JP2007096662A - Image reading apparatus and image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading apparatus and an image processing apparatus which can inhibit using of a reading image according to kinds of a carried draft, and can prevent useless printing and communication. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 31 discriminates kinds of the carried draft based on an image read by an image reading apparatus 1 and specific images memorized by a ROM 32 or a RAM 33, and the CPU 31 inhibits using the read image by the image reading apparatus 1 (image formation on a sheet by an image forming apparatus 38) based on the discrimination result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image processing apparatus including a conveying unit that conveys a document, and an image reading unit that reads an image of the document conveyed by the conveying unit.

In an apparatus equipped with an image reading device, such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine, an image of a document that is printed on only one side (blank on the back) or a document that is printed on both sides Read the image. In addition, a document that has been printed on both sides may be a backing paper that has already been used (unnecessary) on one side. In the case of a backing paper, it is only necessary to read the image on the other side (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-237398

  However, some image reading devices set a document with the front side facing up, and others set a document with the back side facing up. For example, when the document is placed upside down, There is a problem that unnecessary images are read and unnecessary printing is performed, such as reading a surface or reading an unnecessary surface such as a backing paper. In addition, when a double-sided scanning is inadvertently instructed when the back side is a blank document or a back side document, there is a problem that wasteful image scanning is performed and wasteful printing is performed. In particular, when an automatic document feeder that automatically feeds documents is used, a plurality of documents are read continuously. If the front and back of the document are placed incorrectly, a large number of documents are read wastefully. Large amount of printing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a determination unit that determines the type of a document conveyed by the conveyance unit based on an image read by the image reading unit, and use of the image read by the image reading unit. And an image processing apparatus capable of prohibiting the use of a read image of a document according to the type of the conveyed document. Objective.

  In the present invention, the image reading unit is configured to read images on both sides of the document, and the determination unit is configured to determine the type of document based on the images on both sides. Another object is to provide an image processing apparatus that can more accurately determine the type of document.

  In the present invention, the determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the image read by the image reading unit includes a specific image. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus that can prohibit use of a read image.

  In addition, the present invention includes a storage unit that stores the specific image, and the determination unit determines whether the image read by the image reading unit includes the specific image stored in the storage unit. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can register various specific images by being configured to determine.

  According to the present invention, the conveying unit is configured to continuously convey a plurality of documents, and the determining unit determines whether the images continuously read by the image reading unit are the same. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can prohibit the use of continuous read images of the same document.

  Further, the present invention is configured such that the conveying unit conveys a plurality of documents continuously, and includes an extracting unit that extracts a page number from an image read by the image reading unit, and the determining unit includes the extracting unit An image processing apparatus capable of prohibiting the use of a read image of a document with discontinuous page numbers by determining whether or not the page numbers extracted continuously by the means are discontinuous. For other purposes.

  An image reading apparatus according to the present invention is an image reading apparatus including a conveying unit that conveys a document and an image reading unit that reads an image of the document conveyed by the conveying unit, based on the image read by the image reading unit. The image processing apparatus includes a determination unit that determines the type of document, and a prohibition unit that prohibits use of an image read by the image reading unit based on a determination result of the determination unit.

  In the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the image reading unit is configured to read images on both sides of a document, and the determination unit is configured to determine the type of document based on the images on both sides. It is characterized by being.

  The image reading apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the determination unit is configured to determine whether or not a specific image is included in an image read by the image reading unit.

  The image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores the specific image, and the determination unit includes the specific image stored in the storage unit included in the image read by the image reading unit. It is characterized by determining whether it exists.

  The image reading apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that the transport unit continuously transports a plurality of documents, and the determination unit determines whether images continuously read by the image reading unit are the same. It is configured to determine whether or not.

  The image reading apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that the conveying unit conveys a plurality of documents continuously, and includes an extracting unit that extracts a page number from an image read by the image reading unit, and the determining unit Is characterized in that it is configured to determine whether or not the page numbers continuously extracted by the extracting means are discontinuous.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described image reading apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus that forms an image read by the image reading apparatus on a sheet.

  In the present invention, the type of the original document conveyed by the conveying unit is determined by the determining unit based on the image read by the image reading unit, and the prohibiting unit uses the image read by the image reading unit based on the determination result. Therefore, the use of the read image of the original can be prohibited according to the type of the conveyed original. For example, if the original reading surface is blank, the front and back sides of the original are set incorrectly, so use of the original read image (for example, printing or facsimile transmission) can be prohibited, preventing unnecessary printing or communication. can do.

  In the present invention, the image reading means is configured to read images on both sides of a document, and the determination means determines the type of document based on the images on both sides. More accurate determination can be made. For example, if the front side is not blank and the back side is blank, it can be determined that the front and back sides of the document are set correctly.

  In the present invention, the determination unit determines whether the image read by the image reading unit includes a specific image, and therefore prohibits the use of the read image of the document on which the specific image is formed. Can do. For example, in the case of a document on which test printing has been performed, use of the read image of the document on which test printing has been performed (for example, printing or facsimile transmission) can be prohibited by setting the test printing image as a specific image.

  In the present invention, various specific images may be registered in order for the determination unit to determine whether or not the image read by the image reading unit includes a specific image stored in the storage unit. it can. By storing various specific images in the storage unit, it is possible to prohibit the use of a read image of a document on which various specific images are formed. For example, an arbitrary image such as a used mark can be registered as the specific image.

  In the present invention, the conveying means is configured to continuously convey a plurality of originals, and in order to determine whether or not the continuously read images are the same, the determining means determines whether the images are continuously read. Use (for example, printing or facsimile transmission) can be prohibited.

  In the present invention, the conveying means is configured to continuously convey a plurality of documents, and the extracting means extracts page numbers from the image read by the image reading means, and the continuously extracted page numbers are discontinuous. Therefore, the use of the read image of the document with discontinuous page numbers (for example, printing or facsimile transmission) can be prohibited.

  According to the present invention, the use of a read image of a document can be prohibited according to the type of the document that has been conveyed. Wasteful printing or communication can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, the type of document can be determined more accurately.

  According to the present invention, use of a read image of a document on which a specific image is formed can be prohibited.

  According to the present invention, various specific images can be registered, and use of a read image of a document on which various specific images are formed can be prohibited.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prohibit the use of continuous read images of the same document.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prohibit the use of a read image of a document with discontinuous page numbers.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image processing apparatus including an image reading apparatus according to the present invention. The image processing apparatus includes an image reading apparatus 1, an image memory 34 that stores image data read by the image reading apparatus 1, an image forming apparatus 38 that forms an image based on the image data on a sheet, a CPU 31, and an image processing apparatus. ROM 32 for storing a program for operating the CPU, RAM 33 which is a non-volatile memory and serving as a work area for the CPU 31, a drive motor 35 for driving a conveyance roller of the image reading apparatus 1, a liquid crystal display panel, and an image reading process A start key and various keys for receiving various condition settings, or an operation unit 36 having a touch panel. The CPU 31 executes a program stored in the ROM 32 to control each component described above of the image processing apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. The image reading apparatus 1 includes a document transport path 4 from the document placing tray 2 to the document discharge tray 3, a first image reading unit (image reading unit) 5 that reads an image on the first surface (front surface) of the document, and a document A second image reading unit (image reading means) 6 for reading an image on the second surface (back surface) is provided. The document is transported through the document transport path 4 from the document stacking tray 2 toward the document discharge tray 3. A pickup roller 7 and a separating roller 8 (conveying means) are arranged at the upstream end portion of the original conveying path (conveying means) 4 in the original conveying direction, and the original loaded on the original placing tray 2 is picked up by the pickup roller 7 and The paper is fed one by one to the document transport path 4 by the separating roller 8. A discharge roller 9 (conveying means) is disposed at the downstream end of the document conveyance path 4 in the document conveyance direction, and the document conveyed through the document conveyance path 4 is discharged to the document discharge tray 3 by the discharge roller 9. The The pickup roller 7, the separating roller 8, and the discharge roller 9 are driven by a drive motor 35.

  An image reading position A of the first image reading unit 5 and an image reading position B of the second image reading unit 6 exist in the middle of the document conveyance path 4. On the upstream side of the image reading position A in the document conveyance direction, conveyance rollers 10 and 11 (conveying means) and a bending portion 12 are arranged in this order along the document conveyance direction. Each of the conveyance rollers 10 and 11 is driven by a drive motor 35 to convey the document toward the image reading position A. The bending portion 12 is bent in a direction that protrudes in the lower left direction in FIG. The document conveyance path 4 between the image reading position A and the image reading position B is provided with an upward convex bent portion 13 and a downward convex bent portion 14. A driven roller 15 is disposed in the bent portion 13, and a transport roller 16 (transport means) is disposed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the bent portion 14. The conveyance roller 16 is driven by the drive motor 35 and conveys the document toward the image reading position B.

  The first image reading unit 5 includes a first scanning unit 53 including an exposure lamp 51 and a first reflection mirror 52, a second scanning unit 56 including a second reflection mirror 54 and a third reflection mirror 55, and imaging. A lens 57 and a CCD 58 are provided. The light emitted from the exposure lamp 51 and reflected by the first surface of the document is sequentially reflected by the first reflecting mirror 52, the second reflecting mirror 54, and the third reflecting mirror 55 and enters the imaging lens 57. The imaging lens 57 focuses the incident light on the CCD 58. The CCD 58 outputs image data obtained by photoelectrically converting the light imaged by the imaging lens 57 to the image memory 34.

  Each of the first scanning unit 53 and the second scanning unit 56 can be moved in the sub-scanning direction along the platen glass 17 on which the document is placed by the drive motor 35 when reading the image of the document by the document fixing method. . The first image reading unit 5 moves the first scanning unit 53 and the second scanning unit 56 in the sub-scanning direction, thereby reading the image of the document placed on the platen glass 17, and converting the image data of the document to the image. Output to the memory 34. Therefore, the first image reading unit 5 can be used for both the document moving method and the document fixing method. Further, the positions of the first scanning unit 53 and the second scanning unit 56 at the time of image reading of the document moving method for reading the image of the document conveyed to the document conveying path 4 are the images of the document placed on the platen glass 17. Is set to the home position of the first scanning unit 53 and the second scanning unit 56 at the time of image reading of the document fixing method. Therefore, the standard white plate for shading correction in the document moving method can be used as the standard white plate for shading correction in the document fixing method.

  Further, a platen glass 18 is disposed at the image reading position A, and light emitted from the exposure lamp 51 passes through the platen glass 18 and is irradiated onto the document. A standard white plate 19 used for shading correction is disposed on the wall surface of the document conveying path 4 facing the platen glass 18 at the image reading position A. On the curved portion 12 on the upstream side of the standard white plate 19, a dirt removing member, which will be described in detail later, is disposed. The dirt removing member is made of, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or mylar sheet. Since the document is conveyed while being in contact with the dirt removing member, the dirt on the first surface (the lower surface in FIG. 1) of the document is removed, and the standard white plate 19 of the curved portion 12 is prevented from becoming dirty. .

  The second image reading unit 6 includes an exposure lamp 61, a plurality of reflection mirrors 62, 63, 64, 65, an imaging lens 66, and a CCD 67. Light irradiated from the exposure lamp 61 and reflected by the second surface (back surface) of the document is sequentially reflected by the reflection mirrors 62 to 65 and enters the imaging lens 66. The imaging lens 66 images the incident light on the CCD 67. The CCD 67 outputs image data obtained by photoelectrically converting the light imaged by the imaging lens 66 to the image memory 34. As the CCD 67, one having a reading resolution substantially the same as the reading resolution of the image of the CCD 58 of the first image reading unit 5 is used. By making the CCD resolution substantially the same, image data with the same image resolution can be acquired for the front and back sides of the document, so the same image processing can be applied for the front side and the back side. Image processing after image reading is simplified.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a main configuration of the image reading position B of the image reading apparatus 1. The platen glass 20 is disposed at the image reading position B, and light emitted from the exposure lamp 61 passes through the platen glass 20 and is irradiated onto the document. A standard white plate 21 used for shading correction is disposed on the wall surface of the document conveying path 4 facing the platen glass 20 at the image reading position B. A dirt removing member 22 is disposed on the inner wall surface on the lower side of the document conveying path 4 from the bent portion 14 immediately upstream of the standard white plate 21 to the downstream side thereof. The dirt removing member 22 is made of, for example, PET or Mylar sheet. The document that has been transported through the document transport path 4 is transported while being in contact with the lower wall surface of the document transport path 4 at a portion downstream from the bent portion 14. At this time, the original moves while contacting the dirt removing member 22, so that the dirt on the first surface (the lower surface in FIG. 2) of the original is removed. As a result, the standard white plate 21 is prevented from being soiled by dirt on the document.

  In the image reading apparatus 1 configured as described above, the document placed on the document placement tray 2 is supplied to the document transport path 4 by the pickup roller 7 and further transported downstream by the transport roller 10. Then, the document is transported to the image reading position A while being given a transport force by the transport roller 11 and contacting the lower inner wall surface of the document transport path 4 at the bending portion 12. Since the transport roller 11 and the curved portion 12 are arranged in this order on the upstream side of the image reading position A in the document transport direction, when the document passes through the image reading position A, the document is scanned at the image reading position A. In FIG. 4, the original is always conveyed along the lower inner wall surface in the document conveying path 4. Since the original is always conveyed at a certain position in the height direction of the original conveying path 4 at the image reading position A, it is easy to make the focus of the first image reading unit 5 coincide with the original, and the first surface of the original is read. High-quality image data of the (front) image is acquired.

  The document from which the image on the first surface has been read at the image reading position A is further conveyed to the image reading position B by the conveying roller 11 via the bent portion 13 and the bent portion 14. In the bent portion 13, the document is smoothly conveyed by being guided by the driven roller 15. When the leading edge of the document reaches the transport roller 16, the document is transported by the transport roller 16 and transported further downstream while contacting the lower inner wall surface of the document transport path 4 at the curved portion 14. Is done. When the transport roller 16 and the curved portion 14 are arranged in this order on the upstream side of the image reading position B in the transport direction of the document, when the document passes the image reading position B, the document at the image reading position B Is always conveyed along the lower inner wall surface in the document conveying path 4. Since the original is always conveyed at a certain position in the height direction of the original conveying path 4 at the image reading position B, it is easy to make the focus of the second image reading unit 6 coincide with the original, and the second surface of the original is read. High-quality image data of the (back side) image is acquired.

  Since the two bent portions 13 and 14 are provided between the image reading position A by the first image reading unit 5 and the image reading position B by the second image reading unit 6, the first image reading unit 5 is significantly suppressed from entering the image reading position B along the document conveying path 4 as stray light, and similarly, the light irradiated to the document from the second image reading unit 6 is imaged. Incident light as stray light at the reading position A is greatly suppressed. Note that even when a CIS is used in place of the CCD 67 of the second image reading unit 6, stray light can be prevented from entering each of the image reading positions A and B.

  As the image forming apparatus 38, for example, a tandem type electrophotographic image forming apparatus provided with four image forming units for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is used. The image forming apparatus 38 forms an image read by the image reading apparatus 1 on a sheet.

  The CPU 31 determines a document type based on a read image (a front image and / or a back image of the document) read by the first image reading unit 5 and / or the second image reading unit 6, and a determination result The image forming apparatus operates as a prohibiting unit that prohibits the use of the read image (in this embodiment, image formation on the sheet by the image forming apparatus) based on the above. The CPU (determination unit) 31 determines whether or not a specific image is included in the read image as the determination of the type of document. For example, a specific image is stored in the ROM 32 or the RAM 33 (storage unit), and the CPU 31 determines whether or not the stored specific image is included in the read image.

  4A to 4C, 5A to 5B, and 6A are conceptual diagrams illustrating examples of specific images. FIG. 4A is a blank sheet (specific image), and the read image does not include an image. In FIG. 4B, an image of a diagonal line (specific image) indicating that it is used (backing paper) is included in the read image, and FIG. 4C is used (backing paper). 5 is included in the read image, and in FIG. 5A, a notification image (specific image) indicating that it is used (backing paper) is formed on the read image. In FIG. 5B, an image of a completed mark (specific image) indicating that it is used (backing paper) is included in the read image. In FIG. 6A, an image for printing test (specific image) is included in the read image.

  Further, the image reading apparatus 1 can continuously read a document, and can prohibit the use of the same continuous image. In this case, the CPU 31 determines whether the read images continuously read by the first image reading unit 5 and / or the second image reading unit 6 are the same. For example, when the print test image shown in FIG. 6A is not a specific image, it is possible to detect that the same read image (print test image) continues.

  It is also possible to prohibit the use of images with discontinuous page numbers. In this case, the CPU 31 operates as an extraction unit that extracts the page number from the read image, and determines whether or not the page number extracted from the read image read continuously is discontinuous. FIG. 6B is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a specific image, and a page number is formed at the bottom of the read image. The CPU 31 can extract the page number by character recognition using an OCR (Optical Character Reader).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for copying a document. When the document is set (S10: YES) and the start key of the operation unit 36 is pressed (S12: YES), the CPU 31 controls the image reading device 1 to read the image of the document (S14). The read image of the original read by the image reading apparatus 1 is stored in the image memory 34 under the control of the CPU 31. The CPU 31 determines whether or not the read image stored in the image memory 34 includes or matches a specific image stored in the ROM 32 or the RAM 33. When the specific image is not included (S16: NO), the CPU 31 controls the image forming apparatus 38 to print the read image (S30). If there is another document (S32: YES), the CPU 31 controls the image reading device 1 to read the image of the document (S34), and controls the image forming device 38 to print the read image (FIG. 7). Solid line arrows (A), S30). If there is no other document (S32: NO), the process shown in FIG. Note that it is also possible to read an image of a document (S34) and determine whether a specific image is included or coincides (broken line arrow (B) in FIG. 7).

  When a specific image is included (S16: YES), the CPU 31 extracts a page number from the read image stored in the image memory 34. When the page number is included (S18: YES), the CPU 31 controls the image reading apparatus 1 to read the image of the document (S20), and determines whether or not a specific image is included. When the specific image is not included (S22: NO) and the page numbers are continuous (S24: YES), the CPU 31 controls the image forming apparatus 38 to print the read image (S30). The processes of S32 and S34 described above are performed.

  When the page number is not included (S18: NO), when the specific image is included (S22: YES), or when the page number is not continuous (S24: NO), the CPU 31 reads the image. Image reading by the apparatus 1 is stopped (S26), a notification such as a stop message is displayed on the operation unit 36 (S28), and the processing shown in FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where an image read by the image reading device 1 is formed on a sheet by the image forming device 38 has been described as an example. However, a communication device such as a facsimile is provided in the image processing device, and the image reading device 1 It is also possible to transmit the image read by the communication device from the communication device.

  The document type is determined only by determining whether or not a specific image is included, determining whether or not a page is discontinuous, and whether or not the same image is continuous. It is possible to perform only the above determination, or any combination of the above determinations.

  Further, the CPU 31 confirms whether the read image on the back side of the document is a white paper or a back paper, and performs printing or transmission after confirming that the front surface of the document is correctly read. It is also possible to determine the type of document based on the image. The document type can be determined using only the read image on the front side of the document, using only the read image on the back side of the document, or using the read images on both the front and front sides of the document.

  In the above-described embodiment, the front surface reading CCD and the back surface reading CCD are provided. However, it is possible to configure the conveyance path so that the front and back of the paper are reversed and to read the images on both sides with the common CCD. It is.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image reading apparatus capable of reading both sides of the document has been described as an example. However, using an image reading apparatus capable of reading only one side, it is determined whether the read image is the back side. In the case of the back side, printing or the like can be prohibited.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image processing apparatus including an image reading apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a main part configuration of an image reading position of the image reading apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of a specific image. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of a specific image. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of a specific image. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for copying a document.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reading device 5 1st image reading part 6 2nd image reading part 31 CPU
32 ROM
33 RAM
34 Image memory 35 Drive motor 36 Operation unit 38 Image forming apparatus

Claims (7)

An image reading apparatus comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a document; and an image reading unit that reads an image of the document conveyed by the conveying unit.
Determination means for determining the type of document based on the image read by the image reading means;
An image reading apparatus comprising: prohibiting means for prohibiting use of an image read by the image reading means based on a determination result of the determining means. The image reading means is configured to read images on both sides of a document,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine the type of document based on both-side images.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the image read by the image reading unit includes a specific image. A storage unit for storing the specific image;
The said determination means is comprised so that it may be determined whether the specific image memorize | stored in the memory | storage part is contained in the image read by the said image reading means. Image reading apparatus. The conveying means is configured to continuously convey a plurality of documents;
3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether the images continuously read by the image reading unit are the same. The conveying means is configured to continuously convey a plurality of documents;
An extraction means for extracting a page number from the image read by the image reading means;
3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the page numbers continuously extracted by the extraction unit are discontinuous. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An image processing apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image read by the image reading apparatus on a sheet.

Images