JP2008017193A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus by which no user forgets to take a draft with him (her). <P>SOLUTION: The user sets the draft to a draft carrying apparatus and inputs a copy condition. The draft is carried and an image of the draft is read. When a reading of all drafts is finished, a presence or an absence of the draft is detected in the draft carrying apparatus. If the presence of the draft is detected; it is judged that the draft is left, a printing is not started, and an alarm is given out. If the absence of the draft is detected, it is judged that the draft has been removed, and the printing is started. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that outputs image data of an input document by printing or data transmission.

  The image processing apparatus reads the original and prints the input image data, or transmits the image data to another image processing apparatus by facsimile communication or data communication. Such an image processing apparatus is installed in a place where an unspecified person can use, such as a convenience store, and is used to provide a copy service.

  When the user places a document on the document table, copying is performed and a recording sheet on which image data is printed is output. After copying, the user takes out the document. However, the user may forget to take the manuscript, and if another person takes away the manuscript, the contents of the manuscript will be known, and there is a problem in terms of information protection.

In order to prevent such a problem, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561, the presence or absence of a document in the document reading unit is detected when copying is completed. If it is confirmed that the manuscript has been forgotten, the fact is notified.
JP 2005-84403 A

  In the above image processing apparatus, when the document is forgotten to be removed, a message forgetting to remove it is displayed on the operation panel. If the user looks at the operation panel, he / she notices that he / she has forgotten to take the document. However, when the user does not look at the operation panel, this message is not noticed, and the document remains on the document table without being removed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can reliably eliminate forgetting to take a document.

  The present invention provides an input means for inputting image data of an original, an output means for outputting input image data, an original detection means for detecting whether or not an original has been removed from the input means, and an original removed And control means for operating the output means when it is confirmed.

  The document detection means detects the presence or absence of a document in the input means. If the control unit detects that there is a document, the control unit determines that the document has not been removed, and does not operate the output unit. The user notices that he / she has forgotten to take the document because the output means does not operate at all. If the control unit detects that there is no document, the control unit determines that the document has been removed, and operates the output unit. The image data is output in the form designated by the user.

  The document detection unit detects whether or not the document has been removed when the input of the image data by the input unit is completed. When the input of the image data is completed, the document is no longer necessary and the document can be removed. Therefore, the control means confirms whether or not the document has been removed at this time. Since the next operation is not started until the document is removed, the user is kept waiting. As a result, an effect of prompting the user to remove the document can be obtained.

  Here, the input means includes a document placement table, and the document detection means detects the presence or absence of a document on the document placement table. The document is placed on the document table, and the input means reads the image of the document and inputs image data.

  In this case, the document detection means uses a document size detection sensor that detects the document size on the document table. The document size detection sensor is usually provided for the document table, and uses this to detect the presence or absence of a document.

  The document size detection sensor detects the document size when the input of the image data by the input unit is completed. If there is no document on the platen, the document size cannot be detected. When the document size cannot be detected, the control unit determines that the document has been removed and operates the output unit. If there is a document on the platen, the document size can be detected. That is, it can be determined that the document has not been removed.

  The input unit includes a document table having a document cover, and the document detection unit detects the presence or absence of a document based on the open / close state of the document cover. In order to remove the document placed on the document placement table, it is necessary to open and close the document cover. The control means can determine the presence / absence of a document based on the open / close state of the document cover.

  The document detection unit detects the open / close state of the document cover when the input of the image data by the input unit is completed. When the document is removed, the document cover is opened. When it is confirmed that the document cover is opened, the control means determines that the document has been removed and operates the output means. If the document cover remains closed, it can be determined that the document has not been removed.

  Alternatively, the presence or absence of a document can be detected by a change in state when the document cover is opened and closed. When the input of the image data by the input means is completed, if the document cover changes from the closed state to the open state, it can be determined that the user has opened and closed the document cover to remove the document. Alternatively, the user may place the document on the document table, read the document without closing the document cover, and after the reading is completed, the user may remove the document and close the document cover. At this time, the document cover changes from the open state to the closed state. Therefore, when it is confirmed that the document cover has been opened and closed, the control unit determines that the document has been removed and operates the output unit.

  The input unit includes a document conveying device, and the document detecting unit detects the presence or absence of a document on the document discharge tray of the document conveying device. This document transport device automatically transports a document, and an image of the document is read during the transport. The read original is stacked on the original discharge tray. Therefore, when the document detection unit detects the presence or absence of the document in the document discharge tray, the control unit can determine whether or not the document has been removed.

  When the input of the image data by the input unit is completed, the document detection unit detects whether or not there is a document in the document discharge tray, and when the control unit confirms that there is no document in the document discharge tray, the document detection unit operates the output unit. When all the originals are conveyed and the input of the image data is completed, the originals are stacked on the original discharge tray. When there are no more documents in the document discharge tray, the document has been removed, and the control unit can determine that the document has been removed. If there is a document in the document discharge tray, it is determined that the document has not been removed.

  According to the present invention, when the document has not been removed, the operation of outputting the image data is restricted, so that an effect of prompting the user to forget to remove the document can be obtained. As a result, the user feels strange that no operation is performed, so that the user can notice that he / she has forgotten to take the document. Therefore, it is possible to realize an image processing apparatus with high security that prevents the document from being forgotten and prevents the document information from being known to others.

  An image processing apparatus according to this embodiment is shown in FIGS. The image processing apparatus is an MFP that executes a copy mode, a print mode, a scanner mode, and a facsimile mode, and a scanner unit 2 that reads a document and inputs image data to the cabinet 1, and an image data process that processes the image data. Unit 3 and an information processing unit 4 for processing input information such as authentication information.

  The image data processing unit 3 includes an image processing unit 5 that performs editing, storage, and output processing of input image data, a network communication unit 7 that performs data communication via a network, and a print that prints and outputs image data. A management unit 9 that stores control information and setting information for the entire device, and a device control unit 10 that controls the entire device. The image processing unit 5 includes a hard disk device for storing image data and a memory.

  The information processing unit 4 includes an operation unit 11 for input operation, a display unit 12 that displays an operation screen, an interface unit 13 that communicates with a mobile terminal device such as a USB device or an IC card, and information such as authentication information. It has a memory 14 for storing, and a control unit 15 for processing the input operation information and authentication information. Communication by the interface unit 13 is not limited to wired communication but may be wireless.

  The operation unit 11 and the display unit 12 are provided on the operation panel 16 as shown in FIG. The operation unit 11 includes various operation keys. The display unit 12 includes a liquid crystal display and is a touch panel. Touch keys are formed in the operation screen displayed on the display unit 12, and these also function as operation keys.

  A plurality of image processing apparatuses are connected to a network such as a LAN or a WAN. A plurality of external devices are connected to the network. The external device is an information processing device such as a personal computer or a server. The network is connected to the Internet from a router through a communication line such as a telephone line or an optical fiber. The network communication unit of the image processing apparatus 1 can communicate with an external device through a network using a predetermined communication protocol. The image processing apparatuses can also communicate with each other. Communication within the network may be wired or wireless. An image processing system is formed by these image processing devices and external devices.

  The image processing apparatus has a modem device, and a telephone line is connected to the modem device. The image processing apparatus 1 can perform facsimile communication. Further, the image processing apparatus and the external apparatus can perform data communication by Internet facsimile through a network.

  The device control unit 10 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. When the image data is input, the device control unit 10 receives the print mode, copy mode, and scanner based on the processing conditions included in the input information from the operation unit 11 and the header information of the image data input from the external device. Either mode or facsimile mode is executed.

  Image data is input by reading an original in the scanner unit 2. The scanner unit functions as an input unit for inputting image data of a document. The image data is transmitted from the external device to the image processing device through the network 6. The network communication unit 7 receives and inputs image data. In the case of reception by facsimile, the modem device inputs image data. Thus, the network communication unit and the modem device function as input means for inputting image data.

  In the print mode and the copy mode, the image processing unit 5 performs image processing on the image data, and then the printing unit 8 prints an image on a recording sheet. In the scanner mode, the image data is stored in the hard disk device, and the image data is transmitted to the external device through the network communication unit 7 when called from the external device. In the facsimile mode, image data is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus through the modem apparatus. Thus, the print unit, network communication unit, and modem device function as output means for outputting image data.

  Here, the scanner unit 2 and the print unit 8 of the image processing apparatus will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the scanner unit 2 includes a document conveying device 20. The document conveying device 20 automatically conveys the document in order to read the image data of the document. The document conveying device 20 is disposed above the cabinet 1. A document table 21 made of platen glass is provided on the upper surface of the cabinet 1, and a document cover 22 that covers the document table 21 is provided. The document conveying device 20 is integrally mounted on the document cover 22.

  The document cover 22 can be freely opened and closed. When the document cover 22 is in a closed state, the document is conveyed by the document conveying device 20. When the document cover 22 is open, the document can be placed on the document table 21. A cover opening / closing sensor 23 for detecting opening / closing of the document cover 22 is provided to detect whether the document cover 22 is open or closed.

  In addition, a document size detection sensor 24 for detecting the size of the document placed on the document table 21 is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of document size detection sensors 24 are arranged below the document table 21 along the periphery of the document table 21. Each document size detection sensor 24 is disposed at each of positions A, B, C, W, X, Y, and Z corresponding to the document size, and the device control unit 10 responds to a detection signal from each document size detection sensor 24. Determine the document size. The presence / absence of a document on the document table 21 can also be detected using the document size detection sensor 24.

  When the original is set on the original setting tray 30 of the original conveying device 20, the original detection sensor 31 detects that the original is set. That is, the document detection sensor 31 detects the presence or absence of a document in the document transport device 20.

  Then, on the operation panel 16, copy conditions such as a recording paper size and a scaling ratio are input. Thereafter, copying is started by an input operation of the start key.

  In the document conveying device 20, each document on the document setting tray 30 is pulled out one by one by the pickup roller 32. The original passes through the separation plate 33 and the conveying roller 34 and is sent to the original table 21. The document is conveyed on the document table 21 in the sub-scanning direction and discharged to the document discharge tray 35. The document discharge tray 35 is provided with a document discharge sensor 36 to detect the presence or absence of a document on the document discharge tray 35. 2 and 4, the position of the document discharge tray 35 is different, but any position may be used, and the position of the document discharge tray 35 is determined depending on the model.

  A reading area is formed on one side of the document table 21 and passes through the reading area when the document is conveyed on the document table 21. Below the reading area, the first scanning unit 38 of the first reading unit 37 is positioned, and the surface (lower side) of the document is read.

  When the document is transported to the document table 21 by the document transport device 20, the first scanning unit 38 is moved to the reading position and positioned, and the second scanning unit 39 is also positioned at a predetermined position. The surface of the document is irradiated from below the document table 21 by the exposure lamp of the first scanning unit 38. Reflected light from the original is guided to the imaging lens 40 by the respective reflecting mirrors of the first and second scanning units 38 and 39. The reflected light of the document is condensed on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 41 by the imaging lens 40. An image on the surface of the document is formed on the CCD 41. As a result, the image on the surface of the conveyed document is read.

  Further, the second reading unit 22 reads the back surface (upper side surface) of the document. The second reading unit 42 is disposed above the document table 21 and has an LED that irradiates the back surface of the document, an exposure lamp array having a fluorescent lamp, a self-focal lens array that collects reflected light of the document for each pixel, and a cell. A contact image sensor (CIS) that photoelectrically converts reflected light from a document received through a fock lens array and outputs an analog image signal is provided. As a result, the image on the back side of the conveyed document is read.

  When the document is placed on the document table 21, the first reading unit 37 reads an image on the surface of the document. The first and second scanning units 38 and 39 move in the sub-scanning direction while maintaining a predetermined speed relationship with each other. The document on the document table 21 is exposed by the first scanning unit 38, and reflected light from the document is guided to the imaging lens 40 by the first and second scanning units 38 and 39. An image of the original is formed on the CCD 41 by the imaging lens 40.

  When one side or both sides of the document are read in this way, image data on one side or both sides of the document is input to the image data processing unit 3. Here, the image processing unit 5 performs various types of image processing on the image data. This image data is output to the printing unit 8.

  The print unit 8 prints an image of a document on a recording sheet based on the image data. The printing unit 8 includes a photosensitive drum 50, a charging device 51, a laser scanning unit 52, a developing device 53, a transfer device 54, a cleaning device 55, a static elimination device (not shown), a fixing device 56, and the like. In addition, a paper feed unit 60, a paper transport device 61, and a paper discharge processing device 62 are provided to supply and transport the recording paper.

  In the paper transport device 61, a main transport path 63 and a reverse transport path 64 are formed, and the recording paper supplied from the paper feed unit 60 is transported along the main transport path 63. The paper feed unit 60 pulls out the recording paper stored in the paper cassette 65 or the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 66 one by one, and sends it out to the main conveyance path 63.

  The photosensitive drum 50 and the fixing device 56 are arranged along the main conveyance path 63, and the transfer device 54 is arranged to face the photosensitive drum 50 across the main conveyance path 63. The recording sheet passes between the photosensitive drum 50 and the transfer device 54 and passes through the fixing device 56. During this passage, an image is printed on the recording paper.

  The photoconductor drum 50 rotates in one direction, and the cleaning device 55 and the charge removal device remove the charge on the surface of the photoconductor drum 50 and clean it. The charging device 51 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 50 uniformly. The laser scanning unit 52 modulates laser light based on the image data from the scanner unit 2, and repeatedly scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 50 in the main scanning direction with this laser light, and the electrostatic latent image is transferred to the photosensitive drum 50. Form on the surface. The developing device 53 supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 50 to develop the electrostatic latent image, and forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 50. The transfer device 54 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 50 onto the recording paper. The fixing device 56 heats and pressurizes the recording paper to fix the toner image on the recording paper.

  A branching claw 67 is disposed at a connection position between the main conveyance path 63 and the reverse conveyance path 64. The branch claw 67 is rotatable and its posture is switched. When printing is performed on only one side of the recording paper, the branching claw 67 is switched to the transporting posture, and the recording paper from the fixing device 56 is guided to the paper discharge tray 68 or the paper discharge processing device 62 by the branching claw 67. When printing is performed on both sides of the recording paper, the branching claw 67 is switched to the reverse posture, and the recording paper is guided to the reverse conveyance path 64. Then, the recording sheet passes through the reverse conveyance path 64, is reversed on the front and back, and is conveyed again to the main conveyance path 63. During this conveyance, printing is performed on the back surface of the recording paper.

  The recording sheet on which the image is printed is discharged from the main conveyance path 63 to the discharge tray 68. Alternatively, the paper is discharged to one of the paper discharge trays 69 of the paper discharge processing device 62.

  The paper discharge processing device 62 performs any post-processing such as sorting and discharging a plurality of recording papers to the respective paper discharge trays 69, performing punching processing on each recording paper, and performing stapling processing on each recording paper. . For example, when creating a plurality of printed materials, each recording sheet is sorted and discharged to each discharge tray 69 so that a part of the printed material is allocated to each discharge tray 69. For each paper discharge tray 69, the recording paper stacked on the paper discharge tray 69 is subjected to punching processing or stapling processing to create a printed matter.

  In this image processing apparatus, in order to prevent forgetting to remove a document, the presence or absence of a document in the scanner unit 2 is detected, and processing on input image data is restricted when the document remains. That is, the device control unit 10 operates the output unit when confirming that the document has been removed. For this purpose, the device control unit 10 determines whether or not the document has been removed from the scanner unit 2, and when confirming that the document has been removed, the printing unit 2, the network communication unit 7, Means for operating the modem device to output image data and means for prohibiting the operation of the output means when it is confirmed that a document remains.

  The detection of the presence or absence of a document in the scanner unit 2 can be detected by the document detection sensor 31 for the document on the document set tray 30 and the document discharge sensor 36 for the document on the document discharge tray 35, respectively. A document placed on the document table 21 can be detected by a document size detection sensor 24. Further, the presence / absence of a document can be detected by detecting the open / closed state of the document cover 22 by the cover open / close sensor 23. For example, when the document cover 22 is changed from the closed state to the open state, or when the document cover 22 is opened and closed, it can be determined that there is no document on the document table 21.

  The timing for detecting the presence or absence of a document is when the input of image data is completed after the document is read. At this timing, the device control unit 10 determines whether the document has been removed based on the output of the sensor corresponding to the document reading mode.

  Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus when the user copies a document and forgets to remove the document will be described with reference to FIG. A user places a document on the document set tray 30. It is detected by the document detection sensor 31 that the document is set (S1). The user selects a copy mode from the operation unit 11 and inputs a copy condition (S2). When the user operates the start key (S3), the device control unit 10 starts reading a document. The document is conveyed by the scanner unit 2 and an image of the document is read (S4). The document is discharged to the document discharge tray 35. The document discharge sensor 36 detects that there is a document on the document discharge tray 35. When it is detected by the output of the document detection sensor 31 that there is no document on the document set tray 30, the device control unit 10 determines that all the documents have been read (S5).

  At this time, the device control unit 10 checks whether or not the document has been removed from the scanner unit 2 (S6). When the user takes out the document from the document discharge tray 35, the document discharge sensor 36 detects the absence of the document. The device control unit 10 determines that the document has been removed based on the output of the document discharge sensor 36. In the document set tray 30 as well, the document detection sensor 31 detects that there is no document.

  When the document discharge sensor 36 detects the presence of a document, the device control unit 10 determines that the document has not been removed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the device control unit 10 displays a message on the display unit 12 so as to remove the document. Then, the device control unit 10 waits for the operation of the printing unit 8 until it detects that the document has been removed. Instead of warning that the document has been forgotten to be removed, a warning such as sound or a buzzer may be used.

  When the device control unit 10 confirms that the document has been removed by the output of the document discharge sensor 36, the device control unit 10 operates the printing unit 8. The image of the original is printed on the recording paper by the printing unit 8 (S7). When printing of the input image data is completed (S8), the image processing apparatus enters a standby state.

  In the above description, the document conveying device 20 is used. However, when copying one document, the document is placed on the document table 21. In this case as well, after the image of the original is read, it is confirmed whether the original has been removed.

  If the document is still placed on the document table 21, the document size detection sensor 24 located below the document detects the presence of the document. The device control unit 10 determines that a document remains from the output of the document size detection sensor 24. When each document size detection sensor 24 detects that there is no document, the device control unit 10 determines that the document has been removed from the document table 21.

  The presence or absence of a document can also be detected by the open / close state of the document cover 22. That is, the user places the document on the document table 21 and closes the document cover 22. After the document image is read, the cover open / close sensor 23 detects the open / close state of the document cover 22. When the user opens the document cover 22 and takes out the document, the cover open / close sensor 23 detects the open state of the document cover 22. At this time, the device control unit 10 confirms that the document cover 22 has changed from the closed state to the open state, and determines that the document has been removed from the document table 21. If the cover open / close sensor 23 still detects the closed state of the document cover 22, the device control unit 10 determines that the document remains.

  Further, it can be detected that the document is removed from the document cover 22 being opened and closed. When an image of a document is read with the document cover 22 open, the user removes the document from the document table 21 and closes the document cover 22. The cover open / close sensor 23 detects the closed state after detecting the open state of the document cover 22. The device control unit 10 determines that the document has been removed from the document table 21 when it is confirmed that the document cover 22 has changed from the open state at the time of document reading to the closed state after the reading is completed. If the document cover 22 is in an open state even after the reading is completed, the device control unit 10 cannot confirm that the document has been removed. Therefore, the device control unit 10 notifies the user by display or sound so as to close the document cover 22.

  As described above, when it is confirmed that the document is removed, the operation after reading the image of the document is started. However, if the user has forgotten to take the document, the operation after reading the image of the document will not be started. Therefore, the user thinks that something has gone wrong and notices that he has forgotten to take the manuscript. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to take a document and to prevent the document from being lost.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. In the above description, the copy mode is used. However, in the facsimile mode or the scanner mode, it is possible to prevent the document from being forgotten. In the facsimile mode, the facsimile transmission of the image data is prohibited after reading the image of the document until it is confirmed that the document has been removed. In the scanner mode, data transmission of image data to an external device is prohibited until it is confirmed that the document has been removed after reading the image of the document.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the image processing apparatus of this invention Perspective view of image processing apparatus Diagram showing the operation panel The figure which shows the mechanism of the scanner part of an image processing apparatus, and a printing part The figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the document size detection sensor for detecting a document size Flowchart for preventing forgetting to remove originals when copying Figure showing a warning screen when you forget to remove a document

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Scanner part 3 Image data process part 4 Information processing part 8 Print part 10 Device control part 11 Operation part 12 Display part 20 Document feeder 21 Document stand 22 Document cover 23 Cover opening / closing sensor 24 Document size detection sensor 31 Document detection sensor 35 Document Discharge tray 36 Document discharge sensor

Claims (9)

An input means for inputting image data of an original, an output means for outputting input image data, an original detection means for detecting whether or not an original has been removed from the input means, and confirmation that the original has been removed An image processing apparatus comprising control means for operating the output means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document detection unit detects whether or not the document has been removed when the input of the image data by the input unit is completed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit includes a document placement table, and the document detection unit detects presence / absence of a document on the document placement table. The document detection means uses a document size detection sensor that detects the document size on the document placement table. The document size detection sensor detects the document size when the input of the image data by the input means is completed, and the control means 4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein if the document size cannot be detected, it is determined that the document has been removed, and the output means is operated. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit includes a document table having a document cover, and the document detection unit detects the presence or absence of a document based on an open / close state of the document cover. The document detection means detects the open / close state of the document cover when the input of the image data by the input means is completed, and the control means confirms that the document cover is open and operates the output means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The document detecting means detects the open / close state of the document cover when the input of image data by the input means is completed, and the control means operates the output means when confirming that the document cover is opened / closed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit includes a document conveyance device, and the document detection unit detects the presence or absence of a document on a document discharge tray of the document conveyance device. When the input of the image data by the input unit is completed, the document detection unit detects the presence or absence of a document in the document discharge tray, and the control unit operates the output unit when it is confirmed that there is no document in the document discharge tray. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8.

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