JP2004173169A - Original reading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an original reading apparatus wherein a left-over original is informed by E-mail after termination of original reading, in an original reading apparatus which is provided with an original reading part of a flat bed scanner (called as FBS in the following) type. <P>SOLUTION: An original reading part 1 is provided with a sensor 2 for detecting existence of an original, a sensor 3 for detecting opening and closing of an original lid A, and an E-mail communication part 8a which informs forgetting the original by E-mail when an original residual detection part judges that the original is not yet removed by using the sensors after a prescribed time passed since the original is set on an original table 1a and read. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a document reading apparatus having a document reading unit of a flatbed scanner (hereinafter, referred to as FBS) type, and more particularly, to a document for notifying, by e-mail, that a document has been left on a platen after document reading has been completed. It relates to a reading device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The FBS-type document reading unit reads a document image by placing a document on a document table and scanning the scanner with the document cover closed. There are two types of scanner scanning: a fixed original platen and a movable scanner type, and a fixed scanner type and a movable original platen type. Conventionally, in copiers and the like having the FBS type document reading section, in order to solve the problem of misplaced read documents, a warning sound is issued when a document set on the document table is left for a predetermined time after the document reading operation is completed. Some have a function of notifying the user that the document has been left behind by displaying a message or notifying the user. The following patent document discloses a copying machine having such a function, and a warning device (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-163873) that issues a warning of misplacement of a document when the document cover is not opened after a lapse of a predetermined time after completion of copying. Reference 1) and an image processing apparatus capable of notifying a user of a portable radio terminal that the user has left a document (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-53-132350 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-338317
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described warning notifying means is for notifying the surroundings or notifying the portable wireless terminal of the user, and is not for notifying that the manuscript is left on the manuscript table by e-mail. When sending a document image or the like to a facsimile transmission or an external information terminal, if the document is set on the platen and the communication button is operated, the purpose can be achieved, without waiting for the discharge of the copy paper as in the copy operation. Therefore, it is often the case that a button operation causes the user to leave the place. In particular, since the original is read with the original lid closed, the original does not come into sight and often leaves the original on the platen.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has a function of notifying the user of leaving a document after reading the document by e-mail when sending the document image read by FBS to facsimile communication or an external information terminal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a document reading apparatus provided with the document reading apparatus.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a document reading apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a document reading unit that reads a document set on a platen, and an e-mail transmission unit that transmits an e-mail. In the document reading apparatus, the document reading unit includes a document remaining detection unit that detects a document remaining on the document table, and detects the document remaining after a predetermined time elapses after reading of the document set on the document table. When the remaining document is detected by the unit, the electronic mail transmitting unit notifies the user of the fact by an electronic mail.
[0006]
The document reading device according to claim 2, wherein the document remaining detection unit includes a document presence / absence detection sensor that detects presence / absence of a document on the document table, and a document cover open / close detection sensor that detects opening / closing of a document cover. The document presence / absence detection sensor detects the presence of a document, and when the document cover open / close detection sensor detects the closed state of the document cover, the document remains. When a document is detected, the document is determined not to remain.
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the destination of the e-mail notifying that the original is left behind is an e-mail address registered in advance.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an example of a document reading apparatus F having a mail transmission function according to the present invention. The document reading device F has a function of an automatic document feeder (ADF) and a function of a flatbed scanner (FBS). The notification function of the present invention is applied when a document is read by a flatbed scanner (FBS).
[0009]
1A is a schematic front view of a document reading apparatus F, FIG. 1B is a side view, and FIG. 1C is an enlarged front view of a document lid open / close detection sensor. Reference numeral 1 denotes a document reading unit main body having a document table 1a formed of a glass plate on the upper surface, and A denotes a document that is openably and closably attached to a side of the document reading unit main body 1 to press a document placed on a document table B. The lid S is a scanning body in which a light source (not shown) such as a fluorescent lamp and a CCD (not shown) are unitized. Reference numeral 2 denotes a document presence / absence detection sensor that detects the presence / absence of a document on the document table 1a, and reference numeral 3 denotes a document cover open / close detection sensor that detects the open / closed state of the document cover A.
[0010]
The scanning body S irradiates a document with light from a light source and causes a CCD to receive the reflected light to convert the reflected light into image information as an electric signal. When scanning the FBS document D1 placed on the document table B, the scanning body S travels in parallel from the standby position P1 to the position P2 on the lower surface of the document table 1a, and reads image information of the document D1 during that time. When scanning the ADF document D2, the scanning body S moves to the position P3 and stops at this position, and the ADF document D2 placed on the ADF tray T is fed by the feeding roller R as shown by an arrow. While the image information is being read.
[0011]
The document cover opening / closing detection sensor 3 includes a light emitting element 3a and a light receiving element 3b provided in the document cover A, and a plate-like sensor filler 3c provided on the document reading unit main body 1. These installation positions may be reversed. When the document cover A is closed, the light emitted from the light emitting element 3a is blocked by the sensor filler 3c, so that the light receiving element 3b does not receive the light, thereby detecting that the document cover A is closed. Further, when the document cover A is opened, the irradiation light from the light emitting element 3a is not blocked by the sensor filler 3c, and the light receiving element 3b receives the irradiation light, thereby detecting that the document cover A is opened. FIGS. 1B and 1C show a state where the document cover A is opened.
[0012]
The document presence / absence detection sensor 2 is installed on the side of the document table 1a or the like, and a known sensor such as a reflection type, a light reception type, or a limit switch is used. Further, it is also possible to make the scanning body S travel along the document table 1a, and to detect the presence or absence of the document based on the scanning information to substitute the document.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the document reading apparatus F of the present invention. Here, the document reading apparatus F is shown as having a facsimile communication function and a transmission function to an external information terminal, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is assumed that the document reading apparatus F also has a copy function. All of them may have a mail communication function. In this document reading apparatus F, 1 is a document reading unit for reading image data from a set document, 4 is a display unit composed of an image liquid crystal display or the like, 5 is an operation unit composed of various keys, and 6. Is a codec for encoding and decoding image data, 7 is a sound output unit for outputting a warning sound or a voice message, and 8 is a signal line N (communication cable) for connecting an external information terminal such as a personal computer. , An external interface unit for transmitting signals to and from the external information terminal; 9 a CPU and the like; a main control unit for controlling each unit; 10 a dial signal to a telephone line L; , A modem for modulating and demodulating a signal for performing facsimile communication, 12 an image memory for temporarily storing encoded image data, and 13 for each RAM for storing data, 14 is ROM, 15 which stores a control program previously is a scanner for converting a document reading the image data, the image data.
[0014]
At this time, the external interface 8 includes an e-mail communication unit 8a for notifying that the original is left behind, and the original reading unit 1 includes at least the original detection sensor 2 for detecting the presence or absence of the original and the opening / closing of the original cover A. A document remaining detector 1a for controlling the detection of the document cover opening / closing detection sensor 3 is provided. The document remaining detector 1a detects the remaining document by opening and closing the document cover. In other words, when the original cover A is opened and the original cover A is opened and the original cover opening / closing detection sensor 3 detects that the original has been removed, the original is left unremoved. In this case, if no detection is made, it is determined that the document remains. The main control section 9 controls a timer section (not shown) for measuring a predetermined time after the completion of the reading of the document and a document remaining detecting section 1a which senses the misplacement of the document. If there is a misplaced original, the e-mail communication unit 8a notifies the e-mail to the predetermined address stored in the e-mail address storage unit 13a of the RAM 13 by e-mail. In the e-mail address storage unit 13a, the address of the notification destination of the document misplacement is previously registered from the operation unit 5 and stored. The notification destination address may be, for example, the address of a manager in the company. According to this, it is possible to manage the misplacement of the manuscript in a form controlled by the administrator. In addition, a personal address may be included in the user ID identification information as long as it has a user registration function. According to this, since the user can be specified by inputting the personal identification number, it is possible to specify the person who has left the document. In addition, a personal address may be included in the card information as long as it has an ID card reader. If the personal address can be set in this way, the e-mail is notified to the user's personal address. Therefore, immediately after reading the document, the user leaves the document reading apparatus F and, for example, does not notice a warning sound or the like. Email notifications let you know if something has been left behind.
[0015]
The e-mail message may be stored in the RAM 13 which can be changed / added, or may be stored in the ROM 14 as a fixed phrase.
[0016]
Next, FIG. 3 shows a flowchart (100 to 110) of the above operation.
[0017]
A document is set on the document table 1a of the document reading unit 1, the start key 5a is pressed (100), and when the document presence / absence sensor 2 determines that a document is present (101), document reading is started (102). On the other hand, if it is determined in step 101 that there is no original, a warning sound is output from the speaker of the sound output unit 7 (109), and a text message such as "no original" is displayed on the display unit 4 (110). According to the document presence / absence sensor 2, the presence or absence of a document is notified before the document is read, and the main control unit 9 receiving the signal does not operate the document reading unit 1 and performs facsimile transmission and transmission to an external information terminal. Since the operation is stopped, it is possible to prevent a blank document or information without data from reaching the destination even if an erroneous operation is performed. In the meantime, when the user notices that the original is not set and cancels the notification by the operation unit 5, the standby screen is displayed (108).
When the reading of the original document is completed (103), the timer unit is started (104), and starts counting a predetermined time. The predetermined time may be set so that it can be changed by the user. If the opening of the document cover A is detected while the predetermined time is being counted (105), it is determined that the document on the document table 1a has been removed, and the standby screen is displayed (108). If the time is up (106) without detecting the opening of the original cover A (105), it is determined that the original is left behind, and an e-mail with a message such as "I left the original" is sent to the specified address. (107). When the e-mail is transmitted (107), it is notified that the original has been left behind, so that a standby screen is displayed (108).
[0018]
Further, in the case of a scanner having an external information terminal connection unit, the start of the timer unit may be started after the document reading is completed or after the read document is sent to the external information terminal. You may set so that both are performed.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As can be understood from the above description, according to the original reading apparatus according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the original after reading the original is misplaced without noticing the misplacement notification means such as a warning sound. After leaving the place as it is, it is possible to notice that the manuscript has been left behind, so that it does not bother people who will use it later. In particular, when a later person attempts to transmit a document using the ADF while leaving the document on the FBS, there is no trouble that the document image information on the FBS is also transmitted. In addition, when using FBS, if the original is set on the FBS and the communication button is operated, the purpose can be achieved, and there is no need to wait for the discharge of the copy paper as in the copy operation. It is effective because you often leave the place.
[0020]
According to the third aspect, in order to notify a registered administrator or the like in advance, it is possible to remove a document left behind on the FBS when the user is already away from the document reading device or is absent. . In addition, since a notice can be sent to a person who has left the manuscript, the person who has left the manuscript can be noticed, and no trouble is caused to the surroundings.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of a document reading apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a basic configuration of a document reading apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the document reading apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
F Document reading apparatus 1 Document reading section 1a Document remaining detection section 2 Document presence / absence detection sensor 3 Document lid open / close detection sensor 8 External interface 8a E-mail communication section 13 RAM
13a Email address storage

Claims (3)

In a document reading device including a document reading unit that reads a document set on a platen, and an e-mail transmission unit that transmits an e-mail,
The document reading unit includes a document residue detection unit that detects a residue of the document on the platen,
When the remaining document is detected by the remaining document detection unit after a predetermined time has elapsed after the completion of reading of the document set on the document table, the electronic mail transmitting unit notifies the user of the fact by e-mail. A document reading device. 2. The original document detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the original document remaining detection unit includes an original document presence / absence detection sensor that detects the presence / absence of an original document on the document table, and a document lid open / closed detection sensor that detects opening / closing of a document lid. When the sensor detects that a document is present and the document cover opening / closing detection sensor detects the closed state of the document cover, the document remains. When the document cover opening / closing detection sensor detects the open state of the document cover, no document remains. A document reading device having a configuration described above. In claim 1 or claim 2,
A document reading apparatus, wherein the destination of the e-mail is an e-mail address registered in advance.

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