JP2005072919A - Image forming device and use charge management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of shortening a period of time from the input of an instruction to read an original from a user until a first copy of the original placed upon a paper feeding table and performing accurate shading correction. <P>SOLUTION: When a document is placed on the paper feeding table, an image reader moves an optical unit to a reading position to prepare for original reading even before the user inputs the instruction to read the original. The original is carried to the reading position after receiving the instruction to read the original from the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder such as a scanner, a copying machine, a multifunction machine, and a facsimile machine.

In general, an image reading apparatus reads an original placed on an original table using an optical unit provided below the original table, or an original conveyed from a paper feed table by an automatic document feeder.

  Reading of a document placed on the document table is performed in a first reading mode in which the document is read while moving the optical unit in the sub-scanning direction of the document table. Reading of a document conveyed by the automatic document feeder is performed in a second reading mode in which the document is read while the optical unit is stationary and the document is conveyed. In order to give priority to shortening the reading time of the document placed on the document table, the optical unit waits at the reading position that is normally the reading position in the first reading mode when the document is not read. Yes.

  When causing the image reading apparatus to read the document placed on the document table, the user places the document on the document table and presses the start key. When the start key is pressed, the lamp provided in the optical unit is turned on, and the optical unit stops at the reading position in the first reading mode until the lighting of the lamp is stabilized. A white reference plate is provided on the portion of the platen cover that faces the reading position in the first reading mode, and the optical unit is stopped until the lamp is stably lit. A white reference value used for shading correction is input to the image processing means. When the lighting of the lamp is stabilized, the optical unit moves in the sub-scanning direction while reading the original while reading the document.

  The paper feed table is provided with a placement detection means for detecting whether or not a document is placed on the paper feed table. When the placement detection unit detects the placement of a document and the start key is pressed, the lamp of the optical unit is turned on, and the white reference value is set as described above. Get. Thereafter, the optical unit moves to the reading position in the second reading mode and stands by at the second reading position.

When the start key is pressed, the document placed on the sheet feeding table is conveyed to the second reading position by the automatic document feeder. The optical unit reads a document conveyed from the sheet feed table at the second reading position.
Japanese Patent No. 3373645

  As described above, when the optical unit is waiting at the reading position in the first reading mode, the time from when the start key is pressed until the first copy of the document placed on the sheet feeding table is performed is set. In order to shorten the time, it is necessary to increase the document conveying speed of the automatic document feeder and shorten the moving time for the optical unit to move to the second reading position after the start key is pressed.

  The moving time is composed of a time during which the lamp is lit stably and a time during which the optical unit actually moves. Since it is difficult to shorten the time for stabilizing the lamp, there is a limit to shortening the moving time.

  Further, the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent No. 3373645 does not move the optical unit after the start key is pressed, but the optical unit is stopped at the first reading position for a predetermined time. The optical unit is moved to the second reading position. However, even in the image forming apparatus described in the above publication, the optical unit may be in the first reading position when the start key is pressed.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in the above publication, in order to obtain a white reference value when the optical unit is moved, if the interval between the movement of the optical unit and the reading of the document is long, the old white Since shading correction is performed using the reference value, accurate shading correction cannot be performed.

  Therefore, the present invention can shorten the time from when a document reading instruction is input from the user until the first copy of the document placed on the paper feed tray is performed, and can perform accurate shading correction. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be used.

  The image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a first reading mode for reading a document placed on a document table while moving the optical unit from a first reading position, and the optical unit at a second reading position. Thus, the original can be read in the second reading mode for reading the original conveyed from the paper feed table. In order to shorten the time from when the reading instruction is input from the user until the first copy of the document placed on the paper feed tray is performed, the image forming apparatus has the document placed on the paper feed tray. And a placement detecting means for detecting that the optical unit is moved to the second reading position when the placement is detected.

  Further, when the placement is detected, before starting the movement of the optical unit, a lamp included in the optical unit may be turned on to obtain a value used for shading correction.

  As described above, by starting the movement of the optical unit and the value used for the shading correction before the reading is instructed by the user, the second reading position is reached after the reading is instructed by the user. The moving time of the optical unit can be shortened. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the time from when a document reading instruction is input from the user to when the first copy of the document placed on the paper feed tray is performed.

  In addition, since the value used for shading correction is obtained between the detection of placement and the start of movement of the optical unit, the value used for shading correction is almost the latest value, so accurate shading correction must be performed. Can do.

  As described above, by starting the movement of the optical unit and the value used for the shading correction before the reading is instructed by the user, the second reading position is reached after the reading is instructed by the user. The moving time of the optical unit can be shortened. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the time from when a document reading instruction is input from the user to when the first copy of the document placed on the paper feed tray is performed.

  The image reading apparatus 100 according to the present invention can read a document placed on a document table or a document placed on a paper feed table as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed tray 101 includes a placement detection unit 201 for detecting whether or not the document M is placed on the paper feed tray 101. The placement detection unit 201 is an optical sensor that is shielded by the placed document M even if the placed document M is a physical device that detects the placement of the document M by contact with the placed document M. Etc. may be used. As shown in FIG. 2, the detection result of the above-described position detection means 201 is notified to the reading control means 202.

  When placing a document on the document table 107 and causing the image reading apparatus to read the document M, the user places the document M with one end of the document M aligned with the first reading position Pa of the document table 107. When the document M is placed, the user closes the platen cover 106 and presses the start key 203 shown in FIG. When the start key 203 is pressed, the reading control unit 202 determines the content of the detection result notified from the above-described position detection unit 201. Here, since the document is placed on the document table 107, the detection result indicates that the document is not placed on the paper feed table 101.

  When the detection result indicates that no document is placed on the paper feed tray 101, the reading control unit 202 reads the document in the first reading mode. The reading control unit 203 uses the optical unit 105 for reading a document. The optical unit 105 includes a lamp 110 and a first mirror 111. The optical unit 105 stands by at the first reading position Pa when the original is not read.

  When the reading control unit 202 decides to perform reading in the first reading mode, the lamp 110 is turned on, and after a predetermined time has elapsed since the lighting, the lamp 110 remains turned on in the sub-scanning direction. The optical unit 105 is moved.

  A white reference plate 108 is provided at the first reading position Pa of the platen cover 106. When the lamp 110 is turned on when the optical unit 105 is at the first reading position Pa, the light emitted from the lamp 110 is reflected by the white reference plate 108. As shown in FIG. 1, the reflected light from the white reference plate 108 is reflected by the first reflecting mirror 111, the second reflecting mirror 112, and the third reflecting mirror 113, and passes through the condenser lens 114. The photoelectric conversion element 115 receives the light. The reflection received by the photoelectric conversion element 115 is input to the image processing means 204 as an electric signal.

  The reading control means 202 moves the optical unit 105 after a predetermined time has elapsed after the lamp 110 is lit. The lamp 110 does not stabilize the brightness immediately after the lamp 110 is lit. This is because there is a stable time lag.

  The image processing unit 204 stores, as a white reference value, a value that is input a little after the lamp 110 is turned on, among the values of the input electrical signal.

  When the predetermined time has elapsed, the reading control unit 202 moves the optical unit 105 in the sub-scanning direction with the lamp 110 turned on. Due to this movement, the light emitted from the lamp 110 is reflected by the original M, and the light reflected by the original M becomes an electric signal in the same manner as the light reflected by the white reference plate 108. Input to means 204.

  The image processing unit 204 performs shading correction on the electrical signal obtained by converting the light reflected from the document M using the white reference value.

  When the reading control unit 202 moves the optical unit 105 to the end portion Pc of the document table 107, the reading control unit 202 turns off the lamp 110 and returns the light source unit 105 to the first reading position Pa.

  As described above, since the optical unit 105 stands by at the first reading position where one end of the document M is placed, the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment has an instruction from the user. Then, the reading of the document M placed on the document table 105 can be started immediately.

  When the user places the document M on the sheet feed table 101 instead of the document table 105 and causes the image reading apparatus 100 to read the document M, the user presses the start key 203 after placing the document M. When the document M is placed on the paper feed tray 101, the above-described placement detection unit 201 notifies the reading control unit 202 that the document M is placed.

  When the above-described placement detection unit 201 notifies that the document M is placed, the reading control unit 202 performs the second control even before the start key 203 is notified. It is determined that the document M is read in the reading mode. When it is determined that the document M is to be read in the second reading mode, the reading control unit 202 illuminates the white reference plate 108 by turning on the lamp 110 as in the first reading mode. The reflected light from the white reference plate 108 is converted into an electrical signal and input to the image processing means 202 as in the first reading mode. The image processing unit 204 stores, as a white reference value, a value that is input a little after the lamp 110 is turned on, among the values of the input electrical signal.

  When the white reference value is stored, the reading control unit 202 moves the optical unit 105 to the reading position Pb in the second reading mode. The second reading position Pb is a position where the optical unit 105 reads the document M placed on the sheet feeding table 101. When the optical control unit 105 moves the optical unit 105 to the second reading position Pb, the reading control unit 202 turns on the lamp 110 and waits the optical unit 105 at the second reading position Pb.

  When notified that the start key 203 has been pressed, the reading control unit 202 conveys the document M placed on the sheet feeding table 101 to the second reading position Pb.

  The document M placed on the sheet feeding table 101 is transported by an automatic document feeder such as a pickup roller 102, a transport roller 103, and a transport drum 104. When the reading control unit 202 is notified that the start key 203 is pressed, the reading control unit 202 drives the pickup roller 102, the conveyance roller 103, the conveyance drum 104, and the like to place the document M placed on the sheet feeding table 101. Is transported downstream of the transport path L. The document M conveyed to the conveyance path L passes through the second reading position Pb in the middle of the conveyance path and is discharged to the discharge tray 109 located downstream.

  The document M is irradiated by the lamp 110 when passing through the second reading position Pb. The reflected light from the original M is converted into an electrical signal and input to the image processing means 204 in the same manner as the light reflected by the white reference plate 108.

  The image processing unit 204 performs shading correction on the electrical signal obtained by converting the light reflected from the document M using the white reference value.

  As described above, even before the start key 203 is pressed, the second reading position of the optical unit 105 is notified when the document M is placed on the paper feed tray 101. Movement to Pb is started. Therefore, when the movement of the optical unit 105 is started before the start key 203 is pressed, the movement time of the optical unit 105 from the input of the reading instruction from the user to the second reading position Pb. Can be shortened. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the time from when the user inputs a document reading instruction to when the first copy of the document placed on the sheet feeding table is performed.

  In addition, since the value used for shading correction is obtained between the detection of placement and the start of movement of the optical unit, the value used for shading correction is almost the latest value, so accurate shading correction must be performed. Can do.

  The start key 203 is not necessarily pressed just because the document M is placed on the sheet feed table 101. For example, after the document M is placed on the sheet feed table 101, the user notices that the document M placed on the sheet feed table 101 is not the document M to be read by the image reading apparatus 100. 101 may be removed.

  When the document M is removed, the above-described reading detection unit 202 notifies the reading control unit 202 that the document M is not placed. When the optical unit 105 is waiting at the second reading position Pb when it is notified that the document M is not placed, the reading control unit 202 moves the optical unit 105 to the first reading position. Return to Pa.

  Returning the optical unit 105 to the first reading position Pa is not limited to removing the original M from the paper feed tray 101. For example, a predetermined time after the platen cover 106 is opened while the optical unit 105 is waiting at the second reading position Pb, or when the document M is placed by the placement detection unit 201 is notified. If the start key 203 is not pressed even after elapses, the optical unit 105 may be returned to the first reading position Pa.

It is a principal part schematic diagram of the image reading apparatus of this invention. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image reading apparatus of the present invention. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image reading apparatus 101 Paper feed stand 105 Optical unit 106 Platen cover 107 Document stand 108 White reference board 201 Placement detection means 202 Reading control means 203 Start key 204 Image processing means

Claims (2)

A first reading mode for reading a document placed on the document table while moving the optical unit from the first reading position, and the optical unit is conveyed from the sheet feeding table while being stationary at the second reading position. In an image reading apparatus capable of reading an original in a second reading mode for reading the original,
A placement detection means for detecting that a document is placed on the paper feed tray;
An image reading apparatus comprising reading control means for moving the optical unit to the second reading position when placement is detected. A white reference plate is provided at the first reading position,
When the placement is detected, the reading control means turns on a lamp included in the optical unit to irradiate the white reference plate, receives reflected light from the white reference plate, and then receives the second light. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit is moved to a reading position.

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