JP2006041809A - Original reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an original reader which a user can more easily use. <P>SOLUTION: When an original is placed on a lift board, a timer is reset and started to set a prescribed time (S12). Then whether or not a direction in crossing with a carrying direction of an original placed on the lift board, e.g. a width direction is adjusted by moving an arrangement unit is decided (S13). When the presence of a change in an original sensing width is decided (YES in S13), the processing restores to the S12, and the timer is again reset and started (S12). When no change exists in the sensing width of the original in the S13, the count-up of the timer set in the S12 is awaited (S14). When the timer count reaches a prescribed count set in the S12 (YES in S15), a lift motor lift-drives the lift board (S16), and lifts up it until an upper limit sensor is turned on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a document reading apparatus, and relates to, for example, a document reading apparatus that is provided in a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or the like and reads a document on a document table.

  A conventional document reading apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-60067 (Patent Document 1).

  According to this publication, the timing at which a document is picked up from the document table by the calling roller is controlled so as to come into contact with the upper surface of the document stored in the document table after the calling roller starts to descend. As a result, the time from when the calling roller starts to move until paper feeding is shortened, and the paper feeding speed is improved.

  Another example of a conventional document reading apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-95359 (Patent Document 2).

  According to this publication, a stack height sensor for detecting the stack height of the document placed on the document table is provided, and the amount of movement of the bottom plate is set based on the detection information, and the bottom plate lifting motor is set by the amount of movement. Is stopped by driving to prevent damage to the device when an abnormality is detected in the bottom plate.

  Still another example of a conventional document reading apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-237770 (Patent Document 3).

According to the publication, the operation mode of the document lifting member is the first operation mode in which the document lifting member rises immediately after the document is set on the paper feed table, and the document is detected after the start button is pressed after the document setting is detected. A configuration in which one of the second operation modes in which the lifting member ascends can be selected is provided, so that the operator can easily use the mode.
JP 2002-60067 (paragraph numbers 0007 to 0009, etc.) JP 2000-95359 A (paragraph number 0007, etc.) JP 11-237770 A (paragraph number 0007, etc.)

  A conventional document reading apparatus is configured as described above. Although consideration has been given to the improvement of the feeding speed, the damage of the original table, and the convenience of some operators, it is not necessarily easy for the user to use.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an original reading apparatus that is easier for a user to use.

  The document reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a document placement table on which a document is placed, a document placement determination unit that determines whether or not a document is placed on the document placement table, and a document placement determination unit, After determining that the document has been placed, a timer for detecting the passage of a predetermined time, a means for moving the document placement table in a direction opposite to the paper feed unit for feeding the document, and time passage detection Control means for moving the document table to the paper feed unit after the means detects the passage of a predetermined time.

  Preferably, the document placing table includes an alignment device that aligns end portions in a direction crossing the document conveyance direction, the control unit includes a movement determination unit that determines whether or not the alignment device has been moved, and the control unit includes When it is determined that the aligning device has been moved, the document placement table is controlled to move in the direction opposite to the paper feed unit.

More preferably, the document placement table includes an alignment device that aligns ends in a direction intersecting the document conveyance direction, and the control unit includes a movement determination unit that determines whether or not the alignment device has been moved,
When the control means determines that the alignment device has been moved, it resets the detection of the elapsed time of the timer.

  More preferably, it includes a reset button and a reset button determination means for determining whether or not the reset button has been pressed. When the reset button is pressed, the control means feeds the document table. Control to move in the opposite direction of the paper.

  More preferably, the user can set the predetermined time passage.

In another aspect of the present invention, the document reading device includes a document placing table on which a document is placed, and the document placing table includes an alignment device that aligns end portions in a direction crossing the document transport direction, A movement determining means for determining whether or not the alignment apparatus has been moved, a movement determining means for determining whether or not the alignment apparatus has been moved, and a movement determining means for moving the table in a direction opposite to the paper feeding section for feeding the document. When it is determined that the document has been moved, control means for controlling the document placing table to move in the direction opposite to the sheet feeding unit is included.

  In still another aspect of the invention, the document reading device moves the document placing table on which the document is placed and the document placing table in the direction opposite to the sheet feeding unit for feeding the document or the sheet feeding unit. Means for resetting, a reset button determining means for determining whether or not the reset button has been pressed, and when the reset button is pressed, the document table is placed in a direction opposite to the paper feed unit. Control means for controlling to move.

  Preferably, the control unit further includes a timer for determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after moving the document table in the direction opposite to the paper feeding unit, and when the timer determines that the predetermined time has elapsed The control means moves the document placing table to the paper feeding unit.

  More preferably, the control unit moves the document placing table to the paper feeding unit, and then slightly moves the document placing table in a direction opposite to the paper feeding unit.

  According to the present invention, the document placing table does not move the document to the paper feeding unit until a predetermined time has elapsed after the document is placed. That is, the user can freely add and arrange documents within a predetermined time.

  As a result, it is possible to provide a document reading apparatus that is easier for the user to use.

In another aspect of the present invention, when the aligning device is moved, the document placing table is moved in the direction opposite to the paper feeding unit. The movement of the aligning device is when the user notices that the document is added or that the document image is not aligned, so that the document table is opposite to the paper feed unit so that the user can easily perform these processes. Moved in the direction.
As a result, it is possible to provide a document reading apparatus that is easier for the user to use.

  In yet another aspect of the present invention, when the reset button is pressed, the document table is moved in the direction opposite to the paper feed unit. Since the reset button is pressed when the user has come up with a document leak or addition, the document table is moved in the opposite direction of the paper feed unit so that the user can easily perform these operations. Is done.

  As a result, it is possible to provide a document reading apparatus that is easier for the user to use.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of a document reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a document reading device 1 is provided with a lift plate (document placement table) 2 on which a document is placed and moved up and down. The lift plate 2 is driven by a lift motor 3 to drive a rack 4. To move up and down. The lower limit position of the lift plate 2 is detected by the lower limit detection sensor 5, and the upper limit position is detected by the upper limit detection sensor 6. The upper limit detection sensor 6 is provided on the upper part of the paper feed roller 7. A light emitting unit 8 for detecting whether or not a document is placed is provided in the vicinity of the paper feed roller 7, and a light receiving unit 9 is provided below the lift plate 2 so as to face the light emitting unit 8. ing.

  A hole (not shown) is formed in the lift plate 2 so that light emitted from the light emitting unit 8 can pass therethrough. When the document is placed on the lift plate 2, the light from the light emitting unit 8 is blocked, so that the light receiving unit 9 detects that the document is set. The paper feed roller 7 is provided so as to be rotatable up and down around a fulcrum 10, and contacts the top of the original set on the lift plate 2 to convey the original into the paper supply unit 11. A slide resistance (not shown) is provided corresponding to the lift plate 2, and the number of documents is detected when the paper feed roller 7 abuts on the document by the resistance value. The sheet feeding roller 7 is held at a position equal to or greater than the maximum stacking thickness in a normal state.

  The paper feeding unit 11 is provided with a separation unit 12 for separating the originals one by one so that the originals do not overlap and are not conveyed into the conveyance unit 23. The separation unit 12 includes rollers 13 and 14 and a roller 15 that rotates in a reverse direction with respect to the rollers 13 and 14. A plurality of conveyance roller pairs 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 are provided in the conveyance unit 23, and originals are conveyed one by one by these conveyance roller pairs 16 to 20.

  A paper feed table 21 is provided at the rear of the lift plate 2, and an end portion of the document placed on the lift plate 2 and the paper feed table 21 in the direction intersecting the paper feed direction is provided on the paper feed table 21. A pair of alignment devices 22 are provided for alignment from both sides. When the user moves the pair of aligning devices 22 and places the document so as to feed the document in the longitudinal direction, the both ends of the document in the width direction are aligned, whereby the document reading device adjusts the size of the document. know. In FIG. 1, only one side of the pair of alignment devices 22 is shown.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a document reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the lift motor 3, the lower limit detection sensor 5, the upper limit detection sensor 6, the light receiving unit 9, and the alignment device 22 shown in FIG. 1 are connected to a control unit 30 as control means. Further, the control unit 30 is provided with a start key 31, a descent command key 32, a memory 33, a display unit 34, a timer 35, an input unit 36, and a reset button 37.

  The start key 31 is used to instruct the user to start reading a document, and the lowering command key 32 is used to give a command to move the lift plate 2 to the lowest position. This lowest position is provided such that 200 sheets can be set on the lift plate 2 as the maximum number of documents that can be stacked. The display unit 34 may display the position where the lift plate 2 is set. As a result, the user can easily determine whether to operate the lowering command key 32 when performing a large amount of copying.

  The control unit 30 determines the lower limit position of the lift plate 2 as the lowest lowered position based on the detection output of the lower limit detection sensor 5, determines the upper limit position of the lift plate 2 based on the detection output of the upper limit detection sensor 6, and outputs the light receiving unit 9. Thus, it is determined that the document is placed on the lift plate 2.

  The timer 35 sets the lift motor 3 to raise the document on the lift plate 2 to the paper feeding unit 11 for feeding the document after the user places the document on the lift plate 2. Used to set the time to drive up.

  The input unit 36 is provided for the user to input desired settings for the operation of the document reading apparatus. The input unit may be an attached type such as a numeric keypad or an arbitrary format such as a touch panel. For example, as described later, the user can input the set value of the timer 35, but in this case, a so-called volume type input device may be used.

  The reset button 37 is a button used to move the lift plate 2 to the vicinity of the lowest lowered position for resetting after the lift plate 2 on which the document is once set is lifted to the paper feeding unit 11. . This may be replaced by the lowering command key 32.

(1) First Embodiment Next, the operation of the document reading apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the document reading apparatus 1. Referring to FIG. 3, first, the process waits for a document to be placed on lift plate 2 (step S11, and the following steps are omitted). When the document is placed, the timer 35 is reset and started to set a predetermined time (S12). Next, it is determined whether or not the document placed on the lift plate 2 has been adjusted, for example, by moving the alignment device 22 in the width direction crossing the transport direction (S13). If it is determined that the document detection width has changed (YES in S13), the process returns to S12, and the timer 35 is reset and started again (S12). If there is no change in the detected width of the document in S13, it waits for the timer set in S12 to count up (S14).

  When the timer count reaches the predetermined value set in S12 (YES in S15), the lift plate 2 is driven up by the lift motor 3 (S16) and is increased until the upper limit detection sensor 6 is turned on (S17). When the upper limit detection sensor 6 is turned on, the lift motor 3 stops (S18).

  Until the timer 35 reaches the predetermined value in S15 (NO in S15), the process returns to S13. Therefore, it is possible to align the original and add the original using the aligning device 22 until the timer count reaches the predetermined value.

  Here, the setting value of the timer 35 set in S12 can be set by the user via the input unit 36, and the set value is stored in the memory 33 or the like.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the document is not sent to the paper feeding unit 11 within a predetermined time after the document is placed on the lift plate 2. Since the user can perform processing such as adding a document within a predetermined time, it is possible to provide a user-friendly document reading device.

(2) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading apparatus according to the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, in this embodiment, first, when a user places a document on lift plate 2, lift plate 2 raises the document to paper feed unit 11. Thereafter, the control unit 30 stops the lift motor 3 and then reverses the lift motor 3 to slightly lower the lift plate 2 to create a gap between the document and the paper feed roller 7.

  At this time, when the user notices a shortage of documents or disorder of document alignment and the user presses the reset button 37 (S21), the lift motor 3 lowers the lift plate 2 until the lower limit detection sensor 5 is turned on. Then, the lift motor 3 is stopped (S24).

  Next, waiting for the time set in advance by the timer 35 to come, the lift motor 3 is driven up until the lift plate 2 detects the upper limit detection sensor 6 (S25 to S27). When the lift plate 2 detects the upper limit detection sensor 6 (YES in S28), the lift motor 3 stops (S29), and then the lift motor 3 is driven slightly downward to lower the lift plate 2 slightly (S29). S30). As a result, a gap is formed between the paper feed roller 7 and the document, and the user can align the documents.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when the user presses the reset button 37, the lift plate 2 is lowered to the lower limit position. Therefore, the user once sets the document and then leaks the document. Even if it is noticed, it is possible to easily deal with adding a document or rearranging a document.

  Further, the lift plate 2 is moved up and down to the paper feeding unit 11 only after a predetermined period has elapsed after the lift plate 2 reaches the lower limit position and the lift motor 3 is stopped. In the meantime, the user can perform the desired processing described above.

  In this case also, the timer 35 can be set freely by the user.

(3) Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, a document is placed on lift plate 2, lift plate 2 is lifted by lift motor 3, and lifted until the upper limit detection sensor is turned on. In this state, first, it is determined whether or not the aligning device 22 has been moved to align the end faces in the direction crossing the document conveyance direction (S31), and if it is determined that the aligning device 22 has been moved (YES in S31). The lift motor 3 is driven downward (S32), and the lift plate 2 is lowered to some extent (S33). When the lift plate 2 is lowered to a certain position, the lift motor 3 is stopped (S34).

  That is, according to this embodiment, when it is determined that the aligning device 22 has been moved, this means that the user resets the document, so that the user can easily reset the document. Then, the lift plate 2 is lowered. Therefore, it is possible to provide an original reading device that is easy for the user to use.

  If the position is insufficient after the descent to some extent, the user may be able to instruct further descent. In this case, the reset button 37 described in the previous embodiment may be used, or the lowering command key 32 may be used. In addition, a question “Do you want to go further down” and an answer button for the question may be displayed on the display unit and responded to the question.

  Here, a certain amount of the lowered position may be input by the user via the input unit 36. This lowering position may be displayed by the number of sheets to be placed. Further, the lowering position may be the lowest position.

  After the above processing, the copy start position return control is entered (S35).

  Next, the copy start position return control shown in S35 will be described. The processing content of this copy start position return control uses the first embodiment described above.

  That is, after the lift plate 2 is lowered to a certain position and the user adds or arranges the document, the document is placed on the lift plate 2 as described in the first embodiment. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the lift plate 2 can be placed on standby in the paper feeding unit 11 that can immediately start copying. As a result, copying or the like can be started at an early stage.

  Note that the user may be able to select one of the processing mode only for the processing before S35 and the processing mode including the processing after S35. This selection may be performed by displaying on the display unit 34.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a document reading device. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a document reading device. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the original document reading apparatus concerning other embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the original document reading apparatus concerning further another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Document reader, 2 Lift board (document mounting base), 3 Lift motor, 4 Racks, 5 Lower limit detection sensor, 6 Upper limit detection sensor 6, 7 Feed roller, 8 Light emission part, 9 Light reception part, 10 fulcrum, 11 feed Paper section 11, 22 Alignment device, 23 Transport section, 31 Start key, 32 Descent command key, 33 Memory, 34 Display section, 35 Timer, 36 Input section, 37 Reset button.

Claims (9)

A document placement table on which a document is placed;
Document placement determination means for determining whether or not a document is placed on the document placement table;
A timer for detecting a lapse of a predetermined time after the document placement determining means determines that the document is placed;
And a means for moving the document placement table in a direction opposite to the paper feed unit for feeding the document, or after the timer detects a lapse of a predetermined time, the document placement table is moved to the paper feed unit. A document reading device including control means for moving the document to the position. The document placing table includes an aligning device that aligns end portions in a direction intersecting a transport direction of the document,
The control means includes movement determination means for determining whether or not the alignment device has been moved,
2. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines that the alignment device has been moved, the document reading table is controlled to move in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding unit. The document placing table includes an aligning device that aligns end portions in a direction intersecting a transport direction of the document,
The control means includes movement determination means for determining whether or not the alignment device has been moved,
3. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines that the alignment device has been moved, the detection of the elapsed time of the timer is reset. 4. A reset button,
Re-set button determining means for determining whether the reset button has been pressed,
2. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the reset button is pressed, the control unit controls the document placing table to move in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding unit. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time elapse can be set by a user. Including a document table on which a document is placed;
The document placing table includes an aligning device that aligns end portions in a direction intersecting a transport direction of the document,
A document feed unit for feeding the document, or means for moving the document table in the direction opposite to the sheet feed unit; and movement determining means for determining whether the alignment device has been moved;
A document reading apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control the document placing table to move in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding unit when the movement determining unit determines that the alignment device has been moved. A document placement table on which a document is placed;
A means for moving the document placing table in a direction opposite to the paper feed unit for feeding a document, or a reset button;
A reset button determining means for determining whether the reset button has been pressed;
A document reading device including control means for controlling the document placing table to move in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding unit when the reset button is pressed; A timer for determining whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the control unit moves the document table in the direction opposite to the sheet feeding unit;
8. The document reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the timer determines that a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit moves the document placing table to the sheet feeding unit. The document reading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit moves the document placing table to the sheet feeding unit and then slightly moves the document placing table in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding unit.

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