JP2006186631A - Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of avoiding degradation in image quality caused by thinning process, according to remaining number of sheets of originals while suppressing the frequency of occurrence of memory-full. <P>SOLUTION: In an image reading apparatus 1, a buffer memory 11 can accumulate image information within the range of specified storage capacity. An image reader 13 has a thinning process function which reads image information at a changed resolution when the capacity of image information accumulated in the buffer memory 11 exceeds a specified threshold value. The threshold value can be set on a setting screen. When the capacity of accumulated image information reaches the threshold value while image information is being read, a massage describing the information is displayed on a display unit 23. Whether to change resolution or not can be selected on a selecting screen if the capacity of accumulated image information reaches the threshold value while image information is being read. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine includes an image reading unit for reading image information of a document. Generally, image information of a read document is stored in a memory.

  In this type of apparatus, there is already known a technique for interrupting the reading operation and resuming the reading operation after the free space is generated in the memory when the memory has no free space during the document reading (memory full). ing. Here, the image reading unit is intermittently driven.

  However, with this type of technology, simply performing intermittent drive control results in variations in reading at the interrupted position, and the image deteriorates.

  Therefore, if the remaining memory reaches a predetermined threshold during reading, a thinning process is performed to reduce (thinning out) the resolution of the remaining pages of the original to be read, thereby reducing the frequency of memory full and intermittent A technique for reducing image deterioration due to typical reading is known.

As a related technique, for example, a technique as shown in Patent Document 1 has already been proposed.
Japanese Patent No. 3372748

  However, in the above conventional technique, since the threshold value is set in advance, the user cannot select whether or not to perform the thinning process according to the situation such as the remaining number of documents.

  Therefore, for example, even when the remaining number of documents is only one, the thinning process is uniformly performed, and as a result, the image for the last one page is deteriorated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of avoiding image quality deterioration due to thinning processing in accordance with the remaining number of originals and the like while suppressing occurrence frequency of memory full.

  An image reading apparatus according to a first aspect includes a storage unit, an image reading unit, a setting unit, a display unit, and a selection unit. The storage unit can store image information within a predetermined storage capacity. The image reading unit can read the image information of the document at a predetermined resolution, and when the capacity of the image information stored in the storage unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, the image reading unit reads the image information by changing the resolution. It has a function. The setting unit is for setting a threshold value. When the capacity of the image information accumulated in the storage unit reaches the threshold value while the image information is being read, the display unit can display the fact. The selection unit can select whether or not to change the resolution when the capacity of the image information accumulated in the storage unit reaches a threshold value while the image information is being read.

  In this apparatus, a user can set a threshold value in advance. Then, when the capacity of the stored image information reaches a threshold during document reading, a message to that effect is displayed. At this time, the user can select whether or not to change the resolution in consideration of the number of remaining pages of the document, so priority can be given to the image quality without changing the resolution, or the remaining document can be read by reducing the resolution. In addition, it is possible to arbitrarily determine whether to prioritize work efficiency.

  In the present invention, the image reading apparatus may be included in an image forming apparatus having a copying function, or may be an apparatus having no image forming function such as a scanner apparatus. In addition, the setting unit, the display unit, the selection unit, the input unit (described later), the warning unit (described later), and the like may be configured to function on one operation panel (described later).

  In the image reading apparatus according to a second aspect, in the apparatus according to the first aspect, the setting unit can set the number of original pages that can be read within the range of the remaining storage capacity as a threshold value. Further, the display unit displays the number of pages when the capacity of the image information accumulated in the storage unit reaches a threshold value while the image information is being read.

  In this apparatus, when the capacity of the stored image information reaches a threshold value, it is displayed how many pages can be read, so that the user can easily determine whether or not to change the resolution. it can.

  An image reading apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image reading apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the resolution for reading the image information of the remaining pages of the document can be input when the resolution change is selected by the selection unit. The unit is further provided.

  In this apparatus, when the user selects to change the resolution, the user can input a desired resolution.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the third aspect, the input unit can further input the number of remaining pages of the document when the resolution change is selected by the selection unit. The device further includes a determination unit and a warning unit. The determination unit determines whether or not the remaining pages of the document can be read within the remaining storage capacity based on the input resolution and the number of remaining pages. The warning unit issues a warning to that effect when the determination unit determines that reading is impossible.

  With this device, if the user chooses to change the resolution, the user can further input the number of remaining pages of the document in addition to the desired resolution, and whether or not the remaining pages can be read based on these conditions. To be judged. If it is determined that reading is impossible, a warning to that effect is given. Therefore, if the user wants to complete the reading of the remaining pages in one reading operation, the resolution can be lowered slightly. Become.

  The warning mode includes not only displaying a predetermined message but also emitting a predetermined sound or lighting a predetermined lamp.

  An image reading apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the apparatus according to the first or second aspect, further comprising an input unit and a resolution calculation unit. The input unit can input the number of remaining pages of the document when the capacity of the image information accumulated in the storage unit reaches a threshold value. Then, when the resolution is selected by the selection unit, the resolution calculation unit completes reading the image information of the remaining pages of the document based on the number of remaining pages and the remaining storage capacity input by the input unit. To calculate the resolution. The image reading unit reads the remaining pages of the document with the resolution calculated by the resolution calculation unit.

  In this device, when the user chooses to change the resolution, the number of pages can be input, and based on this number of pages, the resolution for completing the reading with the remaining storage capacity is calculated and automatically The remaining pages are read at the resolution.

  Therefore, this apparatus is effective when the user places importance on work efficiency rather than image quality.

  An image reading apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the image reading apparatus is connected to an external connection device so as to be able to transmit and receive image information stored in the storage unit. The image reading unit interrupts reading when it is determined that reading of the image information on the remaining pages cannot be completed while the image information on the remaining pages of the document is being read. The apparatus further includes a communication unit capable of transmitting image information stored in the storage unit to the external connection device when reading of the image information of the remaining pages of the document is interrupted.

  In this apparatus, for example, when it is determined that the size of the image information of the remaining page is large and the reading cannot be actually completed even though the resolution is calculated by the resolution calculation unit of the apparatus of claim 5, the reading is performed. After the interruption, the image information accumulated in the storage unit is once transmitted to the external connection device, and then the reading operation is resumed to resume the reading operation.

  In this case, the image information in the storage unit may be erased after transmission to the external device, or may be overwritten with image information read after resuming reading.

  Examples of the external connection device include a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) in which a printer driver of the image reading device is installed. Moreover, as a transmission mode, for example, transmission by a scan to e-mail function can be mentioned.

  An image reading apparatus according to a seventh aspect includes an image reading apparatus and an image forming unit. The image reading apparatus is the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The image forming unit can form an image based on image information read by the image reading apparatus.

  In this apparatus, a user can set a threshold value in advance. Then, when the capacity of the stored image information reaches a threshold during document reading, a message to that effect is displayed. At this time, the user can select whether or not to change the resolution in consideration of the number of remaining pages of the document, so priority can be given to the image quality without changing the resolution, or the remaining document can be read by reducing the resolution. In addition, it is possible to arbitrarily determine whether to prioritize work efficiency.

  According to the present invention, a user can set a threshold value in advance. Then, when the capacity of the stored image information reaches a threshold during document reading, a message to that effect is displayed. At this time, the user can select whether or not to change the resolution in consideration of the number of remaining pages of the document, so priority can be given to the image quality without changing the resolution, or the remaining document can be read by reducing the resolution. In addition, it is possible to arbitrarily determine whether to prioritize work efficiency.

<Configuration of image forming apparatus>
1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus 1 in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is communicably connected to n (n is a natural number) PCs (not shown) via a network, and a printer driver of the image forming apparatus 1 is installed in each PC. Yes.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having functions as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a scanner, and includes an image reading device 3, an image forming unit 5, a control unit 7, and other input / outputs. Department.

  The image forming unit 5 is for forming an image on a sheet based on the image information read by the image reading device 3, and includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, The image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a transfer device, and the like, and a fixing device (none of which is shown) arranged on the downstream side thereof.

  The control unit 7 is for controlling the operation of the input / output unit such as the image forming unit 5 and is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU and a memory (not shown). This memory stores various programs to be executed by the CPU.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 further includes an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 37, and a paper feeding unit and a paper ejection unit (not shown) as other input / output units.

  The ADF 37 is for transporting documents one by one toward a predetermined reading position on a document table (not shown). The paper feed unit is for conveying sheets one by one from the paper feed cassette 31 or the manual feed tray 33 toward the image forming unit 5. The paper discharge unit is for discharging paper on which image formation has been performed to the paper discharge tray 35.

<Image reading device>
The image reading device 3 has a scan to e-mail function for e-mailing the read image information to each PC, and includes an image memory 11 (storage unit), an image reading unit 13, and an operation panel 15 ( A setting unit, a display unit, a selection unit, an input unit, and a warning unit), an image processing unit 17 (determination unit, resolution calculation unit), and a communication unit 19.

  The image memory 11 is a buffer memory capable of accumulating image information within a predetermined storage capacity. Image information is stored in the image memory 11 in a compressed state, and is expanded and filed when e-mail is transmitted.

  The image reading unit 13 is for reading image information of a document with a predetermined resolution, and includes an optical system, a CCD, and the like (not shown). The image reading unit 13 has a thinning-out processing function for reading the image information by changing the resolution when the capacity of the accumulated image information is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

  In addition, the image reading unit 13 is intermittently controlled so that the reading is temporarily interrupted, and then the reading can be resumed from the interrupted portion. As a result, when the image reading unit 13 determines that reading cannot be completed by the image processing unit 17 during the reading of the remaining pages, as described later, the image reading unit 13 interrupts reading and is calculated by the image processing unit 17. The reading of the remaining pages of the document can be resumed with the new resolution.

  The operation panel 15 includes a plurality of operation keys 21 and a display unit 23 configured by a touch panel type liquid crystal display.

  The operation keys 21 include a start key for instructing copying or original reading, a setting key for various settings, a numeric keypad for inputting numerical values, and the like.

  Various operation screens and information are displayed on the display unit 23. Such operation screens include a print standby screen, a setting screen for setting a threshold value, and a selection of whether to change the resolution. A selection screen, an input screen for inputting the resolution and the number of remaining pages of the document, a predetermined warning screen (none of which are shown), and the like.

  In the setting screen, the threshold value of the image memory 11 can be set. Here, when the size of the image information of the document stored in the image memory 11 exceeds the threshold value, the remaining memory capacity (remaining storage capacity) ), It is possible to set the number of pages for how many pages of image information can be read.

  The display unit 23 displays a message to that effect and the number of pages that can be read when the capacity of the image information stored in the image memory 11 reaches a threshold during reading of the document. Display the selection screen.

  The selection screen is displayed when the size of the image information stored in the image memory 11 reaches a threshold value while the document is being read, and prompts the user to select whether or not to change the resolution. .

  The input screen is displayed when the resolution change is selected on the selection screen, and the number of remaining pages of the document can be input.

  The image processing unit 17 performs image processing and various calculations on the read image information. Each time the image processing unit 17 reads one page of image information, the image processing unit 17 compresses the read image information and stores the compressed image information in the image memory 11 and also stores the compressed image information stored in the image memory 11. The total size is counted and the average data amount per page is calculated.

  Then, the image processing unit 17 calculates the predicted data amount by multiplying the average data amount by the number of pages input on the input screen, and when the predicted data amount exceeds the remaining memory amount, A new resolution for completing the reading is calculated.

  In the warning screen, if the memory becomes full after the reading of the remaining pages of the document is resumed, a warning message to that effect is displayed.

  The operation screen displayed on the display unit 23 includes a screen for selecting the user name of each PC that is a transmission destination when using the scan to e-mail function.

  The communication unit 19 is a part for communicating with a PC. When a memory full occurs, the image information stored in the image memory 11 at that time is converted into a file, for example, and sent by e-mail. Is possible.

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

This section focuses on the operation when using the scan to e-mail function.
First, the user sets the number of pages that can be read on the operation panel 15 as a desired threshold value. Specifically, by setting the number of pages that can be read with the remaining memory capacity as a threshold value, the remaining memory capacity corresponding to the number of pages set as the threshold value from the average data amount per page calculated in step S5 And a threshold value of the memory amount at that time is determined from the remaining memory capacity.

  Then, the document is set on the ADF 37 and the transmission destination of the image information is designated on the operation panel 15.

  When the start key is pressed in this state (S1), the set originals are conveyed one by one toward the reading position of the original table, and reading is started (S2). In this reading operation, each time one page of a document is read (S3), it is determined whether or not there is still a document to be read (S4). If such a document still exists, it is stored in the image memory 11. The total size of the image information and the average data amount per page read so far are calculated (S5). If there is no such document, the image information stored in the image memory 11 is filed. The e-mail is transmitted to the destination PC (S16).

  On the other hand, following step S5, whether or not the total size of the image information accumulated in the image memory 11 exceeds the threshold value, that is, the threshold value predicted from the number of pages set as the threshold value and the average data amount per page. A comparison is made with the corresponding memory amount, and it is determined whether or not the total size of the image information has exceeded it. If not, the process returns to step S2 and the reading is continued. Is interrupted (S7), a message to that effect and the number of pages that can be read are displayed on the operation panel 15, and an input screen is displayed.

  When the resolution is changed (S8), when the user inputs the remaining number of documents (S9), the predicted data amount is calculated based on the average data amount and the input page number, and this value is stored in the remaining memory. If the amount is exceeded (S10), a newly calculated resolution for completing reading within the range of the remaining memory capacity is set (S11), and reading is resumed (S12). If it does not exceed or if the resolution is not changed (S8), the resolution is not changed and the reading is resumed as it is (S12).

  After reading is resumed and until memory full occurs (S13), each time image information for one page of the document is read (S14), it is determined whether there is still a document to be read (S15). When there is no image, that is, when all the pages of the document have been read, the image information compressed and stored in the image memory 11 is developed and converted into a file, which is sent to the destination PC by e-mail ( S16).

  On the other hand, if memory full occurs in step S13, reading is interrupted (S17), and the image information stored in the image memory 11 is once e-mailed to the PC (S18). The number of pages that can be read with the remaining amount of memory displayed when the total size of the image information exceeds the threshold is the average data per page calculated based on the data amount of the image information read up to that point. Since the prediction value is based on the amount, the size of the image information is actually large, and a larger amount of memory is required than the prediction, and the memory may be full. Similarly, since the size of the image information is large, the remaining document cannot be read at the resolution predicted in step S11. In such a case, reading is performed in the middle and e-mail can be sent. After transmission, reading is resumed (S19), and steps S13 to S18 are repeated until reading of all pages is completed and e-mail is transmitted.

According to the image forming apparatus 1 described above, the user can set a threshold value in advance. Then, when the capacity of the stored image information reaches a threshold during document reading, a message to that effect is displayed. At this time, the user can select whether or not to change the resolution in consideration of the number of remaining pages of the document, so priority can be given to the image quality without changing the resolution, or the remaining document can be read by reducing the resolution. In addition, it is possible to arbitrarily determine whether to prioritize work efficiency.
<Other embodiments>
(A) In the above embodiment, the input screen may be configured to allow the user to further input the resolution desired for the image information of the remaining pages of the document in addition to the number of remaining pages of the document.

  (B) The setting unit, the selection unit, the display unit, the input unit, and the warning unit are displayed on the display unit as an operation screen or the like as in the above embodiment, and may be performed by key operation or other means provided separately. It may be broken.

  (C) The image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a multifunction peripheral, and may be an apparatus having only one function.

1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus in which an embodiment of the present invention is employed. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 3 Image reader 5 Image forming part 11 Image memory (memory | storage part)
17 Image processing unit (determination unit, resolution calculation unit)
19 Communication unit 21 Operation panel (setting unit, display unit, selection unit, input unit, warning unit)

Claims (7)

A storage unit capable of storing image information within a predetermined storage capacity;
A thinning processing function that can read image information of a document at a predetermined resolution and reads the image information by changing the resolution when the capacity of the image information stored in the storage unit exceeds a predetermined threshold. An image reading unit having
A setting unit for setting the threshold;
When the capacity of the image information accumulated in the storage unit reaches the threshold value while the image information is being read, a display unit capable of displaying that fact;
A selection unit capable of selecting whether or not to change the resolution when the volume of image information accumulated in the storage unit reaches the threshold value while the image information is being read;
An image reading apparatus comprising: In the setting unit, the number of pages of a document that can be read within the remaining storage capacity can be set as the threshold value.
The display unit displays the number of pages when the capacity of the image information accumulated in the storage unit reaches the threshold value while the image information is being read.
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1.   3. The image reading device according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit capable of inputting resolution when reading the image information of the remaining pages of the original when the resolution change is selected by the selection unit. apparatus. The input unit can further input the number of remaining pages of the document when the resolution change is selected by the selection unit;
A determination unit that determines whether the remaining pages of the document can be read within the range of the remaining storage capacity based on the input resolution and the number of remaining pages;
A warning unit that gives a warning to that effect when the determination unit determines that reading is impossible,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 3. An input unit capable of inputting the number of remaining pages of the document when the capacity of the image information stored in the storage unit reaches the threshold;
To complete the reading of the image information of the remaining pages of the document based on the number of remaining pages and the remaining storage capacity input by the input unit when the selection unit selects to change the resolution A resolution calculation unit that calculates the resolution of
The image reading unit reads the remaining pages of the document according to the resolution calculated by the resolution calculation unit;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. The image information stored in the storage unit is connected to an external connection device so as to be able to transmit and receive, and
The image reading unit interrupts the reading when it is determined that the reading of the image information of the remaining page cannot be completed while the image information of the remaining page of the document is being read.
When the reading of the image information of the remaining pages of the document is interrupted, the communication unit further includes a communication unit capable of transmitting the image information stored in the storage unit at that time to the external connection device.
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An image forming unit capable of forming an image based on image information read by the image reading device;
An image forming apparatus.

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