JP2009260998A - Image reading apparatus, image reading method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To add a margin to a portion above a top of a document (a top part in a feeding direction). <P>SOLUTION: A document detection sensor 6 detects a document which passes a prescribed position upstream of an image sensor 8 on a document feeding path. Meanwhile, an image reading area is set on the basis of a margin amount for setting the image reading area different from the document and timing when the document is detected by the document detection sensor 6. Then, the image sensor 8 reads an image in the set image reading area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an image reading method, and a storage medium, and in particular, an image reading apparatus including a photoelectric conversion unit that reads an original image and a conveyance unit that conveys the original to the photoelectric conversion unit, and the image reading The present invention relates to an image reading method applied to an apparatus and a storage medium storing a program for executing the image reading method.

  In an image reading device generally called a scanner, a document is fed into the image reading device, photoelectrically converted by an image sensor inside the image reading device, and further A / D converted, and an image memory in the image reading device. Once stored. Thereafter, it is transmitted as image data to a host apparatus such as a host computer connected to the image reading apparatus.

  The original to be read has various original sizes, for example, paper sizes such as A4, B4, and letter. In general, the size of a document to be read is designated by the host device as an image reading range to the image reading device.

  The range of the reading area for the image reading apparatus is generally specified by coordinates where the horizontal direction is x and the vertical direction is y. For example, the upper left coordinates of the image reading range are (x1, y1), and the lower right coordinates are specified. It is set for the image reading apparatus in the format (x2, y2).

  By the way, since the paper conveyance control and the attitude control are generally difficult, the paper is frequently conveyed in the image reading apparatus in an inclined state. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing that the document 15 is conveyed obliquely with respect to the image reading range 30 designated as (x1, y1) and (x2, y2).

  In such a case, as shown in FIG. 12, the triangular areas indicated by 31t, 31b, 31l, and 31r on the original are out of the image reading range 30, and therefore are finally not included in the image data. . FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a partial area of the document 15 outside the image reading range 30 shown in FIG.

  In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, an area that is slightly larger than the size of the original to be read is designated for the image reading apparatus. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, scanning is performed with an image reading range 30 in an area in which a margin MH is added to the left and right in the x direction (lateral direction) with respect to the size of the document 15 to be read.

  For the y direction, a margin cannot be added especially on the leading side in the document transport direction. This is because, as will be described later, the image sensor starts reading when the document detection sensor provided in the image reading device detects the entry of the document and detects the document. In other words, since the image sensor starts reading when the leading edge of the center of the document [coordinates (xc, y1) shown in FIG. 11] approaches the position facing the image sensor, the y direction, particularly the top of the document, The margin could not be specified.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a conventional reading size setting screen in a host apparatus such as a host computer that controls the image reading apparatus. This setting screen is a screen displayed on an image display device such as a CRT that forms part of the host device. In this screen, when the user wants to designate the same area as the size of the original to be read as the reading area, the user clicks the standard button 41 and selects one of the size selection fields 42 equal to the size of the original to be read.

  On the other hand, when a margin is to be provided in the reading area as described above, since the reading size is not fixed, the non-standard switch 43 is clicked, and the margin is set in the width setting column 44 and the length setting column 45. The amount will be set. If a value obtained by adding twice the margin MH to the size of the document to be read is input to the width setting field 44, the margin size MH is added to the left and right as shown in FIG. One wide area is read.

  In general, the set width and length in the host apparatus are based on the coordinate origin (coordinate origin indicated by the point S in FIG. 11 or FIG. 13) unique to the image reading apparatus. , Converted into y coordinate values and instructed to the image reading apparatus. Here, the origin in the y direction corresponds to the timing when the document detection sensor detects the front end [coordinates (xc, y1) shown in FIG. 11] of the document center as described above. Accordingly, the value input in the length setting field 45 shown in FIG. 16 is related only to the margin setting for the document tail side (the lower part of the document 15 shown in FIG. 13) in the transport direction (y direction).

  In order to set the margin in such a conventional apparatus, for example, when the document 15 shown in FIG. 13 is A4 size, the non-standard button 43 is first clicked, and then the margin MH in the x direction is set to the width of the A4 size. A value obtained by adding twice the value is input to the width setting field 44.

  Also, a conventional image forming apparatus is proposed in which a non-image portion (void region) is formed at the tip by obtaining a multiple of a unit moving distance that can provide the length of the non-image region according to the copying magnification. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-233918

  However, in a conventional apparatus, for example, when an A6 size document is scanned after scanning an area with a margin added to an A4 document, for example, as shown in FIG. The area indicated by the reading range 30 is scanned. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an image reading range 30 based on an A4 document and an A6 size document 15.

  In order to read the area A6, the regular button 41 in FIG. 16 is clicked again and then A6 is clicked in the size selection column 42 to perform a new reading. Not added. If a margin is to be added to the A6 size, as shown in FIG. 15, the operation of inputting a value obtained by adding twice the margin MH in the x direction to the width of the A6 size is again performed. Had to be done. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an image reading range 30 in which a margin is added to an A6 size document 15.

  In recent years, there is an image reading apparatus that detects the size of an original in an image reading apparatus and sends out image data corresponding to the size without specifying the size of the original to be read. In such an apparatus, No margin could be added to the reading area.

  Further, in the conventional image reading apparatus, the origin in the y direction corresponds to the timing when the document detection sensor detects the front end [coordinates (xc, y1) shown in FIG. 11] of the document center as described above. For this reason, a margin cannot be added to a portion in front of the leading edge of the document (upper portion of the document 15 shown in FIG. 13).

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and allows a margin to be set separately from a reading area when reading an image. Furthermore, it is possible to set a margin for the front portion of the image. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus, an image reading method, and a storage medium that can read an image with a margin around the document.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads an original image, a conveying unit that conveys the original to the image reading unit, and an upstream of the image reading unit in the original conveying path. Based on a document position detecting means for detecting that the document has reached a predetermined position, a margin amount for setting an image reading area different from the document, and a timing at which the document is detected by the document position detecting means, An area setting means for setting an image reading area that is an area including a margin at least at the leading edge in the document transport direction, and a position preceding the leading edge of the document by a margin amount reaches the position of the image reading means; Control is performed so that the image reading unit starts reading an image of the document at a timing to read an image in the image reading area. Characterized in that a control means.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads a document image, a conveying unit that conveys the document to the image reading unit, and the image reading unit in the document conveyance path. The document position detecting means for detecting that the document has reached a predetermined upstream position, the margin amount for setting an image reading area different from the document, and the timing at which the document is detected by the document position detecting means. And an area setting means for setting an image reading area, which is an area including a margin at a leading edge and a trailing edge in the document conveyance direction, and a position preceding the leading edge of the document by a margin amount is the image reading area. The image reading unit starts reading an image of the document at a timing when the position of the unit is reached, and the image in the image reading area is read. Characterized in that a control means for.

  Next, in order to achieve the above object, an image reading method of the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads a document image, a conveying unit that conveys the document to the image reading unit, and the image reading unit in the document conveying path. When a document image is read by an image reading apparatus provided with a document position detecting means for detecting that the document has reached a predetermined upstream position, a margin amount for setting an image reading area different from the document, and the document An area setting step for setting an image reading area, which is an area including a margin at least at the front end in the transport direction of the original based on the timing detected by the original position detecting means, and a margin more than the front end of the original Image reading of the document by the image reading means at a timing when the position preceding by the amount reaches the position of the image reading means. It is started and having a control step of controlling so as to read the image of the image reading area.

  In order to achieve the above object, the storage medium of the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads an original image, a conveying unit that conveys the original to the image reading unit, and the image reading unit in the original conveying path. A computer-readable storage medium storing an image reading method applied to an image reading apparatus having a document position detecting means for detecting that a document has reached a predetermined upstream position as a program, The method includes a margin at least in the document transport direction based on a margin amount for setting an image reading area different from the document and a timing at which the document is detected by the document position detecting unit. An area setting step for setting an image reading area which is an area, and a position before the leading edge of the document by a margin amount Was at the time to reach the position of the intake means starts the image reading of the document by the image reading means; and a control step of controlling so as to read the image of the image reading area.

  According to the present invention, when reading an image, a margin can be set separately from the reading area. In addition, a margin can be set for the front portion of the image. Accordingly, there is an effect that it is possible to provide an image reading apparatus, an image reading method, and a storage medium that can read an image with a margin around the document.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an outline of a mechanical configuration of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of the reading size displayed on the image display apparatus of the host computer which controls an image reading apparatus. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a manuscript and an image reading range. It is a block which shows the internal structure of a timing generation part. It is a timing chart of the signal in each part of a timing generation part. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image reading range and a document when a document size is different from the previous one. It is a perspective view of a scanner. It is a figure which shows on the original plate | board of a scanner, the document control board which pinches | interposes a document from both ends, and the sliding resistor connected to these. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a document in which a negative margin amount is set. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating that a document is conveyed obliquely with respect to a conventional image reading range. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a partial region of a document that is out of the image reading range illustrated in FIG. 11. It is a figure which shows the image reading range which added the margin to the x direction (horizontal direction) of the conventional original. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image reading range based on an A4 document and an A6 size document. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image reading range in which a margin is added to an A6 size document. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a conventional reading size setting screen in a host device such as a host computer that controls an image reading apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of a mechanical configuration of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image reading apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a reading size setting screen displayed on the image display device of the host computer that controls the image reading device. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a document and an image reading range. Hereinafter, the image reading apparatus will be described based on FIGS. 1 and 2 with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 as appropriate.

  A scanner 1 as an image reading apparatus has the entire configuration shown in FIG. 1 and is connected to a host computer 12 as shown in FIG. In the host computer 12 as the control means, the size of the original to be read is first designated using the original size selection column 47 using the reading size setting screen shown in FIG. The designated size is converted into x, y coordinates with the point S in FIG. 4 as the origin, and the point P1 (x1, 0) in FIG. The point P2 (x2, y2) is transmitted to the scanner 1 as the lower right coordinate of 15.

  In the scanner 1, the transmitted coordinates of the two points are stored in the RAM 4 under the control of the CPU 2.

  Similarly, when required margin amounts are input to the x-direction margin column 48 and the y-direction margin column 49 in FIG. 3, those values are transmitted to the scanner 1 and stored in the RAM 4.

  After the reading size and margin amount are set, when the host computer 12 gives a reading start instruction, the CPU 2 controls the driving unit 5 to rotate the paper feed roller 16 and load it on the document table 13. One original 15 of the originals 14 is conveyed into the scanner 1. The document 15 eventually reaches the document detection sensor 6 constituted by a photo sensor and the like, and information indicating that the document has been detected is sent to the CPU 2.

  In the conventional image reading apparatus, the timing at which the document reaches the image sensor is calculated based on the document conveyance speed and the timing at which the document detection sensor detects the document, and the driving of the image sensor is started. Accordingly, a margin could not be added in the y direction. However, in the scanner 1 of the present invention, the leading edge of the document 15 is positioned at the image sensor 8 based on the timing at which the leading edge of the document 15 approaches the document detection sensor 6 and the conveyance speed of the document 15. The timing for passing (arriving) the position closer to the front by the margin MV in the y direction (that is, the point S2 shown in FIG. 1) is calculated, and the drive of the image sensor 8 is started at this timing. That is, an image reading area which is an area including a margin at least at the front end in the document transport direction is set.

  Next, how to set the reading area in the x direction will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 2 is connected to the timing generator 7. The internal configuration of the timing generator 7 is as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, 20 is a horizontal synchronization clock generator (Hclk) that generates a pulse at a period of one scanning line of the image sensor 8, and 21 is an image clock transmission that generates a clock for one pixel of the image sensor 8. (Gclk). Reference numerals 22 and 24 are counters which are reset to 0 by the horizontal synchronizing clock from the horizontal synchronizing clock generator 20, and thereafter incremented to 1, 2, 3, for each pulse of the image clock from the image clock oscillator 21, respectively. I will do it. A start count register 23 stores a count number Hscnt corresponding to an image clock corresponding to the x-direction coordinate x1 at which reading of the document 15 is started. The count number Hscnt is written by the CPU 2. Reference numeral 25 denotes an end count register for storing the count number Hecnt corresponding to the image clock corresponding to the x-direction coordinate x2 at which the reading of the document 15 is finished. The count number Hecnt is also written from the CPU 2.

  The image sensor 8 is a photoelectric converter in which a number of CCDs are arranged in a straight line. When the horizontal synchronization clock and the image clock are supplied, scanning starts from a pixel on one end side at the rising timing of the horizontal synchronization clock. The scanning is shifted to the other end side by one pixel for every pulse input of the image clock.

  The start count register 23 keeps the output signal Hstart low until the count value output from the counter 22 matches the count number Hscnt. When the count value matches the count number Hscnt, the start count register 23 sets the output signal Hstart to high level. Similarly, the end count register 25 keeps the output signal Hend low until the count value output from the counter 24 matches the count number Hecnt, and when it matches the count number Hecnt, the output signal Hend goes high. To. The output signal Hstart and the signal obtained by inverting the output signal Hend by the inverter 26 are input to the gate 27, and the interval signal Henv as shown in FIG. This section signal Henb is input to the image sensor 8, and the image sensor 8 outputs image data only while the section signal Henb is at a high level. The gate 27 receives a y-direction section signal Venb for limiting the scanning period in the y-direction from the CPU 2. The y-direction section signal Venb is a signal that becomes high level at the timing when the leading edge of the document 15 passes the point S2 shown in FIG.

  When the image signal of the designated area in the x direction is obtained from the image sensor 8 in this way, the image signal is stored in the page memory 10 through the image processing unit 9 including A / D conversion and edge enhancement. The

  The conveyance of the document 15 proceeds, and the timing corresponding to the coordinate value (y2 + MV) obtained by adding the y-direction margin MV to the y-coordinate value y2 designated by the host computer 12, this corresponds to the point S3 shown in FIG. Also, the timing at which the y direction section signal Venb is raised and then transported only by (y2 + 2 * MV). At this timing, the CPU 2 sets the level of the y direction section signal Venb sent to the gate 27 to a low level. To. Therefore, the region 30 in which the margin Mv in the y direction is added to the rear end portion of the document 15 is read.

  A high level period of the y-direction interval signal Venb controlled by the CPU 2 based on the count numbers Hscnt and Hecnt written by the CPU 2 to the start count register 23 and the end count register 25 and the timing when the document detection sensor 6 detects the document 15. 4 defines a rectangular area whose diagonals are point P3 and point P4 shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, even when the document 15 is skewed as shown in FIG. It can be read.

  By the way, when the document size to be read next is different from the previous one, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to set the margin again only by selecting, for example, A6 from the document size selection field 47 shown in FIG. . This will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the image reading range 30 and the A6 size document 15 when the document size is different from the previous one. The designated size is converted into x and y coordinates with the point S in FIG. 7 as the origin, and the point P1 is transmitted to the scanner 1 as the upper left coordinate of the document 15, and the point as the lower right coordinate of the document. P2 is transmitted to the scanner 1. Then, the set margin amount before changing the document size is diverted, and the control similar to the above is performed by the CPU 2, and the rectangular region 30 including the margins with the points P3 and P4 shown in FIG. become.

  In the present embodiment, the scanner 1 can automatically detect the size of a document and scan it with a reading margin area, even if the operator does not specify the size of the document to be read. This will be described below.

  The automatic size detection button 50 shown in FIG. 3 is a button for the operator to instruct the scanner 1 to automatically detect the size of the document to be read, and the automatic size detection button 50 is clicked. For example, the operator does not need to specify the document size using the document size selection field 47. Further, by inputting a desired margin amount in the x-direction margin column 48 and the y-direction margin column 49, the host computer 12 is instructed to designate a mode for automatically detecting the document size to the scanner 1. , X and y directions, two margin amounts MH and MV are transmitted to the scanner 1.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the scanner 1. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the document regulating plates 19-1 and 19-2 on the document table 13 of the scanner 1 and sandwiching the document from both ends, and the sliding resistor 19-3 connected thereto. .

  After placing the document on the document table 13, the operator slides the document restriction plates 19-1 and 19-2 so that both ends of the document are sandwiched between them, and contacts the document. As shown in FIG. 9, the document restricting plates 19-1 and 19-2 are in contact with the two sliding resistors 19-3 through contacts, respectively, and the voltage XR corresponding to the slide position of the document restricting plate 19-1 is Further, the voltage XL corresponding to the slide position of the document regulating plate 19-2 is transmitted to the CPU 2 as an output of the width detection sensor unit 19 of FIG. 2 through an A / D converter (not shown).

  In FIG. 4, in order to set a reading area 30 including a margin, that is, a rectangular area having the point P3 (x1-MH, -Mv) and the point P4 (x2 + MH, y2 + MV) as diagonal lines, x1, x2, y2, MH , MV are required, and x1 and x2 are obtained based on the positions of the original regulating plates 19-1 and 19-2 as described above, and MH and MV are transmitted from the host computer 12. Can be obtained.

  Information on y2 is obtained when the CPU 2 detects the timing at which the trailing edge of the document 15 approaches the document detection sensor 6 in FIG. That is, in order to perform reading up to the position y2 + MV in the y direction, the point S3 in FIG. 1, that is, the trailing edge of the document 15 is determined from the timing at which the trailing edge of the document 15 reaches the document detection sensor 6 and the conveyance speed of the document 15. The CPU 2 calculates the timing of passing through a point separated by MV on the downstream side of the image sensor 8. At this timing, the CPU 2 sets the y-direction section signal Venb to a low level. As a result, reading is performed up to the point y2 + MV in the y direction.

  Thus, the margin amount transmitted from the host computer 12 based on the x-direction data obtained by the document regulating plates 19-1 and 19-2 and the timing at which the document detection sensor 6 detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the document. The CPU 2 operates the start count register 23, the end count register 25, and the y-direction section signal Venb according to the coordinate position to which is added, thereby automatically reading an area having an appropriate margin with respect to the document size. be able to. Thereafter, even when reading a small document as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the document restricting plates 19-1 and 19-2 are simply slid so as to sandwich the both ends of the document, thereby obtaining a margin with respect to the document size. The area can be read automatically.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the margin in the x direction and the margin in the y direction are individually set in the host computer 12 has been described, but these values may be the same. That is, an operator may input a common margin amount in the x direction and the y direction in the host computer 12, and this may be transmitted to the scanner 1.

  In the above-described embodiment, the left and right margins of the document are the same, and the upper and lower margins of the document are the same. Alternatively, each margin may be set individually.

  Further, in the above description, the margin amount is always set to the outside of the document. However, if the margin amount is specified as a negative value, the reading area can be specified inside the document. .

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing one example of the designation, and shows a document to be bound to a binder. Here, only the margin amount on the left side of the document is designated as -Mleft. As a result, only the hole portion for binding to the binder on the left side of the document can be removed from the reading area.

  In the above description, an example in which margin setting is performed for the selected standard size or automatically detected size has been described. Instead, a configuration in which margin setting is performed for a non-standard size setting by the user. But you can.

  Note that a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the program code in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing.

  When applied in this way, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS running on the computer performs actual processing based on an instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the processing.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the image reading apparatus according to the above-described embodiment includes a photoelectric conversion unit that reads a document image and a transport unit that transports the document to the photoelectric conversion unit.

  This image reading apparatus is provided with document position detecting means for detecting a document passing through a predetermined position upstream of the photoelectric conversion means in the document transport path. Further, a margin amount receiving means for receiving a margin amount for setting an image reading area different from the document size from the upper apparatus is provided. A region setting unit that sets an image reading region based on a margin amount received by a margin amount receiving unit regarding a document conveyed by the conveying unit, a timing at which the document is detected by the document position detecting unit, and a size of the document. Provide. Control means for causing the photoelectric conversion means to read an image in the image reading area set by the area setting means is provided.

  As a result, the document position detection unit detects a document that passes through a predetermined position upstream of the photoelectric conversion unit in the document transport path.

  On the other hand, a margin amount for setting an image reading area different from the document size is received from the host device. Further, the image reading area is set based on the margin amount, the timing when the document is detected by the document position detection means, and the size of the document. Then, the photoelectric conversion means is caused to read an image in the set image reading area.

  As a result, it is possible to add a margin to a portion in front of the front end of the document.

  Further, it is provided with a document size detection means for detecting the size of the conveyed document in the document transport path, and the document size is obtained from the document size detection means.

  Thus, a margin can be added to the reading area in the image reading apparatus that automatically detects the size of the document and sends out image data corresponding to the size.

  In addition, when a new document having a different size from the old document is to be scanned, the image is determined based on the margin amount related to the old document, the timing when the new document is detected by the document position detection means, and the size of the new document. Set the reading area.

  Thus, the margin can be automatically set even if the document size is changed.

  The margin amount is a value arbitrarily set on the four sides of the document.

  As a result, for example, when the skew of the document is relatively small, the margin amount is not so small. On the contrary, when the skew is easy to skew, the margin amount can be increased.

1 Scanner 2 CPU (margin amount receiving means, area setting means, control means)
3 ROM
4 RAM
5 Drive unit 6 Document detection sensor (document position detection means)
7 Timing generator 8 Image sensor (photoelectric conversion means)
9 Image processing unit 9
10 page memory 11 I / F unit 12 host computer (high-level device)
19 Width detection sensor

Claims (7)

Image reading means for reading a document image;
Conveying means for conveying the document to the image reading means;
Document position detecting means for detecting that the document has reached a predetermined position upstream of the image reading means in the document transport path;
Based on the margin amount for setting an image reading area different from the original and the timing at which the original is detected by the original position detecting means, this is an area including a margin at least at the front end in the original conveying direction. Area setting means for setting an image reading area;
Control is performed so that the image reading unit starts reading an image of the document and reads an image in the image reading region at a timing when the position before the leading edge of the document reaches a position of the image reading unit. An image reading apparatus comprising a control unit. Image reading means for reading a document image;
Conveying means for conveying the document to the image reading means;
Document position detecting means for detecting that the document has reached a predetermined position upstream of the image reading means in the document transport path;
Based on the margin amount for setting an image reading area different from that of the original and the timing when the original is detected by the original position detecting means, a margin is included at the front end and the rear end in the original transport direction. Area setting means for setting an image reading area which is an area;
Control is performed so that the image reading unit starts reading an image of the document and reads an image in the image reading region at a timing when the position before the leading edge of the document reaches a position of the image reading unit. An image reading apparatus comprising a control unit.   3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising margin amount receiving means for receiving the margin amount from a host device.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the margin amount is a value arbitrarily set on four sides of the document.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the margin amount is a negative value. Image reading means for reading a document image;
Conveying means for conveying the document to the image reading means;
When reading an original image by an image reading apparatus provided with an original position detecting means for detecting that the original has reached a predetermined position upstream of the image reading means in the original conveying path,
Based on the margin amount for setting an image reading area different from the original and the timing at which the original is detected by the original position detecting means, this is an area including a margin at least at the front end in the original conveying direction. An area setting step for setting an image reading area;
Control is performed so that the image reading unit starts reading an image of the document and reads an image in the image reading region at a timing when the position before the leading edge of the document reaches a position of the image reading unit. An image reading method comprising: a control step. Image reading means for reading an original image, conveying means for conveying the original to the image reading means, and original position detecting means for detecting that the original has reached a predetermined position upstream of the image reading means in the original conveying path A computer-readable storage medium that stores an image reading method applied to an image reading apparatus having a program as a program,
The image reading method uses a margin amount for setting an image reading area different from that of the original and a timing at which the original is detected by the original position detecting means, at least a margin at the front end in the original conveying direction. An area setting step for setting an image reading area that is an area including
Control is performed so that the image reading unit starts reading an image of the document and reads an image in the image reading region at a timing when the position before the leading edge of the document reaches a position of the image reading unit. And a control step.

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