JP2007074547A - Image reader, control method thereof, control program, and image reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader, control method thereof, control program, and image reading system with which re-execution of a document scan operation is prevented and a plurality of data can be surely printed over an image read document. <P>SOLUTION: An image reader comprises conveying rollers 202-206, an image reading sensor 207, a printing head 211, an operation display section 230 and a CPU 251. When a plurality of data input at a plurality of input positions can not be simultaneously added by the printing head 211, respectively, the CPU 251 changes at least one of the plurality of input positions. The printing head 211 adds the plurality of data input at the plurality of input positions reflecting the changed position of a document conveyed by the conveying rollers 202-206. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an image reading apparatus control method, a control program, and an image reading system, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus having a printing function for printing an image on an image-read original and an image reading apparatus control method. The present invention relates to a control program and an image reading system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image reading apparatus that conveys a plurality of originals one by one, reads an image from the conveyed original, and then prints an image on the original (for example, see Patent Document 1). The image reading apparatus includes a print head for printing an image and a print head driving mechanism for moving the print head to an arbitrary position in the document conveyance path. In such an image reading apparatus, for example, by printing an image such as a fixed character string, date and time, serial number, or logo pattern on a document, it is guaranteed that the document on which the image has been printed is an image-read document. To do.

Further, the image reading apparatus fixes the position of the print head during image reading, and prints an image only on a part rather than the entire surface of the document, thereby reducing the work efficiency due to printing the image on the document. To prevent. In addition, such an image reading apparatus is also known in which a user can designate a print position for printing an image.
JP 2001-180095 A

  However, in the image reading apparatus, since the position of the print head is fixed during image reading and the width of the print head is limited, there are a plurality of images to be printed, and the designated print position of each image. Is outside the range of the width of the print head, it is not possible to print all images simultaneously on the document. In this case, in order to print all the images on the document, the user has to reset the image print position to a printable position and repeat the scanning operation for reading the image of the document.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus, an image reading apparatus control method, a control program, and an image reading that can prevent re-scanning of a document and can reliably print a plurality of data on an image-read original. To provide a system.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to claim 1 includes a document conveying unit that conveys a document, an image reading unit that reads an image from the conveyed document, and a plurality of documents on the conveyed document. Data adding means for adding data; input means for inputting a plurality of data added by the data adding means and a plurality of positions to which the plurality of data are added; and the plurality of input at the plurality of input positions And determining means for determining whether or not each of the plurality of input data can be added simultaneously, and when the plurality of input data cannot be added simultaneously to the plurality of input positions, respectively, Changing means for changing at least one of a plurality of positions, wherein the data adding means reflects the position changed by the changing means. Characterized by adding a plurality of data to which the input to the position of each.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a control method for an image reading apparatus according to claim 5 includes a document transporting step for transporting a document, an image reading step for reading an image from the transported document, and the transported document. A data adding step for adding a plurality of data, an input step for inputting a plurality of data to be added in the data adding step and a plurality of positions for adding the plurality of data, and the input to the plurality of inputted positions A determination step of determining whether or not each of the plurality of input data can be added simultaneously, and when the plurality of input data cannot be added to the plurality of input positions at the same time, A changing step of changing at least one of the plurality of input positions, and the data adding step is performed by the changing means. Wherein the modified position reflects said input plurality of positions on the input plurality of data adds each Ri.

  In order to achieve the above object, a control program according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a control program executed by an image reading apparatus, wherein a document transport module that transports a document and an image that reads an image from the transported document. A reading module; a data adding module for adding a plurality of data to the conveyed document; an input module for inputting a plurality of data to be added by the data adding module and a plurality of positions for adding the plurality of data; A determination module for determining whether or not the plurality of input data can be simultaneously added to a plurality of input positions, respectively, and a plurality of the input data simultaneously to the plurality of input positions, respectively. A change module that changes at least one of the input positions when it cannot be added. With the door, the data addition module is characterized by adding a plurality of data to which the input to a plurality of positions which are said to reflect input the changed position by said changing means, respectively.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image reading system according to claim 7 is an image reading system including an image reading device and an information processing device connected to the image reading device. An input means for inputting a plurality of data to be added to a document read by the image reading apparatus and a plurality of positions for adding the plurality of data, and the plurality of input data are simultaneously added to the plurality of inputted positions. At least one of the plurality of input positions when the determination unit determines that the plurality of input data cannot be added simultaneously. Change means for changing the data, and transmission means for transmitting the inputted data and the changed positions to the image reading apparatus. The image reading apparatus receives a plurality of input data and a plurality of changed positions from a conveying unit that conveys the document, an image reading unit that reads an image from the conveyed document, and a transmission unit. Receiving means, and data adding means for adding the inputted plurality of data to the plurality of inputted positions reflecting the positions changed by the changing means, respectively.

  According to the image reading device according to claim 1, the method for controlling the image reading device according to claim 5, the control program according to claim 6, or the image reading system according to claim 7, input is performed at a plurality of input positions. When it is impossible to add each of the plurality of data simultaneously, at least one of the plurality of inputted positions is changed, and the plurality of inputted to the plurality of inputted positions reflecting the changed position Therefore, it is possible to prevent the document scanning operation from being performed again and to reliably print a plurality of data on the image-read document.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image reading system including an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the image reading system includes a scanner 1 as an image reading device and a host computer 2, which are connected to each other via a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) cable 3. The cable connecting the scanner 1 and the host computer 2 is not limited to the SCSI cable 3 and may be a USB cable or the like.

  The scanner 1 reads an image from a document, and transfers the read image to the host computer 2 via the SCSI cable 3. In addition, the scanner 1 can print an image or a character string on an image-read original when reading an image.

  The host computer 2 stores the image read by the scanner 1. In addition, the host computer 2 can set an image, a character string, a print position, and the like that the scanner 1 prints on an image-read original.

  FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the scanner 1 in FIG.

  2A, the scanner 1 includes a document table 201 on which a document 210 is stacked, rollers 202 to 206, an image reading sensor 207, a scanner substrate 208, a document detection sensor 209, a print head 211, and an operation display unit 230. .

  The document detection sensor 209 detects whether or not the document 210 is on the document table 201. The conveyance rollers 202 to 206 convey the document 210. The image reading sensor 207 reads an image from the document 210.

  The print head 211 has a width of 25 mm in a direction orthogonal to the document transport direction, and prints a character string such as an image, date data, or a count number at a predetermined print position on the document 210 with a single color ink. The width of the print head 211 is not limited to 25 mm, and the ink is not limited to monochromatic ink. The operation display unit 230 includes an operation button for inputting settings of the scanner 1 and a display unit for displaying the setting contents of the scanner 1.

  FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the scanner substrate 208 incorporated in the scanner 1.

  2B, the scanner substrate 208 can print a CPU 251 that controls the operation of the entire scanner 1, a control program executed by the CPU 251, various data and information, and images and character strings in the scanner 1. A ROM 252 that stores printable position information indicating the position and printable size information indicating the size of an image or character string that can be printed by the scanner 1, a RAM 253 that functions as a work memory, and the SCSI cable 3 are connected. SCSI interface (I / F) 254 is provided. These are connected to each other via a system bus 255. The ROM 252 is configured by a nonvolatile ROM that can read and write data.

  An operation display unit 230, an image reading sensor 207, and a print head driving mechanism 240 are connected to the system bus 255.

  Image data read by the image reading sensor 207 is stored in the RAM 253 and transferred to the host computer 3 via the SCSI cable 3 at a predetermined timing. The CPU 251 controls the operation of the print head drive mechanism 240 that moves the print head 211 via the system bus 255.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the host computer 2 in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the host computer 2 includes a CPU 301, a memory 303, and a hard disk 305. The host computer 2 includes a keyboard 302 and a display 304 outside.

  The CPU 301 transmits and receives data to and from the scanner 1 via the SCSI cable 3. The memory 303 stores a control program and image data. An image read by the scanner 1 is stored in the hard disk 305. The keyboard 302 is used for performing an input operation by the user. The display 304 displays a print setting screen 400 shown in FIG. The user uses the keyboard 302 to set the file name, character string, print position, and the like of an image that the scanner 1 prints on the image-read original 210 on the print setting screen 400.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the print setting screen 400 displayed on the display 304 in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the print setting screen 400 includes a print image input field 401, a print character string input field 404, horizontal print position input fields 402 and 405, and vertical print position input fields 403 and 406. The print setting screen 400 includes an OK button 407 and a print position confirmation image display field 408.

  A print image input field 401 is a field for inputting a file name of an image to be printed on the original 210 that has been scanned by the scanner 1. A horizontal print position input field 402 is a field for inputting a horizontal print position for printing an image. A vertical print position input field 403 is a field for inputting a vertical print position for printing an image.

  A print character string input field 404 is a field for inputting a character string to be printed by the scanner 1 on the document 210 on which an image has been read. A horizontal print position input field 405 is a field for inputting a horizontal print position for printing a character string. A vertical print position input field 406 is a field for inputting a vertical print position for printing a character string.

  An OK button 407 is used to instruct completion of print setting. The print position confirmation image display field 408 is a field for displaying a confirmation image in which the input image and the character string are arranged at the input position. The data that the scanner 1 prints on the document 210 that has been scanned is not limited to images and character strings, and the number of data to be printed is not limited to two. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that images and character strings are printed one by one.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of print setting processing executed by the CPU 301 of the host computer 2.

  In FIG. 5, the CPU 301 displays a print setting screen 400 on the display 304 (step S501). When the user performs an input operation on the print setting screen 400 using the keyboard 302, the CPU 301 accepts the input operation by the user (step S502). Next, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the object of the accepted input operation is the horizontal print position input fields 402 and 405 (step S503).

  As a result of this determination, when the received input operation target is not the horizontal print position input fields 402 and 405, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the received input operation target is the OK button 407 (step S504). .

  If the result of this determination is that the accepted input operation target is not the OK button 407, processing returns to step S502. On the other hand, when the accepted input operation is the OK button 407, the process proceeds to step S505.

  In step S505, the setting value input by the user on the print setting screen 400 is stored in the memory 303, and the set value is transmitted to the scanner 1 (step S505), and the display of the print setting screen 400 on the display 304 is ended (step S505). Step S506), the process is terminated. This set value includes information such as an image file name, a print character string, and position information input by the user on the print setting screen 400.

  If the result of the determination in step S503 is that the received input operation target is the horizontal print position input fields 402 and 405, the process proceeds to step S507.

  In step S <b> 507, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the print target to be printed at the horizontal print position input by the user in the horizontal print position input fields 402 and 405 is within the width of the print head 211. Here, of the horizontal print positions of the image and character string to be printed, the smaller horizontal print position is determined as the left end position, and the right end position of the other print target is the width of the print head 211 from the left end position. It is determined whether or not the distance is more than 25 mm.

  If it is determined in step S507 that the print target to be printed at the horizontal print position input by the user in the horizontal print position input fields 402 and 405 is within the width of the print head 211 and printing can be performed simultaneously, step S502 is performed. Return to.

  If the result of determination in step S507 is that the print target to be printed at the horizontal print position input by the user in the horizontal print position input fields 402 and 405 does not fall within the width of the print head 211 and cannot be printed at the same time, step The process proceeds to S508.

  In step S <b> 508, the CPU 301 searches for a horizontal print position closest to the horizontal print position input by the user when the print target is within the width of the print head 211. Next, the search results are displayed in feedback in the horizontal print position input fields 402 and 405 (step S509), and the process returns to step S502.

  For example, in FIG. 6A, the right end position of the right character string is separated from the left end position of the left image by a width of 25 mm of the print head 211. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6B, the right end position of the right character string is corrected so as to be included in the range of the width of the print head 211.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the image reading process executed by the CPU 251 of the scanner substrate 208.

  In FIG. 7, first, the setting value input by the user on the print setting screen 400 is received from the host computer 2 (step S600).

  Based on the print position information included in the set value received in step S600, the print head driving mechanism 240 moves the print head 211 to the horizontal print position (step S601). Next, the document detection sensor 209 detects whether or not the document 210 is on the document table 201 (step S602).

  As a result of the determination, if the original 210 is on the original table 201, the original 210 is conveyed by the conveying rollers 202 and 203 and fed into the scanner 1 (step S603), and the image is read from the original 210 by the image reading sensor 207. Is read (step S604).

  Next, the CPU 251 transfers the read image to the CPU 301 of the host computer 2 via the SCSI cable 3 (step S605), and the CPU 301 stores the transferred image in the hard disk 305 (step S606).

  Next, based on the image file name and character string information included in the setting value received in step S600, the image and character string are transferred to the document 210 by the print head 211 moved to the horizontal print position in step S601. Printing is performed (step S607). The original 210 that has been read by the conveying rollers 205 and 206 is conveyed and discharged outside the scanner 1 (step S608), and the process returns to step S602.

  If the result of determination in step S602 is that there is no document 210 on the document table 201, the print head drive mechanism 240 moves the print head 211 to the home position (step S609), and the process is terminated.

  According to the present embodiment, the CPU 301 searches the horizontal print position closest to the horizontal print position input by the user when the print target is within the width range of the print head 211, and the search result is the horizontal print position. Feedback display is performed in the input fields 402 and 405. As a result, it is possible to prevent the document scanning operation from being performed again and to reliably print a plurality of images and character strings on the image-read document.

  In addition, since the horizontal print position closest to the horizontal print position input by the user within the range of the width of the print head 211 is searched, the user does not need to re-enter the numerical value and repeat the scanning operation.

  Note that an image read by the scanner 1 may be displayed as a background in the print position confirmation image display field 408 of FIG. Thereby, when an image or a character string is printed in a fixed column of a document of a fixed form, it is possible to easily align the position while checking the displayed image.

  In the present embodiment, the host computer 2 has been described as having a setting function such as a file name, a character string, and a print position of an image to be printed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. The scanner 2 may have setting functions such as a file name, a character string, and a print position of an image to be printed. In this case, the functions of the CPU 301, the memory 303, the display 304, and the keyboard 302 of the host computer 2 are respectively provided by the CPU 251, the RAM 253, and the operation display unit 230 of the scanner 1.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 301 corrects the horizontal print position when the print target to be printed at the horizontal print position input by the user does not fall within the width of the print head 211. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When the print target to be printed at the horizontal print position input by the user does not fall within the range of the width of the print head 211, the CPU 301 or the CPU 251 issues a warning to that effect via the display 304 or the operation display unit 230. It may be configured. As a result, the user is prompted to change the horizontal print position, and the user can print a plurality of images and character strings on the document by changing the horizontal print position within a range where printing can be performed simultaneously.

  Further, although the present embodiment has been described assuming that the scanner 1 has a printing function, the present invention is not limited to this. A printer unit having a printing function may be combined with the scanner 1.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. It is also achieved by reading out and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. -RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. This includes a case where part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of the scanner in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a scanner substrate incorporated in the scanner. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the host computer in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen displayed on the display in FIG. 6 is a flowchart of print setting processing executed by a CPU of a host computer. 6A and 6B are diagrams used for explaining the print setting process of FIG. 5, in which FIG. 5A shows before correction of the horizontal print position, and FIG. 5B shows after correction of the horizontal print position. It is a flowchart of the image reading process performed by CPU of a scanner board | substrate.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scanner 2 Host computer 207 Image reading sensor 208 Scanner board | substrate 211 Print head 230 Operation display part 240 Print head drive mechanism 251 CPU
252 ROM
253 RAM
301 CPU
303 Memory 304 Display

Claims (7)

An original conveying means for conveying an original;
Image reading means for reading an image from the conveyed document;
Data adding means for adding a plurality of data to the conveyed document;
Input means for inputting a plurality of data added by the data adding means and a plurality of positions to which the plurality of data are added;
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the plurality of input data can be simultaneously added to the plurality of input positions;
Change means for changing at least one of the plurality of inputted positions when the plurality of inputted data cannot be simultaneously added to the plurality of inputted positions, respectively.
The image reading apparatus, wherein the data adding unit adds the plurality of input data to the plurality of input positions reflecting the positions changed by the changing unit.   The change means includes search means for searching for a position that is closest to any of the plurality of input positions and to which the plurality of data can be added simultaneously. The image reading apparatus described.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a warning unit that issues a warning that the plurality of data cannot be simultaneously added to the plurality of positions.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit includes a display unit that displays an image read by the image reading unit. A document transport step for transporting the document;
An image reading step for reading an image from the conveyed document;
A data adding step for adding a plurality of data to the conveyed document;
An input step of inputting a plurality of data to be added in the data addition step and a plurality of positions to which the plurality of data are added;
A determination step of determining whether or not the plurality of input data can be simultaneously added to the plurality of input positions;
A change step of changing at least one of the plurality of inputted positions when the plurality of inputted data cannot be simultaneously added to the plurality of inputted positions, respectively.
The method of controlling an image reading apparatus, wherein the data adding step adds the plurality of inputted data to the plurality of inputted positions reflecting the positions changed by the changing means. A control program executed by the image reading apparatus,
A document transport module for transporting documents,
An image reading module for reading an image from the conveyed document;
A data addition module for adding a plurality of data to the conveyed document;
An input module for inputting a plurality of data to be added by the data addition module and a plurality of positions to which the plurality of data are added;
A determination module for determining whether or not the plurality of input data can be simultaneously added to the plurality of input positions;
A change module that changes at least one of the plurality of input positions when the plurality of input data cannot be simultaneously added to the plurality of input positions, respectively.
The data addition module adds the plurality of input data to the plurality of input positions reflecting the positions changed by the changing means. In an image reading system comprising an image reading device and an information processing device connected to the image reading device,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Input means for inputting a plurality of data to be added to a document read by the image reading apparatus and a plurality of positions to which the plurality of data are added;
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the plurality of input data can be simultaneously added to the plurality of input positions;
Changing means for changing at least one of the plurality of input positions when it is determined by the determining means that the plurality of input data cannot be simultaneously added;
Transmitting means for transmitting the input plurality of data and the plurality of changed positions to the image reading device;
The image reading device
Conveying means for conveying the document;
Image reading means for reading an image from the conveyed document;
Receiving means for receiving the plurality of input data and the changed plurality of positions from the transmitting means;
An image reading system comprising: a data adding unit that adds the plurality of input data to the plurality of input positions that reflect the positions changed by the changing unit.

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