the document bundle on the stacking tray 201.

The registration roller 206 and the entire belt 202 are connected to a belt motor BELMTR (not shown).
The document rotated and separated by the action of
Platen glass surface 21 serving as a document table via b and c
Convey to the top. The transport large roller 203 is rotated by the action of a transport motor FEEDMTR (not shown) to transport a document on the platen glass surface 211 serving as a document table to a sheet path e bypassing the sheet path c. The document conveyed to the sheet path e is returned to the stack of documents on the stacking tray 201 by the discharge roller 204.

The recycle lever 208 detects the circulation of the original. When the original is fed, the recycle lever 208 is placed on the upper part of the original bundle, the originals are sequentially fed, and the rear end of the final original is recycled. When the document leaves the lever 208, it falls under its own weight, and this dropping operation detects one circulation of the document.

The position-fixed optical unit 213 performs exposure scanning of a document conveyed on the platen glass 211. Note that a lamp (not shown) is turned on prior to exposure scanning. Light reflected from the original is reflected by mirrors 214, 215, and 21.
6 and a lens 217 to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 218. Thus, the image of the document is read by the CCD 218. CCD21
The image data output from 8 is subjected to predetermined processing and then transferred to the control device 104.

The read image is sent to the controller 104
Is transferred to the scanner connector 56 and the video I / F.
55, recorded in the DRAM 38 via the scanner I / F 46. At this time, when scanning a normal document, the image can be binarized by the scanner I / F 46, or various image processing such as image density change and filter processing can be performed by the LUT. The image is taken into the DRAM 38 as a multi-valued image (256 gradations) as an image having 64 lines or more in the sub-scanning direction.

In the controller unit 104, the CPU 33 calculates the average value of the previously read image recorded in the DRAM 38 in the sub-scanning direction.

When one line of data is, for example, 7000 pixels and the number of lines is 64 lines, D (X, Y) is pixel data, X is the coordinate in the line (sub-scanning) direction, and Y is the main scanning direction. Can be expressed as follows.

Line 1: D (1,1), D (1,2), D (1,3), D (1,4)..., D (1,7000) Line 2: D (2, 1), D (2,2), D (2,3), D (2,4) ..., D (2,7000) Line 3: D (3,1), D (3,2), D (3,3), D (3,4) ………, D (3,7000) Line 4: D (4,1), D (4,2), D (4,3), D (4 , 4) ………, D (4,7000) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Line 64: D (64,1), D (64,2), D (64,3), D (64,4) ) ………, D (64,7000)

At this time, the average value in the sub-scanning direction for Y = y is as follows. Dii (y) = (D (1, y) + D (2, y) + D (3, y) ................... + D (64, y)) / 64

Using the obtained average value in the sub-scanning direction, the CPU 33 calculates the average value in the main scanning direction. That is, as described below, the average density AVE of the pixels in all the read lines is
Is calculated.

AVE = Dii (1) + Dii (2) + Dii (3) .... + Dii (7000) / 7000 Next, the CPU 33 calculates a dust detection determination level using parameters that can be specified by the user. I do. This parameter is a value that is input in advance by the user via the panel I / F 62. For example, it is assumed that a multiplication ratio Z with respect to the average density can be set now. This value Z is set in advance by the user
The setting contents are set via F62, and the setting contents are recorded in the EEPROM 66. CPU 33 is I /
Z is read from the EEPROM 66 via the O control unit 51.

In the above case, the judgment level of Judge is as follows.

Judge = AVE × Z In the detection of dust, it is determined that dust is present when the average value Dii (y)> Judge in the sub-scanning direction is satisfied. The judgment result is C
The PU 33 saves the data in the DRAM 38.

The detection result is obtained from the CP of the controller unit 104.
U33 reads the data stored on the DRAM 38,
The data is stored in the EEPROM 66 via the I / O control unit 51. Incidentally, since the EEPROM 66 is a nonvolatile memory, the detection result is retained even when the power of the image input apparatus 100 is turned off. In addition, the detection result can be displayed on the LCD touch panel 600 of the operation unit 108, for example.

In the present embodiment, the read image is read in the vertical direction (main scanning direction) of the original moving direction (y = 1 to 7).
The average value Dii (y) of the density (in the sub-scanning direction) of each of the divided images is calculated. The classification is y = 1,2,. . .
Is performed one pixel at a time, but two or more pixels may be performed collectively.

Next, the printer section 109 will be described with reference to FIG. The laser driver 321 of the marking / feeding unit 300 of the printer unit 109 is a laser emitting unit 322.
And causes the laser emitting unit 322 to emit a laser beam corresponding to the image data output from the control device 104. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 323, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 323. The developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 323 by the developing device 324.

The recording paper is fed from one of the cassette 311, the cassette 312, the cassette 313, the cassette 314, and the manual paper feed stage 315 at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation. 331
As a result, the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred to the recording paper. The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is transported by the conveyor belt 32.
6, the developer is conveyed to the fixing unit 327, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 327. afterwards,
The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 327 passes through a conveyance path 335 and a conveyance path 334 and is discharged. Alternatively, when the print surface is reversed and discharged, the recording paper is guided to the transport path 336 and the transport path 338, from which the recording paper is transported in the reverse direction.
7. Pass through the transport path 334.

When double-sided recording is set,
After passing through the fixing unit 327, the recording paper is guided from the conveyance path 336 to the conveyance path 333 by the flapper 329, and then conveys the recording paper in the reverse direction. Led to. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 332 is fed to the transfer unit 325 through the conveyance path 331 at the timing described above.

The recording paper discharged from the conveyance path 334 is conveyed to the finisher section 500.

The transported recording paper is first sent to the buffer unit 501. Here, the conveyed recording paper is wound around a buffer roller and buffered as occasion demands. For example, when processing such as stapling performed downstream takes a long time, the use of this buffer unit makes it possible to maintain a constant conveyance speed of the recording paper conveyed from the main body, which is useful for improving the throughput. Is possible.

The recording paper is thereafter fed to an upstream discharge roller pair 502,
The sheet is discharged to the stack tray 507a by the downstream discharge roller pair 503.

In the staple mode, immediately after the sheet is conveyed by the upstream discharge roller pair 502 and the trailing edge of the recording paper passes through the staple tray, it is pulled back by the knurl belt 504 and discharged to the staple tray 505.

After a predetermined number of recording papers are stacked, staple processing is performed by the staple unit 506, and the recording paper is discharged to the discharge tray 507a by the downstream discharge roller pair 503.

The discharge trays are 507a and 507b.
It has bins, which can be moved up and down in conjunction with a drive unit (not shown).

In FIG. 3, the recording paper is at the position where the recording paper is discharged to the discharge tray 507a, but it is also possible to move the recording paper upward and discharge it to the discharge tray 507b.

Next, the operation unit 108 will be described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 600 denotes an LCD touch panel, where main mode setting and status display are performed. 601 is 0
It is a numeric keypad for inputting numerical values up to 9. 602
Is an ID key which is used to input a department number and a password mode when the device is under department management.

Reference numeral 603 denotes a reset key for resetting the set mode, 604 denotes a guide key for displaying an explanation screen for each mode, 605 denotes a user mode key for entering a user mode screen, and 606 denotes an interrupt copy. It is an interrupt key to do.

Reference numeral 607 denotes a start key for starting a copy operation, and 608 denotes a stop key for stopping a copy job being executed.

Reference numeral 609 denotes a soft power switch. When the switch is pressed, the backlight of the LCD touch panel 600 is turned off, and the device falls into a low power state. A power saving key 610 is pressed to enter a power saving state, and is pressed again to return from the power saving state.

Function keys 611, 612, and 613 are used to shift to copy, box, and extended functions. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the standard screen for copying is displayed, and when the other function keys 612 and 613 are pressed, the standard screen for each function is displayed.

Reference numeral 614 denotes an adjustment key for adjusting the contrast of the LCD touch panel.

Reference numeral 615 denotes a counter confirmation key. When this key is pressed, a count screen for displaying the total number of copies used so far is displayed on the LCD.

An LED 616 indicates that the image is being stored in the image memory during execution of the job, an error LED 617 indicates that the apparatus is in an error state such as a jam or a door open,
A power LED 618 indicates that the main switch of the apparatus is turned on.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing details of the controller 104.

That is, the main controller 32
It incorporates a PU 33, a bus controller 34, and functional blocks including various controller circuits to be described later.
Connected to the ROM 36 via the OMI / F 35, the DRA
It is connected to the DRAM 38 via the MI / F 37, connected to the codec 40 via the codec I / F 39, and connected to the network controller 42 via the network I / F 41.

In the ROM 36, various control programs and calculation data executed by the CPU 33 of the main controller 32 are confirmed. The DRAM 38 is used as a work area for the operation of the CPU 33 and an area for storing image data. The codec 40 converts the raster image data stored in the DRAM 38 into MH / MR / MM
The data is compressed by a known compression method such as R / JBIG, and the compressed data is expanded into a raster image. An SRAM 43 is connected to the codec 40.
The RAM 43 is used as a temporary work area of the codec 40. The network controller 42 performs a predetermined control operation with the LAN 120 via the network connector 44.

The main controller 32 is connected to a scanner I / F 46 via a scanner bus 45, and is connected to a printer I / F 48 via a printer bus 47.
Furthermore, it is connected to an expansion connector 50 for connecting an expansion board and an input / output control unit (I / O control unit) 51 via a general-purpose high-speed bus 49 such as a PCI bus.

The I / O control unit 51 has two channels of an asynchronous serial communication controller 52 for transmitting and receiving control commands to and from the reader unit 101 and the printer unit 109.
Are connected to a scanner I / F 46 and a printer I / F 48 via an I / O bus 53.

The scanner I / F 46 is connected to a scanner connector 56 via a first asynchronous serial I / F 54 and a first video I / F 55, and the scanner connector 56 is connected to the scanner 103 of the reader 101. It is connected. The scanner I / F 46 performs a desired binarization process on the image data received from the scanner unit 103, performs a scaling process in the main scanning direction and / or the sub-scanning direction, and sends the image data received from the scanner unit 103. A control signal is generated based on the received video signal,
Via the main controller 32.

The printer I / F 48 is connected to a printer connector 59 via a second asynchronous serial I / F 57 and a second video I / F 58, and the printer connector 59 is connected to a marking section of the printer section 109. 1
05. Then, the printer I / F 48 performs a smoothing process on the image data output from the main controller 32 and applies the image data to the marking unit 1.
The control signal is output to the printer bus 47 based on the video signal sent from the marking unit 105.

Then, the CPU 33 reads the R
It operates based on a control program read via the OMI / F 35, and interprets, for example, PDL (page description language) data received from the first and second host computers 113 and 114, and develops the raster image data into raster image data. I do.

The bus controller 34 controls the transfer of data input / output from the scanner I / F 46, the printer I / F 48, and other external devices connected to the extension connector 50 and the like. (Arbitration) and control of DMA data transfer. That is,
For example, the data transfer between the DRAM 38 and the codec 40, the data transfer from the scanner unit 103 to the DRAM 38, the data transfer from the DRAM 38 to the marking unit 105, and the like are controlled by the bus controller 34 and are DMA-transferred.

Further, the I / O control unit 51 controls the panel I / O via the LCD controller 60 and the key input I / F 61.
Connected to F62. The panel I / F 62 is the operation unit 1
08. The I / O control unit 51 is connected to an EEPROM 66 as a nonvolatile memory, is connected to a CD-ROM drive 110 via an E-IDE connector 63, and updates / manages a date and time managed in the device. Real-time clock module 6 to save
4 is connected. The real-time clock module 64 is connected to a backup battery 65 and is backed up by the backup battery 65.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal details of the main controller 32. As shown in FIG.

The bus controller 34 comprises a 4 × 4 64-bit cross bus switch, is connected to the CPU 33 via a 64-bit processor bus (P bus) 67, and has a local bus (M bus) 68 dedicated to memory. Memory controller 69 having a cache memory via
It is connected to the. Note that the memory controller 69 is RO
It is connected to memories such as M36 and DRAM 38, and controls the operation of these memories.

Further, the bus controller 34 transmits a G bus arbiter 7 via a graphics bus (G bus) 70.
1 and a scanner / printer controller 72, and via an input / output bus (B bus) 73, a B bus arbiter 74, a G bus arbiter 71, an interrupt controller 75, and various functional blocks (such as a power management unit 76 and a UART). Serial I / F controller 7
7, USB (Universal Serial Bus) controller 78,
Parallel I / F controller 7 such as IEEE1284
9, a LAN controller 80, a general-purpose input / output controller 81, a PCI bus I / F 82 for performing an I / F operation between the B bus 73 and a PCI bus as an external bus, and a scanner / printer controller 72). .

The B bus arbiter 74 is an arbitration for cooperatively controlling the B bus 73, accepts a bus use request of the B bus 73, and after arbitration, is given permission to use one selected master, whereby two masters are simultaneously operated. The above masters are prohibited from accessing the bus. The arbitration system has three levels of priority, and a plurality of masters are assigned to each priority.

The interrupt controller 75 accumulates interrupts from outside the above-described functional blocks and the controller unit 104, and redistributes them to the controllers 72, 77-82 and the non-maskable interrupt (NMI) supported by the CPU 33.

The power management unit 76 manages power for each functional block, and further monitors the amount of power consumed by the controller 104 as an electronic component composed of one chip. That is, the controller unit 104
3 is a large-scale ASIC (application-specific IC) incorporating therein, and when all the function blocks operate simultaneously, a large amount of heat is generated, and the controller unit 104
There is a risk of being destroyed.

To prevent such a situation, power consumption is managed for each functional block, and the power consumption of each functional block is integrated in the power management unit 76 as a power management level. Then, the power management unit 76 totals the power consumption of each functional block, and monitors the power consumption of each functional block collectively so that the power consumption does not exceed the limit power consumption.

The G bus arbiter 71 cooperatively controls the G bus 70 by a central arbitration method, and has a dedicated request signal and a permission signal for each bus master.
In addition, as a method of giving priority to the bus masters, a fair arbitration mode in which all bus masters are given the same priority and the bus right is imparted fairly, and a priority arbitration mode in which any one bus master preferentially uses the bus. Can be specified.

The scanner / printer controller 7
Reference numeral 2 denotes a scanner controller connected to the first video I / F 55 and a second video I / F 58, as shown in FIG.
Is connected via a CP bus to directly connect a synchronization signal for horizontal / vertical synchronization between image data transmitted from the reader unit 101 and image data output from the printer unit 109. . Then, the scanner controller is the first G bus / B bus / I
/ F unit, and the printer controller is connected to the second G bus / B bus I / F unit. That is, the scanner controller and the printer controller are independently connected to the G bus and the B bus, respectively, and perform data transfer and read / write processing of registers. As described above, four buses (the P bus 67, the M bus 68, the G bus 70, and the B bus 73) are connected to the bus controller 34. It is configured so that connection can be secured.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the sequence of dust detection processing.

When the user performs a normal document reading operation, first, as shown in STEP 11,
1 is placed on the platen glass 211.
Conveyed toward the surface. Optical unit 213 with fixed position
Scans an original document conveyed on the platen glass 211. The reflected light from the original is reflected by mirrors 214, 215,
216 and the lens 217 are guided to the CCD 218. Thus, the image of the document is read by the CCD 218. The image data output from the CCD 218 is transferred to the control device 104 after being subjected to predetermined processing.
The transferred image is transferred to the DRAM 38 via the scanner connector 56, the video I / F 55, and the scanner I / F 46.
Will be recorded.

In step 12, the copy processing is completed, and the flow proceeds to the dust detection processing in step 13. STEP
In the dust detection process of No. 13, the multi-valued image (2
The image is taken into the DRAM 38 as an image of 64 lines in the sub-scanning direction as an image of (56 gradations), and the controller 104 calculates the average value of the read image in the sub-scanning direction as C.
Calculated by PU33. Average value Dii (y) in the sub-scanning direction
Is larger than the predetermined value Judge (Dii (y)> Judge), it is determined that dust exists at the coordinate Y = y in the main scanning direction, and the determination result is stored in the DRAM 38 by the CPU 33 in STEP 14. .

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a sequence of dust detection processing including dust erroneous detection prevention processing.

As shown in STEP 21, the loading tray 20
The original paper set on the original 1 is separated from the lowermost part of the original bundle one by one by the operation of the half-moon roller 210, the separation conveyance roller 207, and the separation motor SPRMTR (not shown) in STEP22, and the sheet path a, b and c
Through the platen glass surface 211 serving as a document table.

When a document is moved inside the reader unit 101, the document feeder or the document cover is opened, so that the operation of the separation motor SPRMTR stops, and the document may remain in the reader unit 101. is there. In addition, when the original paper is wet, it is difficult to move on each transport roller (half-moon roller, separation transport roller),
A paper jam may occur in the reader unit 101.

When the original reading operation is continued in this state, the original reading process is executed on the original stopped on the platen glass, and the original is stopped on (the reading position of) the optical unit 213. In this case, information on all or a plurality of pixels in the sub-scanning direction of the read image is stored as the same information. If dust detection processing is performed when such storage is performed, the average density Dii (x) in the sub-scanning direction is likely to be Dii (x)> Judge. Even if it does not exist, there is a high possibility that it is determined that dust exists.

Therefore, in order to prevent such erroneous detection of dust, if an abnormality occurs during document feeding (feeding), the process proceeds from STEP 22 to STEP 27, and the sheet feeding process is immediately stopped. At the same time, the document reading process and the dust detection process are stopped. Examples of abnormalities include a paper jam, a document feeder tray open, a document or bar open, a failure of the optical unit 213, and a non-lighting of a lamp.

If there is no abnormality, the reading of the original is completed (S
(STEP 23) After that, in STEP 24, the document having undergone the document reading process is conveyed to the sheet path e bypassing the sheet path c. The document conveyed to the sheet path e is
The sheet is returned onto the stack of originals on the stacking tray 201 by the discharge roller 204. If another original remains on the stacking tray 201, the process returns to STEP22. When the original reading process is completed for all the originals, the same dust detection process as in STEP 13 is performed in STEP 25. Saving the detection result in STEP 26 is also the same as in STEP 14.

According to the above procedure, when an error occurs during the feeding of a document, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of dust by the flow reading position dust detection process, and to perform accurate dust detection processing. Deterioration of the original image can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment) The second embodiment of the present invention is basically the same as the first embodiment, except for the timing of stopping the dust detection processing. That is, in the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred during document feeding,
The dust detection process was stopped when an error occurred.
In the embodiment, it is checked whether or not an abnormality has occurred while the document is being discharged, and if an abnormality has occurred, the dust detection process is stopped.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing another example of the sequence of dust detection processing including dust detection error prevention processing. Here, regarding STEPS 31 to 33, the STE
Same as P21 to P23.

If the original reading process is completed normally in STEP 33, the process proceeds to STEP 34, and the read original on the platen glass 211 is transferred to the transport motor FEED.
The sheet is conveyed to the sheet path e bypassing the sheet path c by the large conveying roller 203 rotating by the action of the MTR (not shown). The document conveyed to the sheet path e is returned to the stack of documents on the stacking tray 201 by the discharge roller 204. During the document discharge process, similarly to the document feed process, if the document feed table or the document cover is opened while the sheet passes through the large conveying roller 203, each sheet path (c, d), and the discharge roller 204. , Transport motor F
The operation of the EEDMTR stops, and the same abnormality as in the first embodiment occurs.

At this time, when the dust detection processing is performed in the same manner as when the normal document discharge processing is performed, there is a risk that the erroneous detection of dust as described in the first embodiment may occur.

Therefore, in order to prevent such erroneous detection of dust, if an abnormality occurs during the discharging of the original,
The process shifts from STEP 34 to STEP 37 to immediately stop the sheet discharging process, and at the same time, stop the original reading process and the dust detection process.

When the original reading process is completed for all the originals, the same dust detection process as in STEP 13 is performed in STEP 35. The storage of the detection result in STEP 36 is the same as in STEP 14.

According to the above-described procedure, when an abnormality occurs during the discharge of a document, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of dust by the dust reading position dust detection process, and to perform accurate dust detection processing. Deterioration of the original image can be prevented.

(Others) The investigation as to whether or not an abnormality has occurred and the dust detection processing stop may be performed both during document feeding and document discharging. Further, when the timing can be performed at a timing other than during the feeding of the document and during the discharging of the document, the timing may be performed at that timing.

[0095]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the position of the optical system portion is fixed and the original is moved to read the original image, dust between the optical system portion and the image reading position is removed. Can be detected.

Further, when an abnormality occurs during reading of a document image or the like, erroneous detection of dust can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image input device as a data processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of a leader unit.

FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of a printer unit.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing details of a controller unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing details of a main controller.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a sequence example of dust detection processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sequence of dust detection processing including dust detection error prevention processing.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a sequence of dust detection processing including dust detection error prevention processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 32 Main controller 33 CPU 34 Bus controller 35 ROM I / F 36 ROM 37 DRAM I / F 38 DRAM 39 Codec I / F 40 Codec 41 Network I / F 42 Network controller 43 SRAM 44 Network connector 45 Scanner bus 46 Scanner I / F 47 Printer Bus 48 Printer I / F 49 General-purpose high-speed bus 50 Expansion connector 51 I / O control unit 52 Serial communication controller 53 I / O bus 54 First start-stop synchronous serial I / F 55 First video I / F 56 Scanner connector 57 Second Asynchronous Serial I / F 58 Second Video I / F 59 Printer Connector 60 LCD Controller 61 Key Input I / F 62 Panel I / F 63 E-IDE Connector 64 Real Imclock module 65 Backup battery 66 EEPROM 67 Processor bus 68 Local bus 69 Memory controller 70 Graphics bus 71 G bus arbiter 71 72 Scanner / printer controller 73 Input / output bus 74 B bus arbiter 75 Interrupt controller 76 Power management unit 77 Serial I / F controller 78 USB controller 79 Parallel I / F controller 80 LAN controller 81 General-purpose input / output controller 82 PCI bus I / F 100 Image input device 101 Reader unit 102 Document feed unit 103 Scanner unit 104 Controller unit 105 Marking unit 106 Ejection unit 107 Paper feed unit 108 Operation unit 109 Printer unit 110 CD-ROM drive 111 Printer 1 2 Fax 113, 114, 116 Host computer 115 Scanner 201 Loading tray 202 Full belt 203 Conveying large roller 204 Discharge roller 205 Flapper 206 Registration roller 207 Separating and conveying roller 208 Recycle lever 210 Half moon roller 211 Platen glass 213 Optical unit 214 to 216 Mirror 217 Lens 218 CCD 300 Marking / feeding unit 311 to 314 Cassette 315 Manual feed stage 321 Laser driver 322 Laser emitting unit 323 Photosensitive drum 324 Developing unit 325 Transfer unit 326 Conveying belt 327 Fixing unit 329 Flapper 331, 333 to 338 Path 332 Re-feeding conveyance path 500 Finisher 501 Buffer unit 502 Upstream discharge roller 503 Flow discharge roller 504 Knurl belt 505 Staple tray 506 Staple unit 507a, 507b Discharge tray 600 LCD touch panel 601 Numeric keypad 602 ID key 603 Reset key 604 Guide key 605 User mode key 606 Interruption key 607 Start key 608 Stop key 609 Soft power switch 610 Keys 611 to 613 Function keys 614 Adjustment keys 615 Counter confirmation key 616 LED 617 Error LED 618 Power LED a to c, e Sheet pass

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/40 H04N 1/40 101Z 5C077 F term (Reference) 2H076 AA58 BA24 BA65 BA97 BB10 2H109 CA21 5B047 BB02 BC14 BC18 CB12 CB13 CB23 DA06 EA01 5C051 AA01 BA03 DA03 DB01 DE13 DE15 5C072 AA01 EA05 NA01 UA06 XA01 5C077 LL02 MM03 PP05 PP15 PP43 SS01

Claims (9)

[Claims] An image reading unit having a fixed position, a document moving unit for moving the document so that the document passes an image reading position of the image reading unit, and an image read by the image reading unit. An image input device comprising: dust detection means for detecting dust between the image reading means and the image reading position. 2. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the dust detection unit does not perform dust detection when an abnormality occurs during the movement of the document by the document moving unit. Characteristic image input device. 3. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the image input device further comprises a document discharge unit for discharging the document, and wherein the dust detection unit includes the document discharge unit. An image input device that does not detect dust when an abnormality occurs during the discharge of the document by means. 4. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the dust detection unit divides the image read by the image reading unit in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the document. An image input apparatus that calculates an average value of the densities of the divided images and performs dust detection using the average value. 5. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the image input device includes an input unit that allows a user of the image input device to input a parameter for dust detection. The image input apparatus, further comprising: the dust detection unit performs dust detection using the parameter. 6. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein said image input device further comprises a display unit for displaying a result of dust detection by said dust detection unit. Image input device. 7. An image reading means having a fixed position, and a document passing through an image reading position of said image reading means.
A dust detection method in an image input apparatus comprising: a document moving unit configured to move the document; an image reading step of reading an image by the image reading unit; and A dust detection step of detecting dust between a reading unit and the image reading position. 8. A program for causing a computer to execute the dust detection method according to claim 7. 9. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the dust detection method according to claim 7 is recorded.