JP2008211522A - Image reader and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader capable of detecting even a size other than standard sizes, and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image reader has: a device for mounting an original; and an original illuminating means for illuminating the original, and further has a determining function for scanning the original on the mounting device by the original illuminating means to acquire image data of a plurality of lines of the original and for using the image data to determine a main scanning size of the original. Since an original of an optional size can be detected by acquiring image data at a position separated from a reference position at which the original illuminating means starts reading an original only by an optional distance, even a size other than standard sizes can be detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus in an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a multifunction machine, and more particularly to an apparatus for detecting a document size in an image reading unit.

The background of the present invention will be described.
In the conventional document reading apparatus, an infrared sensor is used as a method for detecting a document size when reading a book. However, in recent years, a method for detecting a document size by using a line sensor for reading a document is used without using an infrared sensor. It has become like this. When the document size is detected, not only the main scanning size but also the size in the sub-scanning direction is required. However, when the document size detection in the sub-scanning direction is performed, the document surface is pressed as in the technique described in Patent Document 1. You need to be able to do it. In this case, since it affects the scanning speed and the size detection takes time, the document size detection in the sub-scanning direction is actually performed by an infrared sensor as in the prior art, as in the technique described in Patent Document 2. A method using line sensor read data is mainly used only for scanning direction detection.
JP-A-10-257255 JP 2000-138798 A

  However, when a document size is detected using a document reading line sensor, it is theoretically possible to detect an arbitrary length. On the other hand, the length in the sub-scanning direction is determined by the position of the infrared sensor. Since the fixed size is fixed at a position where it can be detected, only the fixed size in the sub-scanning direction can be detected.

  Image obtained by scanning a document with a document irradiation means such as a lamp to obtain image data of a plurality of lines of the document, determining the main scanning size of the document using the image data, and determining the sub-scanning size using an infrared sensor In the reading apparatus, since the sensor position of the sub-scanning size is fixed, it is impossible to determine an arbitrary sub-scanning size, and it is impossible to detect other than the standard size.

  Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can detect even a size other than the standard size.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 includes an apparatus for placing a document and a document irradiating means for irradiating the document, and the document irradiating means allows a document on the placing apparatus to be placed. It has a determination function that scans to acquire image data of a plurality of lines of a document and determines the main scanning size of the document using the image data, and an arbitrary distance from a reference position at which the document irradiating means starts reading the document. A document having an arbitrary size can be detected by acquiring the image data at a position separated by a distance.

  The invention according to claim 2 has a setting screen for the user to set in the invention according to claim 1, and has a setting function for the user to set an arbitrary main scanning length and sub-scanning length on the setting screen. And an arbitrary document size set by the setting function is detected.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the system has a system administrator setting screen that allows only a specific user registered in the system as a system administrator to set the system. This setting can be set only on the system administrator setting screen.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, there is an upper limit on a document size that can be set by a user.

  The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 4, when the user sets a size larger than the upper limit of the document size, it is displayed on the setting screen that the upper limit is exceeded. And

  The invention described in claim 6 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 4, when a user sets a size larger than the upper limit of the document size, a warning sound is generated.

  The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 4, when the user sets a size larger than the upper limit of the document size, the setting is invalidated.

  The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 2, a lower limit is provided for the document size that can be set by the user.

  The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 8, when the user sets a size smaller than the lower limit of the document size, the setting screen displays that the lower limit is exceeded. And

  The invention described in claim 10 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 8, when a user sets a size smaller than the lower limit of the document size, a warning sound is generated.

  The invention described in claim 11 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 8, when the user sets a size smaller than the lower limit of the document size, the setting is invalidated.

  The invention described in claim 12 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 2, the setting unit of the length can be switched on the screen on which the user sets an arbitrary document size.

  A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the image reading device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a paper feed tray on which a standard size paper can be set. Comparing means for comparing the paper size set in the tray, and when the user setting size matches the size of the paper set in the paper feed tray by the comparing means, the standard size is displayed on the setting screen. It is characterized in that it is displayed.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the image reading device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a paper feed tray on which a standard size paper can be set. Comparing means for comparing the paper sizes set in the tray, and when the user-set size matches the size of the paper set in the paper feed tray by the comparing means, a warning sound is emitted. It is characterized by that.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the image reading device according to the second aspect, the image forming apparatus includes a paper feed tray on which a standard size paper can be set. Comparing means for comparing the paper sizes set in the tray is provided, and the setting is invalidated when the user setting size matches the size of the paper set in the paper feed tray. It is characterized by doing so.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having the image reading device according to the second aspect, further comprising a paper feed tray capable of feeding paper of an arbitrary size, and a document size set by the user by the setting function In the case where the sheet is detected, the sheet is fed from the sheet feeding tray.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a document placing device and a document irradiating unit for irradiating a document, and the document irradiating unit scans the document on the placing device to acquire image data of a plurality of lines of the document. And a determination function for determining the main scanning size of the document using the image data, and by acquiring the image data at a position separated from the reference position where the document irradiation unit starts reading the document by an arbitrary distance, Since it is possible to detect a document of a size, even a size other than the standard size can be detected.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image reading apparatus that is an object of the present invention.
This image reading apparatus irradiates a document 10 placed on a contact glass 1 forming a document surface with light from a lamp 2 and reflects light reflected by a first mirror 3, a second mirror 4, and a third mirror 5. The light is collected by the lens 8 and imaged on the CCD 9. While the lamp 2 and the first mirror 3 travel a distance L, the second mirror 4 and the third mirror 5 travel a distance L / 2. This keeps the optical path length of the optical system constant and scans the entire document.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mechanical configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG.
The first carriage 6 including the lamp 2 and the first mirror 3 is attached to the drive wire 11, and the second carriage 7 including the second mirror 4 and the third mirror 5 is wound around the pulley 12. . The drive wire 11 is wound around the wire pulley 15 connected to the drive shaft 14, and the drive of the motor 18 is transmitted by the timing pulley 16 and the timing belt 17.

  A position where a certain distance is returned after one end of the first carriage 6 crosses the home position sensor 13 is defined as a home position.

FIG. 3 is a system control block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
A control mode that is an embodiment of the image reading apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
The system controller 630 can have a plurality of functions of a single application such as a scanner application, a copy application, a FAX application, and a printer application, and controls the entire system.
The operation panel control device 631 is a device for displaying the setting input of the image reading device and the contents of the state.
The image control device 632 reads a document image and writes an image on a transfer sheet by a known electrophotographic technique.
The image data bus / control command bus 620 is a bus through which image data and control commands are transferred in a time division manner.

The CPU 605 controls the system controller 630. In the ROM 604, a control program for the system controller 630 is written. A RAM 603 is a working memory used by the CPU 605.
The NVRAM 602 is a nonvolatile memory and stores information on the entire system.
The network I / F controller 6006 performs connection control with the network.
A system I / F 607 controls transfer of FAX data and printer data processed in the system according to a command from the CPU 605.

A work memory 600 is a working memory for image development used in the printer.
The frame memory 601 is a working memory that stores image data of a read image and a write image, and the image data may be encoded or a dot image.
The FIFO buffer 609 performs data transfer rate conversion when writing an input image to the frame memory. Similarly, the FIFO buffer 608 performs speed conversion when transferring image data in the frame memory as an output image.

The memory controller 610 controls input / output of images between the frame memory and the HDDC 650 and the bus without the control of the CPU 605.
The HDDC 650 has a known HDD inside and performs input / output control of image data to the HDD. The HDD stores an image read by the image reading device 623 and an image acquired via a network.

The CPU 617 controls the operation panel control device 611. The ROM 616 stores a control program for the operation panel control device 611. A RAM 618 is a working memory used by the CPU 617.
The input device 614 is a device by which a user inputs system settings.
The display device 615 is a device for displaying them so that the user can confirm the setting contents and status of the system.
The CPU 625 controls the image input / output control device 632. In the ROM 629, a control program for the image input / output device 632 is written. A RAM 628 is a working memory used by the CPU 625. The image writing unit 623 is a control unit of a known optical writing apparatus that turns on laser light at a pixel frequency and scans it with a polygon scanner.

The image reading unit 624 is a unit that controls a known optical scanner that reflects lamp light from a document and reads it by a CCD. The image reading unit 624 performs image processing to separate visible and invisible identifiers from the image data. The above-mentioned separated identifier is encoded by the CPU 625 and sent to the system controller 630 to identify the image processing apparatus and computer existing on the network.
The document conveyance control unit 634 conveys documents read by the image reading unit 623 one by one from the stacked documents. The document conveyance control unit 634 also performs document size detection.
The electrophotographic process unit 626 is a unit that controls a well-known electrophotographic technique in which a latent image written on a photosensitive member with a laser beam is converted into a real image with toner and transferred and fixed on a sheet.

  The transfer paper conveyance control 627 performs conveyance control of paper on which an image is transferred by the electrophotographic unit 626. The transfer paper conveyance control 627 feeds transfer paper from a manual paper feed tray 511 that can set paper of an arbitrary size and paper feed trays 512, 513, 514, and 515 that can set paper of a standard size.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
A RAM 1013 is connected to the CPU 1004 via a bus line, and the CPU 1004 is connected to the scanner 1001, the IPU 1002, and the printer 1003 via another bus line. The CPU 1004 is connected to an operation unit 1005 having another CPU and a display unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram in the IPU 1002, which is a main component of the present invention.
Although desired image processing is performed on the original reading data received from the scanner 1001, when the original size detection operation is performed, the image data is stored in a multi-line memory 1012 connected to the image processing module 1011.
A memory control 1013 for controlling the multi-line memory 1012 is also provided, so that the CPU 1004 can read / write the multi-line memory 1012 data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a document size detection operation sequence of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
The document size operation will be described below with reference to FIG.
When the carriage is placed at the document size detection position and the pressure plate is closed, or when the user starts reading the document, the document size detection operation is started (step S1). The opening / closing of the pressure plate is detected by ON / OFF of the DF opening / closing sensor. When document size detection is started, first, preparations necessary for document size detection are made (step S2).
In step S2, setting of document reading timing for document size detection as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and preparation setting necessary for shading correction are executed as necessary.
When preparation is completed in step S1, document irradiation is started to acquire data for size detection (step S2).
In step S2, lamp lighting is performed.

In FIG. 6, step S1 and step S2 are described as being sequentially processed, but there is no particular order, and parallel processing is also possible.
When the processing of step S1 and step S2 is completed, data acquisition for document size detection is executed (step S3).

  In step S3, a write signal for the document size is generated, image data is read within the valid period of the write signal, and the process ends. At this time, reading may be performed while moving the carriage and scanning the document, or reading may be performed while the carriage is stopped at the document size detection position to acquire read image data of two or more lines.

  When scanning is performed while moving the carriage and scanning the document, it is possible to read images at different positions on the document, which may cause erroneous detection of the document size depending on the content of the image data on the document. In addition to preventing this, the carriage is moved to the original document reading (main scanning) position in parallel with the reading, so that the time until the start of the main scanning after the document detection can be shortened.

On the other hand, if reading is performed while the carriage is stopped at the document size detection position, it is possible to clearly detect the influence of external light on the document table and the change in the lighting state of the document irradiation lamp from the contents of the image data. (Detection is not impossible even when the carriage is moved).
When the acquisition of data for detecting the document size is completed in step S3, the irradiation of the document is terminated (step S4).

  However, in the case where the main scan is started immediately after the acquisition of the document size detection data is completed, the processing of step S4 may not be performed, and the document irradiation lamp may be kept on. FIG. 6 does not describe a process for determining whether to execute the main scan.

Further, the process of step S4 is not regulated in order with the process of step S5 described below, and can be performed in parallel.
When the processing in step S3 is completed, the read document image data is extracted to analyze the document size (step S5).

In the present embodiment, the read document image data is extracted by reading data stored in the multi-line memory 1012 from the CPU 1004 shown in FIG.
The image data extracted in step S5 is analyzed, and the document size is determined (step S6).
Details of the analysis in step S6 will be described in the embodiments of each claim.

If the determination of the document size is successful in step S6, the document size is determined in step S8.
Specifically, the determination of the document size is to store the document size information in a program execution memory 1013 (RAM) connected to the CPU 1004 in FIG. 5, and thereafter the document size determined as necessary. Read and use information.

After the document size is determined, the document size detection operation is completed (step S9).
If determination of the document size fails in step S7, the document size detection operation is completed without determining the document size (step S9).
Examples of document size determination failures include black documents, the influence of external light on the document table, and the illumination state of the illumination lamp (when the lamp is turned on but the light quantity is not stable) It is conceivable that the size of the document cannot be determined from the read data due to the execution of the program.
The basic sequence of the document size detection operation in the present invention is as described above.

[Details of Step S7]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the memory control 1013 in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
The line sensor reading is performed by receiving from the image processing module 1011 the XLSYNC signal that is the reference for one line, the PCLK that is the pixel clock, and the XFSYNC signal that indicates the line sensor reading start trigger, and the write reset (XWRST) signal and the write An enable (XWE) signal is passed. At the same time, the CPU 1004 receives four parameters indicating the memory write area, ie, main scan start, main scan width, sub scan start, and sub scan width, and determines the memory write position from the two reference signals: XFSYNC and XLSYNC.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing timing in the sub-scanning direction in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing timing in the main scanning direction in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. 8 and 9, the horizontal axis is the time axis, and the vertical axis is the voltage axis of the signals XFSYNC, XLSYNC, XWRST, and XWE in order from the top.
By having the above configuration as the memory control, it is possible to simultaneously write data of a plurality of patches in a two-dimensional direction as shown in FIG. 11 into the memory (the hatched portion indicates the memory writing area).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the image data in step S6 in the basic flowchart of FIG. 6 is extracted. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between patch data and signals L (n) IN, L (n) JUDGE, and XWE in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention.
The patch data shown in FIG. 11 is read from a plurality of line memories 1012 one by one to the RAM 1013 of the CPU 1004, and an average value of one patch is obtained and binarized to perform monochrome determination of the patch.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the monochrome determination flow is started, the number of pixels in one patch is set in step S11.
Thereafter, reading is performed in units of one pixel from the multi-line memory 1012, and the set N pixels are added (steps S12, S13, and S18).
Thereafter, in step S14, an average value in one patch is obtained, and binarization of the patch is performed (step S15).
From the result, the black pixel and white pixel of the patch are determined (steps S16 and S17), and the monochrome determination flow is terminated.
As the flow for obtaining the average value, the total average is obtained after the total addition of N pixels (steps S13 and S14). Even if the final determination is repeated, there is no influence on the present invention.

Next, an embodiment in which image data is analyzed and size detection is performed (step S6) in the basic flowchart of FIG.
The basic algorithm for document size detection utilizes the fact that when the platen is open, the white background portion of the document and the non-document portion outside the document become black with no reflected light. That is, in FIG. 12, it is determined that there is an original when it is brighter than the threshold value TH and that there is no original when it is darker than the threshold value TH. Further, at the document edge, the document edge is determined using the fact that there is a document inside the document and there is no document outside the document, and the main scanning document size is determined based on the position of the document edge.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the document density and the reading time in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, an example of detecting the document size will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 17 and 13.
FIG. 13 is an example of a flowchart for determining a standard document size in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of an indefinite size scanning length in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention.
In order to detect standard sizes such as A3 size, A4 size, and A5 size, a patch set as shown in FIG. 17 is prepared.
There are as many patch sets as the standard size that can be detected. In each standard size, the black and white determination of the patch corresponding to the position where the inside / outside of the document is switched is performed, and it is determined whether or not it is the document edge.
In FIG. 17, n in L (n) IN and L (n) JUDGE indicates how many patch sets are set (n = 0 from the inside in the main scanning direction), and IN and JUDGE indicate positions in the main scanning direction. IN indicates the main scanning position where all the detection target documents enter the document, and JUDGE indicates the main scanning position where the inside / outside of the document is switched by the document.

  The document size detected by the patch set L (n) IN and L (n) JUDGE is SIZE (n).

This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the number N of patch sets is set as an initial value for n (step S501).
By the above method, it is determined whether L (n) JUDGE is black or white (step S502).
If L (n) JUDGE is white, it is determined that the document size cannot be detected (step S503).
If L (n) JUDGE is black, it is subsequently determined whether L (n) IN is black or white (step S504).
If L (n) IN is white, it is determined that the position of the n patch set is the document edge, and the detected size is set to SIZE (n) (step S505).
If L (n) IN is black, it is determined that there is no document at the n patch set position, and it is checked whether n = 1 (step S506).

  If n = 1, it is determined that the document size cannot be detected (or there is no document) (step S7). If n ≠ 1, n = n−1 is set (step S508), and step S502 and subsequent steps are repeated until n = 1.

[Operation of claim 1]
An example of detecting an arbitrary document size using the main scanning size detection method will be described with reference to FIGS. 17, 18, and 20.
FIG. 18 is an example of a flowchart for determining an indefinite document size in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 20 is an example of a flowchart for obtaining arbitrary document size data in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention.
First, an example of acquiring data for size detection will be described using the flowchart of FIG.
Assuming that the sub-scan length of the document size to be detected is X and the margin for determining the document edge is α, the irradiation of the lamp 2 is started, and the carriage 6 is moved to a position separated from the home position by X−α (step). S551).
When the light quantity is stabilized, patch data L (X) IN521 and patch data L (X) JUDGE 522 are acquired using the patch shown in FIG. 17 (step S552).

Subsequently, the carriage 6 is moved to a position away from the home position by X + α (step S553).
Subsequently, patch data L (X) SUB_JUDGE 523 is acquired (step S554).
When the acquisition of the patch data is finished, the irradiation of the lamp 2 is finished.

Next, an example of detecting the document size based on the patch data will be described using the flowchart of FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not the patch data L (X) JUDGE is black (step S531).
If L (X) JUDGE is white, it is determined that the document size is not the designated one (step S532).
If L (X) JUDGE is black, it is then determined whether or not the patch data L (X) SUB_JUDGE is black (step S533).
If L (X) SUB_JUDGE is white, it is determined that the document size is not the designated one (step S534).
If L (X) SUB_JUDGE is black, it is then determined whether or not the patch data L (X) IN is white (step S535).
If L (X) IN is black, it is determined that the document size is not the designated one (step S536).
If L (X) IN is white, it is determined that the size is the designated size (step S537).

[Operation of claim 2]
FIG. 19 is an example of a flowchart of document size determination in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. An example of detecting an arbitrary document size and standard size set by the user will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of the image reading apparatus.
In this figure, 301 is a display unit, 302 is a first carriage, 303 is a second carriage, 304 is a sensor, 305 is a lamp, 306 is a housing, 307 is a lens, 308 is a CCD, 309 is a substrate, 310 is a document, Reference numeral 311 denotes a motor.

FIG. 16 is an external view illustrating an example of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus.
When the initial setting button 100 in the operation display unit in FIG. 16 is pressed, the initial setting screen in FIG. 26 is displayed on the display unit 105. When the indefinite document size setting icon 401 is pressed, a document size setting screen (see FIG. 25) is displayed.
When the user inputs a document size with the numeric keypad 106 and presses the setting icon 412, the input document size is stored in the NVRAM 650. When the document size detection starts, the CPU 625 creates the patch pattern shown in FIG. 17 based on the size data stored in the NVRAM 650, and uses this to create the patch data L (n) according to the procedure of claim 1. IN, L (n) JUDGE (n is 0 to N, and X), and L (X) SUB_JUDGE is acquired.

Next, an example of document size detection will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether the document size is a standard document size (step S541).
Details are as described above with reference to FIG. When the standard document size detection determines the size, the document size detection is terminated (step S542: see FIG. 19).
If the size has not been determined, then an indefinite document size is detected (step S543: see FIG. 19). The details are as described above in the operation of the first aspect.

If the size is determined by the indefinite document size detection, the document size detection is terminated (step S544: see FIG. 19).
If the size is not fixed, it is determined that the document size is unknown, and the document size detection is terminated (step S545: see FIG. 19).

[Operation of claim 3]
FIG. 21 is an example of a flowchart of document size determination in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention.
The setting according to claim 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In the setting of claim 2, when the administrator setting icon 400 on the system initial setting screen is selected 903 from the initial setting screen of FIG. 26, the administrator of FIG. 22 is identified before the administrator setting screen is displayed. An authentication code input screen is displayed.
FIG. 26 is an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 22 is an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 23 is an example of data indicating a relationship between a password and an administrator ID.

The user inputs the administrator ID and the administrator authentication code (step S904), and when the administrator ID registered in the system and the administrator authentication code shown in FIG. 23 match (step S905), An administrator screen is displayed (step S906), and the document size described in claim 2 can be set.
The administrator ID and the administrator authentication code are stored in the NVRAM 602.

[Operation of claim 4]
An example in which an upper limit is set in advance for the document size that can be set in the setting of claim 2 will be described.
In the setting of the second aspect, the document size input by the user with the numeric keypad 106 is compared with the upper limit size that can be set by the system and stored in advance in the ROM 604. If the input size is smaller than the upper limit, the NVRAM 602 is used. Save to.

[Operation of claim 5]
In the function of claim 5, when the input size is larger than the upper limit, an example of displaying the fact will be described.
When the setting according to claim 2 is performed, the document size input by the user using the numeric keypad 106 is compared with the upper limit size stored in the ROM 604 in advance and can be set by the system. The display device 615 displays this fact to the user (see FIG. 24). The display contents are programmed in the ROM 616.
FIG. 24 is an example of a setting display screen displayed on the image forming apparatus according to the present invention when the set value exceeds the upper limit.

[Operation of claim 6]
In the function of claim 6, an example of sounding a warning sound when the input size is larger than the upper limit will be described. When the setting according to claim 2 is performed, the document size input by the user with the numeric keypad 106 is compared with the upper limit size that can be set in the system and stored in advance in the ROM 604. A warning sound is generated by a speaker built in the display device 615. The warning sound is programmed in the ROM 616.

[Operation of claim 7]
In the function of claim 4, an example in which the input is invalidated when the input size is larger than the upper limit will be described. When the setting according to claim 2 is performed, the document size input by the user using the numeric keypad is compared with the upper limit size that can be set by the system and stored in advance in the ROM 604. And a value indicating that the input is invalid is stored in the NVRAM 602.
When the value of the NVRAM 602 is confirmed when the document is detected, if the value indicates invalidity, the indefinite document size is not detected.

[Operation of claim 8]
An example in which the lower limit is set in advance for the document size that can be set in the setting of claim 2 will be described. When the setting according to claim 2 is performed, the document size input by the user using the numeric keypad is compared with the lower limit size that can be set by the system and stored in the ROM 604 in advance. Save to.

[Operation of claim 9]
In the function of claim 8, when the input size is smaller than the lower limit, an example of displaying the fact will be described. When the setting according to claim 2 is performed, the document size input by the user using the numeric keypad is compared with the lower limit size that can be set in the system and stored in the ROM 604 in advance. The display device 615 displays this fact to the user (see FIG. 27). The display contents are programmed in the ROM 616.
FIG. 27 is an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention when the set value exceeds the lower limit.

[Operation of Claim 10]
In the function according to claim 8, an example in which a warning sound is generated when the input size is smaller than the lower limit will be described. When the setting according to claim 2 is performed, the document size input by the user using the numeric keypad is compared with the lower limit size that can be set in the system and stored in the ROM 604 in advance. A warning sound is emitted from the built-in speaker of the display device 615. The warning sound is programmed in the ROM 616 (see FIG. 28).
FIG. 28 is an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Operation of Claim 11]
In the function of claim 8, an example will be described in which the input is invalidated when the input size is smaller than the lower limit. When the setting according to claim 2 is performed, the document size input by the user using the numeric keypad is compared with the lower limit size that can be set in the system and stored in the ROM 604 in advance. The setting is invalidated and a value indicating that the input is invalid is stored in the NVRAM 602. When the value of the NVRAM 602 is confirmed when the document is detected, if the value indicates invalidity, the indefinite document size is not detected.

[Operation of claim 12]
An example of switching the input document size unit in the setting of claim 2 will be described. In the setting of claim 1, an icon 411 representing switching of input units is shown on the display device 615. When the user presses the icon 411, the setting unit is switched by the CPU 617. Examples of the setting unit include mm and inch.

[Operation of claims 13 and 14]
In the image forming apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, an example will be described in which, when the input size is equal to the standard paper size set in the paper feed tray, that effect is displayed.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein when the user displays the indefinite document size setting screen of FIG. 25 and inputs an arbitrary indeterminate document size using the numeric keypad 106, the CPU 605 causes each of the feeds stored in the NVRAM 650 to be stored. The main scanning size of the standard size of the paper trays 512, 513, 514, and 515 is compared with the inputted main scanning size. If both match, the sub-scan sizes are similarly compared. If they match, it is determined that the input document sizes are the same, and a message to that effect is displayed (see FIG. 25).
FIG. 25 is an example of an indefinite document size setting screen displayed on the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Operation of Claim 15]
In the image forming apparatus according to claim 13, an example in which a warning sound is generated when the input size is equal to the standard paper size set in the paper feed tray will be described.
In the image reading and forming apparatus according to claim 4, when the user displays the indefinite document size setting screen of FIG. 25 and inputs an arbitrary indefinite document size using the numeric keypad 106, the CPU 605 feeds each paper feed stored in the NVRAM 650. The main scan size of the standard size of the trays 512, 513, 514, and 515 is compared with the input main scan size. If both match, the sub-scan sizes are similarly compared.
If they match, it is determined that the input document sizes are the same, and a warning sound is emitted from the speaker built in the display device 615. The warning sound data is stored in the ROM 616.

[Operation of claim 16]
In the image forming apparatus according to claim 13, an example in which the setting is invalidated when the input size is equal to the standard paper size set in the paper feed tray will be described. In the image forming apparatus according to claim 13, when the user displays the indefinite document size setting screen of FIG. 25 and inputs an arbitrary indefinite document size using the numeric keypad 106, the CPU 605 causes each paper feed tray stored in the NVRAM 650 to be displayed. The main scan sizes 512, 513, 514, and 515 are compared with the input main scan size. If both match, the sub-scan sizes are similarly compared. If they match, it is determined that the input document sizes are the same, the setting is invalidated, and a value indicating that the input is invalid is stored in the NVRAM 602. When the value of the NVRAM 602 is confirmed when the document is detected, if the value indicates invalidity, the indefinite document size is not detected.

[Operation of claim 17]
In the image forming apparatus according to claim 13, an example in which an arbitrary paper size is fed from a tray capable of feeding when an indefinite document size input by a user is detected will be described. When the function of claim 13 detects a document of an indefinite size set by the user, the CPU 625 notifies the system controller 630 of the fact. The CPU 605 in the system controller 630 requests the image input / output control device 632 to feed paper from the manual feed tray 511 and print it. The CPU 625 instructs the transfer paper conveyance control unit 627 to feed paper from the manual feed tray 511. The transfer paper conveyance control unit 627 feeds paper from the paper feed tray 511 (see FIG. 14).
FIG. 14 is a layout diagram of paper feed trays in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  The above-described embodiment shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. is there.

〔effect〕
In the image reading apparatus, the image data acquisition position for determining the main scanning size is made to coincide with an arbitrary sub-scanning position, and it is determined not only in the main scanning but also in the arbitrary position by determining whether or not the document is an end using the image data. Sub-scanning size detection can be made possible.

  Depending on user settings, a specific arbitrary size document can be detected.

  Except for a system administrator who is set in advance, the setting screen allows the user to disable the setting function for setting an arbitrary main scanning length and sub-scanning length.

  Documents larger than the range that can be scanned by the document irradiator cannot be read, so the user can set an upper limit on the setting function that sets the desired main scanning length and sub-scanning length on the setting screen. It is possible to prevent a larger size from being set.

  By displaying on the setting screen that the size set by the user exceeds the settable size, it is possible to prompt the user to change the setting.

  By notifying by a warning sound that the size set by the user exceeds the settable size, it is possible to prompt the user to change the setting.

  If the size set by the user exceeds the settable size, reading with that document size is impossible, and the setting can be invalidated.

  For example, when the main scanning or sub-scanning length is set to 0, the original cannot be read. Therefore, by setting a lower limit in the setting, it is possible to prevent a size smaller than the readable size from being set. it can.

  By displaying on the setting screen that the size set by the user is below the settable size, the user can be prompted to change the setting.

  By notifying the user with a warning sound that the size set by the user is below the settable size, the user can be prompted to change the setting.

  If the size set by the user is smaller than the settable size, the document size cannot be read, and the setting can be invalidated.

  When setting the setting function that allows the user to set the desired main scanning length and sub-scanning length on the setting screen, for example, it is possible to set in either millimeter units or inch units, thereby improving the user-friendliness. be able to.

  Compare the original size set by the user with the standard size paper set in the paper feed tray. If they match, the original size can be detected by the conventional method. In addition, since it is not necessary to use a setting function for setting the sub-scanning length, it is possible to prompt the user to change the setting by displaying this on the setting screen.

  Compare the original size set by the user with the standard size paper set in the paper feed tray. If they match, the original size can be detected by the conventional method. In addition, since it is not necessary to use a setting function for setting the sub-scanning length, it is possible to prompt the user to change the setting by sounding a warning sound.

  Compare the original size set by the user with the standard size paper set in the paper feed tray. If they match, the original size can be detected by the conventional method. In addition, since it is not necessary to use a setting function for setting the sub-scanning length, the setting can be invalidated.

  It has a paper feed tray that can feed non-standard size paper, and the setting function allows the user to set arbitrary main scanning length and sub-scanning length on the setting screen. In this case, the user's ease of use can be improved by printing the original image on the irregular size paper.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image reading apparatus that is an object of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a mechanical configuration of the image reading apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. 1 is a system control block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a block diagram in IPU1002 used as the main component of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a document size detection operation sequence of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a diagram showing an example of a memory control 1013 in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating timing in the sub-scanning direction in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating timing in the main scanning direction in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows embodiment which takes out the image data of step S6 in the basic flowchart of FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the patch data and the signal L (n) IN, L (n) JUDGE, and XWE in the image reading apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between document density and reading time in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. 6 is an example of a flowchart for determining a standard document size in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of a paper feed tray in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an image reading device. 3 is an external view illustrating an example of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the scanning length of the indefinite size in the image reading apparatus which concerns on this invention. 3 is an example of a flowchart of indeterminate document size determination in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is an example of a flowchart of document size determination in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. 6 is an example of a flowchart for obtaining arbitrary document size data in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is an example of a flowchart of document size determination in the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. 4 is an example of a screen displayed on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is an example of the data which shows the relationship between a PIN code and manager ID. 4 is an example of a setting display screen displayed on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention when a set value exceeds an upper limit. 4 is an example of an indefinite document size setting screen displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 4 is an example of a screen displayed on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 7 is an example of a screen displayed on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention when a set value exceeds a lower limit. 4 is an example of a screen displayed on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Contact glass 2 Lamp 3 1st mirror 4 2nd mirror 5 3rd mirror 6 1st carriage 7 2nd carriage 8 Lens 9 CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Document 11 Drive wire 12 Pulley 13 Home position sensor 14 Drive shaft 15 Wire pulley 16 Timing pulley 17 Timing belt 18 Motor

Claims (17)

  An apparatus for placing a document and a document irradiating unit for irradiating the document. The document irradiating unit scans the document on the placing apparatus to obtain image data of a plurality of lines of the document. It has a determination function for determining the main scanning size of a document using data, and the image irradiating means acquires arbitrary image data by acquiring the image data at a position away from a reference position where document reading starts. An image reading apparatus characterized in that a document having a size of 1 can be detected.   It has a setting screen for the user to set, and the setting screen has a setting function for the user to set an arbitrary main scanning length and sub-scanning length, and detects an arbitrary document size set by the setting function The image reading apparatus according to claim 1.   It has a system administrator setting screen in which only a specific user registered in the system as a system administrator can set the system, and the setting of the sub-scanning length can be set only on the system administrator setting screen. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2.   3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein there is an upper limit on a document size that can be set by a user.   5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the user sets a size larger than the upper limit of the document size, the setting screen displays that the upper limit is exceeded.   5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a warning sound is emitted when a user sets a size larger than the upper limit of the document size.   5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the user sets a size larger than the upper limit of the document size, the setting is invalidated.   3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a lower limit is set for a document size that can be set by a user.   9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the user sets a size smaller than the lower limit of the document size, the setting screen displays that the lower limit is exceeded.   9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a warning sound is emitted when a user sets a size smaller than the lower limit of the document size.   9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the user sets a size smaller than the lower limit of the document size, the setting is invalidated.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the user can switch the length setting unit on a screen for setting an arbitrary document size.   An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 1.   3. The image forming apparatus having the image reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a paper feed tray capable of setting a standard size paper, a size set by the user by the setting function, and a paper size set in the paper feed tray. Comparing means for comparing the user setting size and the size of the paper set in the paper feed tray by the comparing means to display that the standard size is displayed on the setting screen. An image forming apparatus.   3. The image forming apparatus having the image reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a paper feed tray capable of setting a standard size paper, a size set by the user by the setting function, and a paper size set in the paper feed tray. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that a comparison sound is compared, and a warning sound is emitted when the user setting size matches the size of the paper set in the paper feed tray. apparatus.   3. The image forming apparatus having the image reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a paper feed tray on which a standard size paper can be set, and a size set by the user by the setting function and a paper size set in the paper feed tray. And comparing means for making the setting invalid when the user-set size matches the size of the paper set in the paper feed tray. Image forming apparatus.   3. The image forming apparatus having the image reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a paper feed tray capable of feeding paper of an arbitrary size, and when the document size set by the user is detected by the setting function, An image forming apparatus characterized in that paper is fed from a tray.

Images