JP2008283278A - Image processor and control method for image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor which greatly reduces a time needed to detect a document size and is superior in handleability. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor according to the present invention has: a line sensor 1024 which reads an image of one line of the document placed on an original table in a main scanning direction; a document detection sensor 110 which is configured to move in the original table in the main scanning direction and in a sub-scanning direction and detects whether there is a document at a specified position on the original table; a main-scanning-directional length holding means of detecting and holding the length of the document placed on the original table in the main scanning direction detected by the line sensor 1024, and a standard length decision means of deciding whether the length held by the main-scanning-directional length holding means matches a standard length, and the image processor moves the document detection sensor 1100 when the standard length decision means decides that the length held by the main-scanning-directional length holding means does not match the standard length. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a scanner apparatus, a copying apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, or a digital multi-function peripheral equipped with a scanner section and a printer section, and in particular, detects a document size when scanning a document with the scanner section. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a control method for such an image processing apparatus.

  Conventionally, several reading methods have been put to practical use in image processing apparatuses such as an image reading apparatus. Among them, a flat table-like table is placed on the upper part, and the reading mechanism is operated with a document placed thereon. Therefore, the flat head system that reads data is common and widely used.

  Usually, a flat head type image reading apparatus includes a one-dimensional image sensor (line sensor) as a reading mechanism, and reads two-dimensional information by moving (scanning) a carriage on which the image sensor is mounted. It is like that.

  The scanned image data is subjected to image processing such as color correction in order to improve the reproducibility of the image, but in order to further improve the reproducibility, the type of document to be read, such as a monochrome document / color photograph, etc. It is necessary to select an image processing method according to the conditions. In order to shorten the reading time, it is necessary to set a reading range according to the document size.

  For this reason, some image reading apparatuses have a function of performing a pre-scan before performing a main scan to set an image processing method, a reading range, and the like.

  Here, the pre-scan is a process for quickly reading an outline of a document to be read at a low resolution of about 50 dpi, for example.

For example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-320545), a reflection type photoelectric sensor is arranged in a predetermined manner in an image reading apparatus in which a reflection type photoelectric sensor is arranged below a contact glass and the size of a document is identified. The document size is identified by discriminating the magnitude of the movement period from turning on and off of the photoelectric sensor movement control means for reciprocating in the linear movement path and the reflective photoelectric sensor moving in the linear movement path. An image reading apparatus including a main control unit is disclosed.
JP 2001-320545 A

  In an image reading apparatus such as a current scanner, when a document is placed on a document table, the main scanning direction is read by a line sensor, and the sub-scanning direction is reflected by a mirror and read by a CCD, or the sensor is placed at a fixed position. The document size is detected. In such a detection method, there is a problem that the detectable paper size is limited to a standard size determined by the standard.

  In order to detect a document of a size other than the standard size determined by the standard, there is no choice but to arrange a plurality of sensors or perform pre-scanning. The image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is to detect by moving a photoelectric sensor or a reflection type photoelectric sensor. According to such a method, it depends on the moving time of the photoelectric sensor, the reflection type photoelectric sensor, or the like. There is a problem that waiting time always occurs before image reading, and is unusable.

  In order to cope with the above problems, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a line sensor that reads an image for one column in the main scanning direction of a document placed on a document table, and a main unit in the document table. A document detection sensor configured to be movable in the scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction and detecting the presence or absence of a document at a predetermined position on the document table, and a length of the document placed on the document table by the line sensor in the main scanning direction A main scanning direction length holding means for detecting and holding the length, a length held by the main scanning direction length holding means, and a standard length judging means for judging whether or not the standard length is matched. When the standard length determining means determines that the length held by the main scanning direction length holding means does not match the standard length, the document detection sensor is moved.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the position Xo of the home position of the document detection sensor in the main scanning direction is compared with the length X held by the main scanning direction length holding unit, and X <Xo. When the main scanning direction determining means and the main scanning direction determining means determine true and the original detection sensor finds that the original exists, the original detection sensor is moved in the sub-scanning direction. The document size is detected by moving in the positive direction.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the position Xo of the home position of the document detection sensor in the main scanning direction is compared with the length X held by the main scanning direction length holding unit, and X <Xo. When the main scanning direction determining means and the main scanning direction determining means determine true and the original detection sensor finds that no original exists, the original detection sensor is moved in the sub-scanning direction. The document size is detected by moving in the negative direction.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the position Xo of the home position of the document detection sensor in the main scanning direction is compared with the length X held by the main scanning direction length holding unit, and X <Xo. When the main scanning direction determination means and the main scanning direction determination means determine false, the document detection sensor moves (X−α) in the negative direction of the main scanning direction (where 0 <α < X), and when it is determined that the document exists by the document detection sensor, the document size is detected by moving the document detection sensor in the positive direction of the sub-scanning direction.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the position Xo of the home position of the document detection sensor in the main scanning direction is compared with the length X held by the main scanning direction length holding unit, and X <Xo. When the main scanning direction determination means and the main scanning direction determination means determine false, the document detection sensor moves (X−α) in the negative direction of the main scanning direction (where 0 <α < X), and when it is determined by the document detection sensor that there is no document, the document detection sensor is moved in the negative direction of the sub-scanning direction to detect the document size.

  Further, according to the control method of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the main scanning direction of the document placed on the document table is read by a line sensor that reads an image for one column of the document placed on the document table in the main scanning direction. If the length does not match the standard length, a document detection sensor configured to be movable in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is moved inside the document table, and the size of the document is It controls to detect.

  According to the image processing apparatus and the control method of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, for a standard size document determined by the standard, the sensor or the like is moved according to information from the line sensor and the document detection sensor at the home position. Since the document detection sensor can be detected by moving the document detection sensor even when the document size is out of the standard, the time required to detect the document size can be greatly shortened. A good image processing apparatus can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a multi-function peripheral is described as an example of the image processing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to such a multi-function peripheral, but can be applied to a single image processing apparatus such as a scanner device or a facsimile dedicated machine. It is.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a facsimile apparatus (multifunction machine) and its peripherals according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 is a network such as a LAN or WAN, 20 is a telephone line, 100 is a multifunction device, 110 is a control unit that performs main control of the multifunction device, 120 is a facsimile unit that transmits and receives facsimile documents, and 130 is a recording medium. A printer unit that prints on a document, 140 a scanner unit that reads a document, 150 an operation panel unit that serves as an interface with a user, 160 a network I / F, 170 a USB I / F, 200, 200 ′, 200 '' Indicates a personal computer, and 300 indicates an external device.

  In the system around the facsimile apparatus (multifunction machine) shown in FIG. 1, personal computers 200, 200 ′, 200 ″ such as clients and the multifunction machine 100 are connected via a network 10. Further, the facsimile unit 120 of the multifunction peripheral 100 is configured to be connected to the telephone line 20 and the USB I / F 170 is connected to an external device 300 such as a mobile phone or a digital camera.

  The multifunction device 100 scans and reads a document / image in color by a control unit 110 that performs main control of the multifunction device main body including an information processing device, an operation panel unit 150 that is an input / output device that receives a user's input operation A scanner unit 140, a printer unit 130 that performs printing on printing paper or the like, and a facsimile unit 120 that performs facsimile transmission / reception are provided. That is, the multi-function device 100 includes a scanner function, a print function, a copy function combining the scanner function and the print function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function.

  Each of the information processing mechanisms of the multifunction peripheral 100 is configured by, for example, a general-purpose computer system, and each component or function is realized by, for example, executing a computer program written in a storage unit.

  The scanner unit 140 includes a document table (not shown) on which a document can be placed and an optical system that reads the document table. The document table of the scanner unit 140 is provided with a document size detection sensor that can detect the size of the document placed on the document table. Further, the multifunction peripheral 100 is provided with an automatic document feeder (ADF) that automatically and continuously feeds documents to the scanner unit 140.

  The data read by the scanner unit 140 is once stored in a storage unit (not shown) of the control unit 110. The control unit 110 outputs the document image data read by the scanner unit 140 from the printer unit 130 as it is or at a set magnification according to the designation from the operation panel unit 150 or the like (copy function of the MFP 100). , Transmitted from the facsimile unit 120 via a telephone line (facsimile function of the multifunction device 100), or transmitted to the personal computers 200, 200 ′, 200 ″ via the network I / F 160 and the network 10 (multifunction device). 100 scanner functions).

  The printer unit 130 forms an image on a recording sheet. The printer unit 130 employs a method of forming a latent image on a photoconductor with a laser or an LED line head, or directly ejects ink onto a recording sheet. A well-known hardware configuration such as an ink jet method employing the method can be used. The control unit 110 causes the printer unit 130 to perform predetermined paper output based on an instruction from the operation panel unit 150, the personal computers 200, 200 ′, and 200 ″, or an external device 300 such as a mobile phone or a digital camera. Is. That is, the printer unit 130 receives image data read by the scanner unit 140, facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 210, data from application software of the personal computers 200, 200 ′, 200 ″, and external devices 300. The image data is output on paper.

  The facsimile unit 120 is connected to the telephone line 20 and is received by a facsimile transmission / reception unit (not shown) that performs facsimile transmission / reception, a transmission buffer that temporarily stores transmission data to be transmitted by the facsimile transmission / reception unit, and a facsimile transmission / reception unit. And a facsimile unit memory for constituting a reception buffer for temporarily storing received data.

  Further, when the facsimile unit 120 receives data transmitted by facsimile from the telephone line 20, it temporarily stores the received data. The stored received data is sent to the control unit 110 and printed by the printer unit 130. The facsimile unit 120 performs facsimile transmission / reception independently of other components in the multifunction peripheral 100. In other words, when the facsimile unit 120 receives transmission data from the multifunction device 100, the facsimile unit 120 performs facsimile transmission independently of the multifunction device 100. If facsimile data is transmitted from the telephone line 20, the facsimile unit 120 receives the facsimile data.

  The copy function of the multifunction peripheral 100 is set in the control unit 110 by the user operating the operation panel unit 150. From the operation panel unit 150, a copy magnification setting, a document image size setting, and an output paper size setting related to the copy function can be set. Based on these settings, the control unit 110 can copy the MFP 100. Perform the function. The copy function of the multifunction peripheral 100 performs copy magnification processing on the original image data read by the scanner unit 140, and outputs the result to paper of a size specified by the printer unit 130.

  The hardware of the operation panel unit 150 is roughly composed of a display unit composed of an LCD for performing display related to an operation, and a touch panel unit capable of inputting by pressing with a finger or the like. The display unit and the touch panel unit are configured to overlap each other, and the user can perform various settings of the MFP 100 by operating the touch panel unit with a finger while referring to the display on the display unit. ing. A well-known technique can be used about the specific structure of the input mechanism by a touchscreen part, and the display mechanism by a display part. The operation panel unit 150 can select various functions such as a facsimile function, a printer function, and a copy function of the multifunction machine 100, and display an image preview.

  Next, the scanner unit 140 used in the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the scanner unit 140 of the image processing apparatus (multifunction machine) according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 1010 is a main body, 1011 is a document table, 1013 is a white reference, 1014 is an interface, 1020 is a carriage, 1021 is a light source, 1022 is a mirror, 1023 is a condenser lens, 1024 is a line sensor, and 1025 is an A / D. Converter, 1030 is scanner control unit, 1031 is CPU (Central Processing Unit), 1032 is RAM (Random Access Memory), 1033 is ROM (Read Only Memory), 1040 is data processing unit, 1050 is image processing unit, 1100 is manuscript Each detection sensor is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the scanner unit 140 includes a carriage 1020 inside a box-shaped main body 1010. A transparent glass platen 1011 is provided above the main body 1010. The carriage 1020 is provided inside the main body 1010 so as to be reciprocally movable in a sub-scanning direction parallel to the document table 1011 by a driving unit (not shown). A document D to be read is placed on the side opposite to the carriage of the document table 1011.

  A light source 1021, a mirror 1022, a condenser lens 1023, and a line sensor 1024 are mounted on the carriage 1020. The mirror 1022 is provided to reflect the light from the document D collected by the line sensor 1024 and to increase the optical path length. The condensing lens 1023 condenses the light from the document D on the line sensor 1024. The line sensor 1024 uses a charge coupled device in which a plurality of pixels such as a CCD are linearly arranged perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage 1020. An A / D converter 1025 is connected to the line sensor 1024, and the line sensor 1024 and the A / D converter 1025 constitute imaging means. In the A / D converter 1025, the analog electrical signal output from the line sensor 1024 is converted into a digital electrical signal.

  The light source 1021 is provided perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage 1020, and a fluorescent lamp or the like is used. Light emitted from the light source 1021 is reflected by the surface of a reflective original such as paper and is incident on the line sensor 1024. A document guide 1012 that positions the placement position of the document D to be read and regulates the movement of the document D when reading the document is provided around the document table 1011. A white reference 1013 having a highly reflective uniform reflection surface is provided at the end of the document table 1011 in the carriage movement direction.

  A scanner control unit 1030 is mounted inside the main body 1010. The scanner control unit 1030 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1031, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1032 as storage means, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1033, and a data processing unit 1040. The CPU 1031 controls the entire scanner unit 140 such as control of driving of the carriage 1020, control of blinking of the light source 1021, control of reading state of the document D, data processing unit 1040, and digital data processing in the image processing unit 1050 described later. Take control. The RAM 1032 temporarily stores digital data read by the line sensor 1024 and the like. The ROM 1033 stores a computer program for controlling each unit of the scanner unit 140 by the CPU 1031.

  The data processing unit 1040 performs shading correction, gamma correction, and other corrections on the digital light amount signal read from the document, and converts the digital light amount signal into digital data. Here, the shading correction is performed by using the data obtained by reading the white reference 1013 before starting the reading of the digital electrical signal output from the A / D converter 1025, and the sensitivity of each element of the line sensor 1024. The variation or the variation of the light amount of the light source 1021 in the main scanning direction is corrected. Gamma correction is correction performed by a predetermined gamma function. Other corrections include edge enhancement and enlargement / reduction of the reading range.

  An image processing unit 1050 connected to the scanner control unit 1030 performs image processing on the digital data output from the data processing unit 1040. Further, the image processing unit 1050 determines a document type such as color / monochrome, document / photo, or the like based on digital data read during pre-scanning.

  Digital data processed by the image processing unit 1050 is output from the interface 1014 provided in the main body 1010 to the control unit 110.

  Next, document size detection in the scanner unit 140 used in the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a document size detection mechanism of the scanner unit 140 of the image processing apparatus (multifunction machine) according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, only the mechanism necessary for detecting the document size in the scanner unit 140 is shown. Further, the document table 1011 shows a state where an A4 portrait document D and an A4 landscape document D 'are placed. In FIG. 3, the document D, the document D ′, and the like are shown transparently.

  In the figure, the back left corner of the document table 1011 is defined as the origin, and the directions indicated by the arrows are defined as the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. As for the detected length of the document size, X is used in the main scanning direction and Y is used in the sub scanning direction. The direction of the arrow in the main scanning direction is defined as the positive direction, and the direction of the arrow determination is defined as the negative direction. The same applies to the sub-scanning direction. The arrow direction is defined as a positive direction, and the arrow determination direction is defined as a negative direction. Hereinafter, the same definition is applied to similar drawings.

  The configuration of the carriage 1020 is as described above, and the line sensor 1024 senses light from the document D placed on the document table 1011. Here, in document size detection, the light source 1021 is turned on while the carriage 1020 is maintained at the home position, and the reflected light is read by the line sensor 1024, whereby the length of the document D in the main scanning direction (X direction). Is detected.

  The document detection sensor 1100 is provided in the document table 1011 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. The document detection sensor 1100 includes a light source unit that emits light directly above and a sensor unit that receives reflected light when the document D exists directly above the document detection sensor 1100. The presence / absence of the document D placed on the document table 1011 directly above can be detected. A signal from the document detection sensor 1100 for document size detection is configured to be processed by the scanner control unit 1030 or the control unit 110 in the scanner unit 140.

  The document detection sensor 1100 is configured to be movable in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction by a mechanism (not shown). Usually, the position shown in the figure is the home position.

  The outline of the document size detection of the document D placed on the document table 1011 will be described. First, the line sensor 1024 detects the length of the document D in the main scanning direction (X direction). In the illustrated example, X = 210 mm is detected when the document D is placed on the document table 1011, and X = 297 mm is detected when the document D ′ is placed. The document size is detected by considering both the length in the main scanning direction (X direction) of the document D detected by the line sensor 1024 and the presence / absence information of the document D on the document table 1011 from the document detection sensor 1100. Here, when the length of the document D detected by the line sensor 1024 in the main scanning direction (X direction) is a non-standard length, the document detection sensor 1100 is scanned by the moving mechanism. It is set to detect the size of the nonstandard document by moving in the direction and the sub-scanning direction. Details of the document size detection method will be described below.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of document size detection processing in the image processing apparatus (multifunction machine) according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where documents in row A defined by ISO are placed on document table 1011, and FIG. 6 is a diagram in which documents in row B defined by ISO are placed on document table 1011. FIG.

  FIG. 11A shows the paper size of the ISO A column (A5, A4, A3), and (B) shows the paper size of the ISO B column (B6, B5, B4). The home position of the document detection sensor 1100 is a place suitable for detecting these paper sizes by the following method.

  In step S100, when the document size detection process is started, in step S101, the line sensor 1024 detects the length X of the document D in the main scanning direction.

  In step S102, it is determined whether or not the length detected by the line sensor 1024 is X = 297 mm. When the result of determination in step S102 is YES, the process proceeds to step S107, and when the result of determination in step S102 is NO, the process proceeds to step S103. In step S107, which proceeds when the determination result is YES, detection information relating to the presence / absence of a document from the document detection sensor 1100 at the home position is read.

  Next, in step S108, it is determined whether a document exists at the home position based on information from the document detection sensor 1100.

  When the determination result in step S108 is YES, the process proceeds to step S109, and it is determined that the document on the document table 1011 is vertically placed in A3 size (see document D1 in FIG. 5).

  If the result of the determination in step S108 is NO, the process proceeds to step S110, where it is determined that the document on the document table 1011 is placed sideways in A4 size (see document D3 in FIG. 5).

  In step S103, it is determined whether or not the length detected by the line sensor 1024 is X = 210 mm. When the result of determination in step S103 is YES, the process proceeds to step S111, and when the result of determination in step S103 is NO, the process proceeds to step S104. In step S111 that proceeds when the determination result is YES, detection information relating to the presence or absence of the document from the document detection sensor 1100 at the home position is read.

  In step S112, it is determined based on information from the document detection sensor 1100 whether a document exists at the home position. When the determination result in step S112 is YES, the process proceeds to step S113, and it is determined that the document on the document table 1011 is vertically placed in A4 size (see document D2 in FIG. 5).

  If the result of determination in step S112 is NO, the process proceeds to step S114, and it is determined that the document on the document table 1011 is horizontally placed in A5 size (see document D4 in FIG. 5).

  In step S104, it is determined whether or not the length detected by the line sensor 1024 is X = 250 mm. When the result of determination in step S104 is YES, the process proceeds to step S115, and when the result of determination in step S104 is NO, the process proceeds to step S105. In step S115, which proceeds when the determination result is YES, detection information relating to the presence / absence of a document from the document detection sensor 1100 at the home position is read.

  In step S116, it is determined based on information from the document detection sensor 1100 whether a document exists at the home position.

  When the determination result in step S116 is YES, the process proceeds to step S117, and it is determined that the document on the document table 1011 is vertically placed in B4 size (see document D1 in FIG. 6).

  If the determination result in step S116 is NO, the process proceeds to step S118, and it is determined that the document on the document table 1011 is horizontally placed in the B5 size (see document D3 in FIG. 5).

  In step S105, it is determined whether or not the length detected by the line sensor 1024 is X = 176 mm. When the result of determination in step S105 is YES, the process proceeds to step S119, and when the result of determination in step S105 is NO, the process proceeds to step S106. In step S119, which proceeds when the determination result is YES, detection information relating to the presence or absence of the document from the document detection sensor 1100 at the home position is read.

  In step S120, it is determined whether a document exists at the home position based on information from the document detection sensor 1100.

  When the determination result in step S120 is YES, the process proceeds to step S121, and it is determined that the document on the document table 1011 is placed vertically in the B5 size (see document D2 in FIG. 6).

  If the result of determination in step S120 is NO, the process proceeds to step S122, and it is determined that the document on the document table 1011 is horizontally placed in B6 size (see document D4 in FIG. 5).

  If it is determined NO in step S105, it means that the document on the platen 1011 does not belong to the A column and is not a standard that does not belong to the B column. Therefore, in the following step S106, the process jumps to a nonstandard size detection subroutine. In step S123, the document size detection process ends.

  Next, the nonstandard size detection subroutine for jumping in step S106 will be described. First, the home position of the document detection sensor 1100 will be described here. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the definition of the home position of the document detection sensor 1100 in the image processing apparatus (multifunction machine) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 7 is a top view of the document table 1011 as seen from above. The home position of the document detection sensor 1100 is a position advanced from the origin (upper left corner of the document table 1011) by Xo in the main scanning direction and Yo in the sub-scanning direction. In the nonstandard size detection process described below, the document detection sensor 1100 moves from the home position and obtains a position where the detection state changes (the detection signal is inverted) from the amount of movement.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a nonstandard size detection subroutine in the image processing apparatus (multifunction machine) according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where a document of X> Xo is placed on the document table 1011, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where a document of X ≦ Xo is placed on the document table 1011.

  If the non-standard size detection subroutine is star in step S200, then in step S201, the length X of the document D detected by the line sensor 1024 in the main scanning direction and the main scanning direction of the home position of the document detection sensor 1100 are detected. Is compared with the coordinate Xo, and it is determined whether X> Xo is satisfied.

  When the determination result of step S201 is YES, the process proceeds to step S202, and when the determination result of step S201 is NO, the process proceeds to step S210.

  In step S202, detection information relating to the presence / absence of a document from document detection sensor 1100 at the home position is read.

  In step S203, it is determined based on information from the document detection sensor 1100 whether a document exists at the home position.

  When the result of determination in step S203 is YES, the process proceeds to step S204, and when the result of determination in step S203 is NO, the process proceeds to step S207.

  In step S204, document detection sensor 1100 is moved in the positive direction of the sub-scanning direction. In step S205, a position where the signal of document detection sensor 1100 is inverted is detected. Such a position is the edge position of the document. In step S206, Y is calculated based on the amount of movement of document detection sensor 1100. By the processing up to step S206, for example, the size of the document D1 in FIG. 9 can be detected.

  In step S207, which proceeds when the result of the determination in step S203 is NO, the document detection sensor 1100 is moved in the negative direction of the sub-scanning direction. In step S208, a position where the signal of document detection sensor 1100 is inverted is detected. In step S209, Y is calculated based on the movement amount of the document detection sensor 1100. By the processing up to step S209, for example, the size of the document D2 in FIG. 9 can be detected.

  In step S210, which proceeds when the result of the determination in step S201 is NO, the document detection sensor 1100 is moved from the home position in the negative direction of the main scanning direction. As a result, the document detection sensor 1100 is moved to (X−α) as the coordinate value in the main scanning direction. However, the value of α is 0 <α <X. In step S210, the document detection sensor 1100 is moved to the position P in FIG.

  In step S211, detection information relating to the presence / absence of a document from the document detection sensor 1100 at the home position is read. Next, in step S212, it is determined whether a document exists at the home position based on information from the document detection sensor 1100.

  When the result of determination in step S212 is YES, the process proceeds to step S213, and when the result of determination in step S212 is NO, the process proceeds to step S216.

  In step S213, document detection sensor 1100 is moved in the positive direction of the sub-scanning direction. In step S214, a position where the signal of document detection sensor 1100 is inverted is detected. Such a position is the edge position of the document. In step S215, Y is calculated based on the amount of movement of document detection sensor 1100. By the processing up to step S215, for example, the size of the document D1 in FIG. 10 can be detected.

  In step S216, which proceeds when the result of the determination in step S212 is NO, the document detection sensor 1100 is moved in the negative direction of the sub-scanning direction. In step S217, a position where the signal of document detection sensor 1100 is inverted is detected. In step S218, Y is calculated based on the amount of movement of document detection sensor 1100. By the processing up to step S218, for example, the size of the document D2 in FIG. 10 can be detected.

  As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and the control method of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, for a standard-size document determined by the standard, the sensor or the like is moved according to information from the line sensor and the document detection sensor at the home position. Since the document detection sensor can be detected by moving the document detection sensor even when the document size is out of the standard, the time required to detect the document size can be greatly reduced. A user-friendly image processing apparatus can be provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of an image processing apparatus (multifunction peripheral) and its surroundings according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a scanner unit 140 of an image processing apparatus (multifunction machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a document size detection mechanism of a scanner unit 140 of an image processing apparatus (multifunction machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of document size detection processing in the image processing apparatus (multifunction peripheral) according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state where documents in row A defined by ISO are placed on a document table 1011. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where documents in row B defined by ISO are placed on a document table 1011. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the definition of the home position of document detection sensor 1100 in the image processing apparatus (multifunction machine) according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the nonstandard size detection subroutine in the image processing apparatus (multifunction machine) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where a document of X> Xo is placed on a document table 1011. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a document of X ≦ Xo is placed on a document table 1011. FIG. (A) shows the paper size of the ISO A row (A5, A4, A3), and (B) shows the paper size of the ISO B row (B6, B5, B4).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Network, 20 ... Telephone line, 100 ... Multifunction device, 110 ... Control part, 111 ... Resolution setting part, 112 ... Transfer memory, 113 ... Setting of resolution Table ... 114 Image processing stop signal generation unit 115 ... Memory release signal generation unit 120 ... Facsimile unit 130 ... Printer unit 140 ... Scanner unit 150 ... Operation Panel section, 160 ... Network I / F, 170 ... USB I / F, 200, 200 ', 200 "... Personal computer, 300 ... External device, 1010 ... Main body, 1011 .. Original platen, 1013... White reference, 1014... Interface, 1020... Carriage, 1021... Light source, 1022. 1024 line sensor, 1025 A / D converter, 1030 scanner control unit, 1031 CPU (Central Processing Unit), 1032 RAM (Random Access Memory), 1033 ..ROM (Read Only Memory), 1040... Data processing unit, 1050... Image processing unit, 1100.

Claims (6)

A line sensor that reads an image of one column of the document placed on the document table in the main scanning direction;
A document detection sensor configured to be movable in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction inside the document table, and detecting the presence or absence of a document at a predetermined position on the document table;
Main scanning direction length holding means for detecting and holding the length in the main scanning direction of the document placed on the document table by the line sensor;
A length held by the main scanning direction length holding means, and a standard length judging means for judging whether or not the length matches the standard length,
When the standard length determining means determines that the length held by the main scanning direction length holding means does not match the standard length,
An image processing apparatus that moves the document detection sensor. A position Xo in the main scanning direction of the home position of the document detection sensor;
A main scanning direction determining unit that compares the length X held by the main scanning direction length holding unit to determine whether X <Xo;
Determined to be true by the main scanning direction determining means, and
When it is determined by the document detection sensor that a document exists,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document size is detected by moving the document detection sensor in a positive direction of the sub-scanning direction. A position Xo in the main scanning direction of the home position of the document detection sensor;
A main scanning direction determining unit that compares the length X held by the main scanning direction length holding unit to determine whether X <Xo;
Determined to be true by the main scanning direction determining means, and
When it is determined by the document detection sensor that there is no document,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document size is detected by moving the document detection sensor in a negative direction of the sub-scanning direction. A position Xo in the main scanning direction of the home position of the document detection sensor;
A main scanning direction determining unit that compares the length X held by the main scanning direction length holding unit to determine whether X <Xo;
When the main scanning direction determining means determines that it is false,
When the document detection sensor moves (X−α) in the negative direction of the main scanning direction (where 0 <α <X) and the document detection sensor determines that a document exists,
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document size is detected by moving the document detection sensor in a positive direction of the sub-scanning direction. A position Xo in the main scanning direction of the home position of the document detection sensor;
A main scanning direction determining unit that compares the length X held by the main scanning direction length holding unit to determine whether X <Xo;
When the main scanning direction determining means determines that it is false,
When the document detection sensor is moved (X−α) in the negative direction of the main scanning direction (where 0 <α <X) and the document detection sensor determines that there is no document,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document size is detected by moving the document detection sensor in a negative direction of the sub-scanning direction. The length of the document placed on the document table in the main scanning direction is detected by a line sensor that reads an image of one column of the document placed on the document table in the main scanning direction. When the image does not match, an image is controlled so as to detect the size of the document by moving a document detection sensor configured to be movable in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction inside the document table. A method for controlling a processing apparatus.

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