JP2007228041A - Original carrying apparatus, image processing apparatus, and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an original carrying apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and an image processing system for returning an original carried from an original placing section to an original discharge section to the original placing section. <P>SOLUTION: In the image processing system 1, in response to an instruction from computers PC1 to PCn, the image reading apparatus GS carries originals one by one from an original placing base 31 to an original read section 28, which reads images of the originals and discharges the originals to an original discharge base 33, a return unit 43 returns the originals to the original placing base 31 in an initial placing state of the originals in terms of installed side and installed order of the original placing base 31, the original carrying section 40 discharges again the originals onto the original discharge base 33 via an original read section 28, and the return section 43 repetitively executes the processing to be returned to the original placing base 31. Thus, the image reading apparatus repeats the carrying and the return of the originals as required to simply and easily carry out the re-reading of the originals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a document conveying device, an image processing device, and an image processing system, and more specifically, a document conveying device that returns a document conveyed from a document placing unit to a document discharge unit to the document placing unit, an image processing device, and the like. The present invention relates to an image processing system.

  An image processing apparatus such as a scanner, a copying apparatus, or a composite apparatus includes at least a document conveying unit that discharges a document placed on a document placing table to a document discharge unit such as a document discharge tray via a document reading unit. An original image is read by the original reading unit.

  In order to efficiently read a plurality of documents, the image processing apparatus includes a continuous conveyance mechanism that continuously conveys a plurality of documents, such as an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), as the document conveyance unit. Are continuously conveyed to the document reading unit, and images of a plurality of documents conveyed continuously are read by the document reading unit.

  However, for example, with respect to an image processing apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus such as a computer, the conditions for reading the original, the degree of compression, the color mode selection, and the like (hereinafter referred to as reading conditions) are appropriately changed. However, when changing from the scanner driver or the like while comparing the reading results read under the reading conditions actually changed as appropriate, there is a problem that the usability is poor.

  That is, in the above case, first, in order to cause the image processing apparatus to read the original, the image processing apparatus is moved to the place where the image processing apparatus is installed, and the original is set on the original placement table of the image processing apparatus. Returning to the installation location of the processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus performs a reading condition setting operation, transmits a reading signal to the image processing apparatus, and causes the image processing apparatus to perform reading under the reading condition. When the reading signal is sent, the image processing apparatus conveys the document set on the document table to the document reading unit, and reads the document under the reading conditions set by the reading signal. Thereafter, the document that has been read is discharged to the document discharge unit.

  Therefore, the reading conditions are changed again by the information processing apparatus, the original is read by the image processing apparatus, and the image data of the reading result is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus. If you try to set an operation to change the scanning conditions by looking at the scanning result, you will go to the installation location of the image processing device, set the document output to the document output section of the image processing device, and place the information Return to the processing device, set the reading conditions on the information processing device, let the image processing device perform reading, set the reading conditions again by looking at the image data of the reading result, and go out to the image processing device There is a problem that it is necessary to repeatedly perform an operation process of resetting a document, and the usability is poor.

  Conventionally, there has been proposed a printing apparatus that reduces a device installation area by providing a paper supply / discharge unit that is a mechanism unit that makes the paper supply unit and the paper discharge unit the same (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, the applicant of the present invention firstly transports a document from a plurality of paper feed trays to a reading unit and reads an image of the document by the reading unit (see Patent Document 2) or two document feeding / discharging. There has been proposed a technique for appropriately avoiding the influence of an original jam when an original jam occurs in one original feed / discharge path by providing a paper path (see Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-301933 JP 2004-236223 A Japanese Patent No. 3333804

  However, in the prior art described in the above publication, it takes time to reset the original again on the original document placement unit in order to reread the original document that has been set on the original document placement unit and has been read and discharged to the original document ejection unit. In order to improve usability by omitting, there was a need for improvement.

  That is, in the prior art described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the mechanism unit that makes the paper feed unit and the paper discharge unit the same is the paper feed / discharge unit, the paper fed from the paper feed unit is the paper feed unit. Even if this printing paper mechanism is applied to the document transport mechanism, when the original set on the paper feed unit as the document placement table is transported to the paper discharge unit, It is unclear whether the paper is returned to the paper feeding unit in the state initially set and can be used for the next paper feeding as it is. In the embodiment of Patent Document 1, the state initially set is the state of the paper. Since the front and back sides are reversed, even if applied as it is to the document transport mechanism, the document placed on the document placing unit and read again is placed on the document placing unit again for rereading. The trouble of resetting cannot be saved, and there is a problem of poor usability. .

  In the prior art described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, a plurality of paper feed trays and document feed / discharge paths are provided. However, the same document is read a plurality of times to set the reading conditions. When setting, even if the number of originals is equal to the number of paper feed trays and original paper feed / discharge paths provided, the number of originals is the same as the number of paper feed trays and original paper feed / discharge paths. However, there is a problem in that scanning can be performed only by changing the scanning conditions, the usability is poor, and the apparatus becomes larger and costs are increased by the number of paper feed trays and document feed / discharge paths provided. There is.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a document conveying apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and an image processing system that are simple and easy to reread a document that is read while suppressing an increase in size, and that are inexpensive and have good usability. It is said.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided the document conveying device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the document is conveyed on the document placing portion on which a plurality of documents can be placed to the document discharge portion via the document reading portion. By including a return unit that returns the document discharged to the paper discharge unit to the document placement unit in the original placement state of the document on the document placement unit in the placement surface and placement order, The above objective has been achieved.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the document conveying unit conveys the document on the document placing unit on which a plurality of documents can be placed to the document discharge unit via the document reading unit, and at least In the image processing apparatus in which the document reading unit reads an image of the document, the document transport unit places the document discharged to the document discharge unit on the document placement unit in the placement surface and placement order. The object is achieved by providing a return unit that returns the original document to the original document placement unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the document processing unit, the document transport unit transports the document on the document placement unit on which a plurality of documents can be placed to the document discharge unit via the document reading unit, and at least An image processing device that reads an image of the document by the document reading unit and an information processing device that causes the image processing device to perform processing are connected via a predetermined communication line, and the image processing device is connected to the information processing device. An image processing system for reading a document conveyed by the document conveying unit by the document reading unit and transmitting image data of the read document to the information processing apparatus in response to an instruction from the image processing apparatus. The document transport unit returns the document ejected to the document delivery unit to the document placement unit in the initial placement state of the document on the document placement unit in the placement surface and placement order. Having a department More, it has achieved the above object.

  In each of the above cases, for example, as described in claim 4, the document conveying device or the document conveying unit is placed on the document placing unit in a predetermined order in which pages are superimposed on the image surface. A plurality of originals are sequentially transported on the document discharge unit in a state where the order of page stacking on the image surface is the same as the order of placement on the document placement unit. Also good.

  For example, as described in claim 5, in the document conveying device, the document placing unit and the document discharging unit align at least a front end surface in a conveying direction of the placed document. A plurality of documents placed on the front end face of the guide means and arranged separately from the predetermined surface side one by one.

  Further, for example, in the case of claims 3 to 5, as described in claim 6, when the image processing system sends a reread instruction from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus, the image processing system When the apparatus detects the presence or absence of the document on the document discharge unit and there is a document on the document discharge unit, the return unit sets the document on the document discharge unit to the document placement unit. The document transport unit transports the document returned on the document placement unit to the document discharge unit via the document reading unit, and reads the image of the document by the document reading unit. It may be.

  Further, for example, in the case of claims 2 to 6, as described in claim 7, the image processing apparatus or the image processing system uses the document conveying unit to transfer the document on the document placing unit. The image is conveyed to the document discharge unit via the image reading unit, the image of the document is read by the document reading unit, the document on the document discharge unit is returned to the document placing unit by the return unit, After changing the reading conditions and the like in the original reading unit, the original returned to the original placing unit is conveyed by the original conveying unit to the original paper discharge unit via the image reading unit, and the original reading unit Thus, the document return reading process for reading the image of the document may be repeatedly executed a predetermined number of times.

  Further, for example, in the case of claims 1 to 7, as described in claim 8, the document conveying device or the document conveying unit reverses a document whose surface image is read by the document reading unit. In addition, a reverse conveyance unit may be provided that conveys the original on which the image on the back surface has been read by the original reading unit to the original discharge unit after reversing the original.

  Further, for example, in the case of claim 2 to claim 8, as described in claim 9, the image processing apparatus or the image processing system includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image data. The image forming unit may form an image based on the image data read by the image reading unit.

  According to the document conveying device of the present invention, the document ejected from the document placing unit to the document delivery unit via the document reading unit is placed on the placing surface and placing order by the return unit. The document is returned to the original placement unit in the original placement state on the part, so that it is possible to easily and easily perform re-reading by repeatedly carrying and returning the original as necessary while suppressing an increase in size. Therefore, the usability at the time of re-reading can be improved inexpensively and easily.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, a document is sent from the document placement unit to the document reading unit, and the document read by the document reading unit and discharged to the document discharge unit is loaded by the return unit. Since the original document is returned to the original document placement unit in the original placement state on the original document placement unit in the placement surface and the order of placement, the conveyance and return of the original document are repeated as necessary while suppressing an increase in size. Therefore, rereading can be performed easily and easily, and usability at the time of performing rereading can be improved inexpensively and easily.

  According to the image processing system of the present invention, in response to an instruction from the information processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus sends a document from the document placement unit to the document reading unit, and reads the image of the document by the document reading unit. The document discharged to the document discharge unit is returned to the document placement unit in the original placement state of the document on the document placement unit in the placement surface and placement order by the return unit, so that the size is increased. It is possible to perform the rereading easily and easily by repeatedly carrying the document and returning it as necessary while suppressing it, and it is possible to easily improve the usability at the time of rereading.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 5 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a document conveying device, an image processing device, and an image processing system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a document conveying device, an image processing device, and an image processing system according to the present invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an image processing system 1 to which an embodiment is applied.

  In FIG. 1, an image processing system 1 includes a plurality of computers PC1 to PCn as information processing apparatuses, an image reading apparatus GS as an image processing apparatus, and a printer Pr as an image processing apparatus in a network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Is connected. Although FIG. 1 shows the case where one image reading device GS and one printer Pr are connected, a plurality of image reading devices GS and printers Pr may be connected.

  The printer device Pr includes a printer control unit, a printer engine, and the like. The printer engine performs a printing process based on print data in a predetermined printing method, for example, an electrophotographic method. The printer control unit receives print data and a print request from the computers PC1 to PCn or the image reading device GS via the network NW, controls the printer engine based on the print request, and sends the computer PC1 to PCn to the print engine. Alternatively, print processing of print data sent from the image reading device GS is performed.

  The computers PC1 to PCn include a main body device, a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and are connected to the network NW, and exchange data and signals with the image reading device GS and the printer Pr via the network NW. It has a communication function to perform. The computers PC1 to PCn are image reading software connected to a network NW and various application software (hereinafter referred to as applications) such as document creation software, figure creation software, spreadsheet software, and database software on an OS (Operating System). A scanner driver corresponding to the device GS and a printer driver corresponding to the printer Pr are installed. As will be described later, each of the computers PC1 to PCn causes the image reading device GS to read an image of a document under an arbitrarily set reading condition using a scanner driver, and the image data of the document read by the image reading device GS is converted into an image. A reread signal received from the reading device GS and instructing rereading is sent to the image reading device GS to perform reread processing. When a print command is issued from the application that created the file to the file created by the application, the computers PC1 to PCn convert the file into print data by the printer driver, and the print data Is sent to the printer Pr together with the print request to cause the printer Pr to perform the printing process.

  That is, when the image processing system 1 performs a necessary setting operation such as a reading condition in the image reading device GS on the computers PC1 to PCn and then performs a reading start operation, the image processing system 1 sends a control signal from the computers PC1 to PCn to the network NW. The image reading device GS receives the control signal, and reads the image of the set document based on the reading conditions specified by the control signal. When the reading of the original is completed, the image reading device GS transmits the image data of the read original to the computers PC1 to PCn that instructed the reading or the destination computers PC1 to PCn designated by the control signal.

  In the image reading apparatus GS, as shown in FIG. 2, a main body 11 and a paper supply / discharge connection unit 12 are connected.

  The main body 11 includes a document separating member 21, a delivery roller 22, a transport roller pair 23, a plurality of reading unit transport roller pairs 24, 25, 25, a reverse discharge roller 27, a document reading unit 28, and the like. Control unit, communication function unit, and the like, and the communication function unit is connected to the network NW and communicates with the computers PC1 to PCn and the printer Pr, in particular, read signals from the computers PC1 to PCn. In response to this, the document reading operation is performed under the control of the control unit, and image data of the read document is transmitted to the computers PC1 to PCn, the printer Pr, and the like.

  The feed / discharge connection unit 12 includes a document placement table 31, a paper feed guide 32, a document discharge table 33, a paper feed guide 34, a feed roller pair 35, a transport roller pair 36, a discharge roller pair 37, and the like.

  The document placing table 31 can place a plurality of documents whose images are read by the main body 11, and the paper feed guide (guide means) 32 converts the document placed on the document placing table 31 to the document separating member 21. Are fed in the direction of the feed roller 22 to align the front end surface of the document in the document transport direction.

  The document discharge tray 33 is fed with a document whose image has been read by the main body 11 and can place a plurality of the scanned image documents that have been sent. The paper feed guide (guide means) 34 feeds the document placed on the document delivery table 33 in the direction of the feed roller pair 35 that is the document return direction, and aligns the front end surface in the document return direction.

  A pair of delivery rollers (feeding means) 35 rotates in the direction in which the document is fed out, and feeds the document on the document delivery table 33 to the transport roller pair 36 along the transport path 38 while separating the documents one by one. The conveyance roller pair 36 conveys the fed document to the discharge roller pair 37. The discharge roller pair 37 sends out the conveyed document onto the document table 31.

  The document separation member 21 and the delivery roller 22 of the main body 11 function as delivery means for separating the documents on the document placement table 31 one by one and feeding them to the conveyance roller pair 23. The conveyance roller pair 23 is a document placement table. The document fed from 31 is conveyed in the direction of the reading unit conveying roller pair 24.

  The reading unit conveying roller pair 24, 25, 26 conveys the document sent from the conveying roller pair 23 to the document reading unit 28 along the reading / conveying path 29, and further to the reverse discharge roller 27. And carry.

  The document reading unit 28 optically scans the surface of the document conveyed on the reading conveyance path 29 on the document reading unit 28 side, and reads an image on the surface of the document on the document reading unit 28 side.

  The reverse paper discharge roller 27 feeds the original as it is onto the original paper discharge tray 33 when the original which has been read and conveyed by the original reading unit 28 is a single-side original, but the original is a double-side original. If there is, the reverse paper discharge roller 27 rotates when the trailing edge of the document sent from the reading unit conveying roller pair 26 is conveyed to a position away from the conveying path from the reading unit conveying roller pair 26. The document that has been transported in the reverse direction is transported in the direction opposite to the reading unit transport roller pair 24 with the trailing edge of the document as the leading edge.

  The reading unit conveyance roller pairs 24, 25, and 26 convey the document that has been reversed and conveyed again to the document reading unit 28 along the reading and conveyance path 29, and further convey the document to the reverse discharge roller 27. . At this time, the document reading unit 28 reads an image on the back side of the reversely conveyed document.

  When the original that has been reversely conveyed and the image on the back side is read is discharged as it is onto the original discharge stand 33, the front and back sides are reversed on the original discharge stand 33 as compared to the case of a single-sided original. In this state, the paper is discharged.

  Therefore, when the reversely conveyed document is conveyed, the reverse discharge roller 27 is moved to the position where the rear end of the original is conveyed to a position away from the conveyance path from the reading unit conveyance roller pair 26. The document which has been rotated in the reverse direction and transported in the reverse direction is transported again in the direction of the scanning unit transporting roller pair 24 with the trailing edge of the document as the leading edge, and the scanning unit transporting roller pairs 24, 25 and 26 The reversely conveyed document is conveyed on the reading conveyance path 29 and is conveyed again to the reverse discharge roller 27. At this time, the document reading unit 28 does not read the image of the document. Then, the reverse discharge roller 27 discharges the conveyed document onto the document discharge table 33.

  The transport roller pair 23, the plurality of reading unit transport roller pairs 24, 25, 25 and the reverse discharge roller 27 function as a document transport unit 40 as a whole, and the document placement table 31, paper feed guide 32, the document separating member 21 and the delivery roller 22 function as a document placing portion 41 as a whole. The document discharge table 33, the paper feed guide 34, and the feed roller pair 35 function as a document discharge unit 42 as a whole. The feed roller pair 35, the transport roller pair 36, and the discharge roller pair 37 are As a whole, it functions as a return unit (return means) 43. Further, the reverse discharge roller 27 and the reading unit transport roller pair 24, 25, 26 function as a reverse transport unit 44 as a whole.

  Although not shown, the image reading device GS includes a document sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a document on the document placement table 31 and a document on the document delivery table 33 in the document placement unit 41 and the document delivery unit 42, respectively. A paper discharge document sensor is provided for detecting the presence or absence of the document.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the image processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, when a necessary setting operation such as a reading condition in the image reading apparatus GS is performed by the computers PC1 to PCn and a reading start operation is performed, the computers PC1 to PCn are controlled. A signal is transmitted to the image reading device GS via the network NW, the image reading device GS receives the control signal, and the image of the document set on the document table 31 is designated by the control signal. Reading is performed based on reading conditions and the like, and the image data of the read original is transmitted to the computers PC1 to PCn that have instructed the reading or the destination computers PC1 to PCn designated by the control signal. At this time, the image reading device GS separates the document placed on the document placement table 31 one by one by the document separation member 21 and the feed roller 22 and feeds the document into the main body unit 11. The document on which the image of the document is read is discharged onto the document discharge table 33, and the document on the document discharge table 33 is returned to the document table 31 by the return unit 43 in the mounting surface and the mounting order. The document is returned to the document placing table 31 in the original placement state.

  In the following, an example will be described in which the user changes various reading conditions in the image reading device GS with the computers PC1 to PCn and repeatedly reads an original with the image reading device GS to set optimum reading conditions. .

  Now, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the user goes to the place where the image reading device GS is installed, and the three-page document is placed on the document table 31 with the document image surface facing upward. It is assumed that the uppermost page is one page and the lowermost page is three pages.

  In this state, when the user returns to the computers PC1 to PCn and performs operations such as setting of necessary reading conditions and performs a reading start operation, the computers PC1 to PCn read the control signals via the network NW. Send to device GS.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the image reading device GS receives a reading instruction and reading conditions, the image reading device GS sets the reading conditions (step S101), and sets an initial value “1” in a counter i for counting the number of read originals. ”Is set (step S102), the document on the document table 31 is separated one by one by the document separating member 21 and the feed roller 22, and sent to the transport roller pair 23 to start the reading process (step S103). ).

  When the image reading device GS starts the reading process, the conveying roller pair 23 conveys the document sent from the document table 31 toward the reading unit conveying roller pair 24, and the reading unit conveying roller pair 24 and the reading unit conveying unit. The pair of rollers 25 and 26 transport the document sent from the transport roller pair 23 to the document reading unit 28 along the read transport path 29. The image reading device GS further conveys the document to the reverse discharge roller 27, and the document reading unit 28 reads the image of the document conveyed along the reading conveyance path 29 from the computers PC1 to PCn. The image is read under conditions and the necessary image processing is performed (step S104).

  When the image reading device GS conveys the original to the reverse discharge roller 27 and the original is a single-sided original, the reverse discharge roller 27 feeds the original as it is onto the original discharge tray 33. In the case of a double-sided document, as described above, the reverse discharge roller 27 is reversed and the document is conveyed in the direction of the reading unit conveying roller pair 24 with the trailing edge of the document as the leading end. 24, 25, and 26 are conveyed again to the document reading unit 28 along the reading and conveying path 29, and the document reading unit 28 is caused to read the image on the reverse side of the reversely conveyed document.

  When the image reading device GS conveys the document whose back side has been read to the reverse discharge roller 27, the image reading device GS conveys the rear end portion of the document to a position away from the conveying path from the reading unit conveying roller pair 26 as described above. At this point, the direction of rotation of the reverse discharge roller 27 is reversed, and the original that has been reversely conveyed is conveyed again in the direction of the reading unit conveying roller pair 24 with the trailing edge of the original as the leading edge. The pair of conveying rollers 24, 25, and 26 convey the original document that has been reversed and conveyed along the reading and conveying path 29, and again convey it to the reversed paper discharge roller 27. Then, the reverse discharge roller 27 discharges the conveyed document onto the document discharge table 33.

  As described above, since the image reading device GS transports the document on the document placement table 31 to the reverse discharge roller 27 by reversing the front and back through the reading transport path 29, the document transported to the reverse discharge roller 27 is In the case of a single-sided document, the image surface is conveyed to the reverse sheet discharge roller 27 with the image surface facing the document reading unit 28 side. As shown in the figure, on the document discharge tray 33, the image surface is directed downward (toward the document discharge tray 33), and the first page is the bottom row, and the next page of documents is sequentially placed on the top. Are discharged so that they overlap. Further, when the original conveyed to the reverse discharge roller 27 is a double-sided original, if the reverse side image is read by the original reading unit 28 and conveyed to the reverse discharge roller 27, the original is discharged as it is. When discharged onto the paper table 33, the paper is discharged onto the document discharge table 33 in a state where the back surface is directed downward, that is, in a state opposite to the front and back of a single-sided document. Therefore, as described above, the image reading device GS reversely conveys the double-sided original for the double-sided original that has been read from the back side image, as in the case of the single-sided original. In addition, the paper is conveyed to the reverse paper discharge roller 27 in a state where the image surface of the front surface is directed to the original reading unit 28, and is discharged onto the original paper discharge tray 33 in that state.

  When the image reading apparatus GS discharges the entire original on the original discharge tray 33 with the front image surface facing downward, the original placement table 41 is thus read out. If the original sensor detects whether there is an original on top, and there is an original, the process returns to step S102, and the count value of the read original number counter i is incremented by "1", and the same applies to the next original. The document is conveyed and the image is read (steps S102 to S104).

  The image reading device GS sequentially conveys and reads the document, and when the document sensor detects that there is no document on the document table 41, it checks whether there is a change in the reading conditions from the computers PC1 to PCn ( In step S105, when the reading condition is changed, the return unit 43 is activated, and the documents on the document discharge table 33 are returned one by one from the uppermost document to the document table 31 by the return unit 43 sequentially (step S105). Step S106).

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 3B, the return unit 43 is placed on the document discharge tray 33 so that the last page is the uppermost row and the lower pages are successively younger. In order to return the original document one by one from the topmost document one by one with the front and back sides reversed, the original document is initially placed on the original document placement table 31 in the placement surface and the placement order. In the same state as the state of being placed on the table 31, that is, with the document image surface facing upward, the top page is placed in one page and the bottom page is placed in page order of 3 pages. The

  When the return of the document from the document discharge table 33 to the document placement table 31 is completed in this way, the image reading device GS returns to step S101, and the reading newly specified by the signals from the computers PC1 to PCn. Conditions are set (step S101), and the document returned to the document table 31 is sequentially transported and read in the same manner as described above (steps S101 to S104), and when all the documents have been read, It is checked whether there is a change in the reading conditions from the computers PC1 to PCn (step S105).

  If there is no change in the reading conditions in step S105, the image reading device GS ends the reading process with the return process.

  As described above, in the image processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the image reading device GS sends a document from the document table 31 to the document reading unit 28 in response to an instruction from the computers PC1 to PCn, and the document reading unit. The document placed on the document placing table 31 in the original placing state on the placing surface and the placing order by the return unit 43 is read by the document 28 after reading the image of the document on the document delivery stand 33. 31 is returned.

  Accordingly, it is possible to easily and easily perform re-reading by repeatedly carrying and returning a document as necessary while suppressing an increase in size of the image reading device GS, and to reduce the usability when performing re-reading. And can be improved easily.

  Further, in the image processing system 1 of the present embodiment, the document transport unit 40 removes a plurality of documents on the document placement table 31 placed in a predetermined order on the image surface with respect to the image plane. On the paper table 33, the pages are sequentially conveyed in a state in which the page stacking order with respect to the image surface is the same as the mounting order on the document table 31.

  Accordingly, the document can be appropriately circulated and conveyed with a simple configuration, and the document can be read again at low cost and easily.

  Further, the image processing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a paper feed guide 34 that aligns the front end surface in the conveyance direction of the document to be placed on the document placement table 31 and the document discharge table 33, and the front end surface by the paper feed guide 34. Are provided with a feeding document separating member 21, a feeding roller 22 and a feeding roller pair 35 for separating and feeding a plurality of originals arranged in order from the upper surface side as a predetermined surface one by one.

  Therefore, the originals can be reliably conveyed and returned one by one, and the original can be read again more appropriately.

  In the image processing system 1 according to the present embodiment, the document transport unit 40 transports the document on the document placement table 31 to the document discharge table 33 via the image reading unit 28 and the document reading unit 28 sets the image of the document. , The document on the document delivery table 31 is returned to the document placement table 31 by the return unit 43, the reading conditions at the document reading unit 28 are changed, and then the document returned on the document placement table 31 is read. A document return reading process in which the document transport unit 40 transports the document to the document discharge tray 33 via the image reading unit 28 and reads the image of the document by the document reading unit 28 is repeatedly executed a predetermined number of times.

  Therefore, the original can be repeatedly read while maintaining the original front and back and the order of placement, and more appropriate reading conditions can be easily and easily set, and only by operation with the computers PC1 to PCn, By changing the reading conditions in various ways, the image reading device GS can repeatedly read the original, and the usability can be improved.

  Further, in the image processing system 1 of the present embodiment, the document conveying unit 40 reverses the surface of the document whose surface image is read by the document reading unit 28 and conveys the document to the document reading unit 28, and also the document reading unit A reverse conveyance unit 44 is provided that reverses the original from which the image on the back side has been read at 28 and conveys the original to the original discharge tray 33.

  Accordingly, the double-sided document can be appropriately returned with its front and back surfaces and the order of placement being originally placed on the document placement table 31, and the usability can be improved.

  In the above description, when the reading conditions are changed from the computers PC1 to PCn, the document discharged onto the document discharge table 33 is returned to the document table 31 by the return unit 43, and rereading is performed. The return of the document by the return unit 43 is not limited to the above case, and the document discharged onto the document discharge tray 33 in response to a reread request from the computers PC1 to PCn for the document that has been read once is returned to the return unit. It may be returned to the document table 31 at 43 and reread.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when the reread button is pressed on the scanner driver setting screen and the reread signal is sent from the computers PC1 to PCn, the image reading device GS is sent from the computers PC1 to PCn. (Step S201), the presence / absence of the document on the document discharge table 33 is detected by the discharged document sensor of the document discharge table 33 (Step S202). When there is no document, there is no document to be returned and read. Processing such as sending a message to that effect (such as an error message) to the computers PC1 to PCn is performed, and the rereading processing is terminated.

  In step S202, when there is a document discharged to the document discharge tray 33, the image reading device GS sets an initial value “1” to the counter i that counts the number of document transported sheets (step S202), and returns it. The unit 43 is activated to start a document return process in which the document on the document discharge table 33 is returned one by one from the uppermost document to the document placement table 31 by the return unit 43 (step S205).

  When the document returning process is started, the image reading device GS separates the documents on the document discharge tray 33 one by one by the delivery roller pair 35 and sends them to the transport roller pair 36 along the transport path 38. The paired document 36 conveys the fed document to the discharge roller pair 37, and the document conveyed by the discharge roller pair 37 is reversed from the front and back surfaces on the document discharge table 33. It is sent out on the mounting table 31.

  When the image reading device GS returns one document on the document discharge table 33 to the document placement table 31, the image reading device GS detects the presence or absence of the document on the document discharge table 33 by the discharged document sensor, and there is a document. Then, returning to step S203, the document on the document discharge table 33 is returned to the document table 31 by the return unit 43 in the same manner as described above (steps S202 to S205).

  When there are no more documents on the document delivery table 33, the documents returned on the document placement table 31 are transported one by one to the main body 11 as in FIG. A document return reading process (scanning process) for discharging the document that has been read by the unit 28 and whose image has been read onto the document discharge table 33 is performed, and the rereading process is terminated (step S206).

  As described above, when the image processing system 1 of the present embodiment sends a reread instruction from the computers PC1 to PCn to the image reading device GS, the image reading device GS detects the presence or absence of the document on the document discharge table 33. Then, when there is a document on the document delivery table 33, the return unit 43 returns the document on the document delivery table 33 to the document placement table 31, and the document transport unit 40 returns it to the document placement table 31. The original document is conveyed to the document discharge table 33 via the document reading unit 28, and the document reading unit 28 reads the image of the document.

  Accordingly, by instructing the image reading device GS from the computers PC1 to PCn via the network NW, the original document is repeatedly moved without manually moving the document from the document discharge table 33 to the document placement table 31. Reading processing can be performed, and usability can be improved.

  Further, the movement of the document from the document discharge table 33 of the image reading device GS to the document placement table 31 can be easily performed from an application such as a scanner driver of the computers PC1 to PCn, and the image reading device GS reads the document. By looking at the image of the document with the preview function of the computers PC1 to PCn, appropriately changing the reading condition, and repeatedly performing the reading process, it is possible to easily set a more appropriate reading condition.

  Then, the image processing system 1 according to the present embodiment transfers the image data of the document read by the image reading device GS to the printer Pr connected to the network NW according to the reading conditions set in the processing of FIG. 4 or FIG. The image data is transmitted from the image reading device GS directly or via the computers PC1 to PCn, and the printer Pr performs print output based on the image data.

  In this way, it is possible to appropriately print out an image of a document that has been appropriately set and read, and improve the usability.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  A document conveying device that repeatedly conveys one or a plurality of documents between a document placing portion and a document discharge portion, an image processing device that reads the document that is repeatedly conveyed, and an instruction from the information processing device to the image processing device The present invention can be applied to an image processing system in which a document is repeatedly conveyed and read.

1 is a system configuration diagram of an image processing system to which one embodiment of a document conveying device, an image processing device, and an image processing system of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic front configuration diagram of the image reading apparatus in FIG. 1. FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing a document placement state (a) on the document placement table of FIG. 2 and a document placement state (b) of a document on the document delivery table; 2 is a flowchart showing document reading / returning processing by the image processing system of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart showing document return / read processing based on a reread instruction by the image processing system of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing system NW network PC1-PCn Computer GS Image reading apparatus Pr Printer 11 Main body part 12 Feeding / discharging connection part 21 Original separation member 22 Feeding roller 23 Conveying roller pair 24 Reading roller 24 Reading roller 25, 25, 27 Conveying roller 28 Reverse discharge roller 29 Document reading section 31 Document placement table 32 Paper feed guide 33 Document discharge table 34 Paper feed guide 35 Return roller 36 Feed roller 37 Separation roller 38 Transport roller 39 Discharge roller pair 41 Document placement section 42 Document discharge Part 43 Returning and transporting part

Claims (9)

  In a document transport device that transports a document on a document placement unit on which a plurality of documents can be placed to a document delivery unit via a document reading unit, the document ejected on the document delivery unit is placed on the placement surface. And a document transporting apparatus, comprising: a return unit that returns the document to the document placement unit in an initial placement state on the document placement unit in the placement order.   An image in which a document transport unit transports the document on a document placement unit on which a plurality of documents can be placed to a document discharge unit via the document reading unit, and at least the document reading unit reads an image of the document. In the processing apparatus, the document transport unit places the document ejected to the document delivery unit on the document placement unit in the original placement state of the document on the document placement unit in the placement surface and placement order. An image processing apparatus comprising a return unit for returning.   An image in which a document transport unit transports the document on a document placement unit on which a plurality of documents can be placed to a document discharge unit via the document reading unit, and at least the document reading unit reads an image of the document. A processing device and an information processing device that causes the image processing device to perform processing are connected via a predetermined communication line, and the image processing device receives the instructions from the document conveying unit in response to an instruction from the information processing device. An image processing system for reading a document to be conveyed by the document reading unit and transmitting image data of the read document to the information processing device, wherein the document conveying unit of the image processing device is connected to the document discharge unit. An image processing system comprising: a return unit that returns the discharged document to the document placement unit in the original placement state of the document on the document placement unit in the placement surface and placement order. system.   The document transport device or the document transport unit has a plurality of documents placed on the document placement unit in a predetermined order with respect to the image plane on the document delivery unit. 3. The document conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document is sequentially conveyed in a state in which the page stacking order with respect to the image surface is the same as the order of placing on the document placing unit. The image processing system according to claim 3 or a processing device.   In the document conveying device, the document placing unit and the document discharge unit are arranged so that at least the front end surface in the conveying direction of the placed document is aligned, and the front end surface is aligned by the guide unit. 5. A document conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a feeding unit that separates and feeds a plurality of placed documents one by one from a predetermined surface side. Image processing apparatus or image processing system.   When the image processing system sends a reread instruction from the information processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus detects the presence or absence of the document on the document discharge unit, and discharges the document. If there is a document on the section, the return section returns the document on the document discharge section to the document placement section, and the document transport section sends the document returned on the document placement section to the document placement section. The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the image processing system is conveyed to a document discharge unit via a document reading unit, and an image of the document is read by the document reading unit.   In the image processing apparatus or the image processing system, the document transport unit transports the document on the document placement unit to the document discharge unit via the image reading unit, and the document reading unit scans the document. The image is read, the document on the document discharge unit is returned to the document placement unit by the return unit, the reading conditions at the document reading unit are changed, and then returned to the document placement unit. The document return reading process in which the document is conveyed by the document conveying unit to the document discharge unit via the image reading unit and the image of the document is read by the document reading unit is repeatedly performed a predetermined number of times. The image processing apparatus or image processing system according to claim 2.   The document conveying device or the document conveying unit inverts the document whose front image is read by the document reading unit and conveys it to the document reading unit, and reads the image on the back surface by the document reading unit. 8. The document conveying device, the image processing device, or the image processing according to claim 1, further comprising a reversing conveyance unit that reverses the document again and again and conveys the document to the document discharge unit. system. The image processing apparatus or the image processing system includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on image data, and causes the image forming unit to form an image based on the image data read by the image reading unit. The image processing apparatus or the image processing system according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus.

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