JP2010011049A - Document reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism for shortening long waiting time until the document reader becomes possible to perform scanning in various situations, considering a document reader which responds to many functions. <P>SOLUTION: The document reader using a light source for document reading, includes a lighting trigger detection means for detecting a lighting trigger of the light source, and when the lighting trigger is detected by a lighting trigger detection means, the light source is turned on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an original reading apparatus that uses a light source for reading an original.

  Conventionally, light sources such as lamps and LEDs have been used as light sources for document reading apparatuses such as facsimiles, scanners, and MFPs. A light source used for reading a document takes a certain time from the lighting to the stabilization of the light quantity. Therefore, when the document reading apparatus is in a standby state, the user needs to wait for a long time from issuing an instruction to read the document until obtaining a final output such as electronic data or printed matter. In order to solve such a problem, a long standby time has been reduced by performing preliminary lighting that keeps the light source on at a certain duty ratio even in a standby state of the document reading apparatus (see Patent Document 1).

However, if the light source is always turned on, the lamp consumes power even in a standby state where the document is not read, resulting in a problem that the life of the light source is shortened. Further, in view of the problem of the light source lifetime due to always turning on the light source, there is a technique for turning on the light source (advanced dimming) when detecting a document or pressing an operation key (see Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3). These techniques help to reduce the waiting time of the user from when the light source is turned on until the final output is obtained.
JP-A-4-142865 JP 09-163137 A JP 2000-013565 A

  However, in the conventional document reading apparatus, assuming the current office environment, there are still problems and requests to be addressed. MFPs that are widely used in the current office environment have not only a scan function and a copy function, but also various functions, and a variety of user applications. Specifically, there are a network print function, a ScanToMedia function for storing scanned electronic data in a inserted medium, and the like. The current MFP also has a login function for performing user authentication and limiting users who can use the apparatus. There is a need to solve a possible problem in an environment where such various functions are mixed.

  For example, when a situation is assumed in which the output is copied or scanned and stored in a medium after performing network printing, the light source of the scanner is not turned on until the user goes to the front of the apparatus. In that case, the problem of waiting for a long time until the prescribed amount of light is reached cannot be solved.

  In addition, for example, even in a login function using a non-contact type IC card, since the preliminary lighting is not performed until the user operates the key after logging in to the apparatus, there is a case where the user waits for a long time. sell.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and assumes a document reading apparatus that supports a large number of functions, and reduces a long waiting time until the document reading apparatus can scan in various situations. Be able to provide a mechanism.

  The document reading apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a lighting trigger detection unit that detects a lighting trigger of the light source, and turns on the light source when a lighting trigger is detected by the lighting trigger detection unit. Features.

  According to the present invention, in the document reading apparatus corresponding to various functions, the lighting of the light source is started not only at the time of key operation but also by another trigger, so that the light source can be turned on for various uses of the user. It is possible to shorten the waiting time of the user until the light quantity is stabilized.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  As an embodiment of the present invention, an image processing apparatus including a document reading apparatus (reader apparatus) performs the following operation. The light source for reading a document is turned on by inserting an external memory.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus to which an original reading apparatus according to the present invention is applied. The image processing apparatus 100 is connected to a host computer (first host computer (PC) 601 and second host computer (PC) 602 in FIG. 1) via a LAN 600. Note that LAN stands for Local Area Network.

  The image processing apparatus 100 includes a reader device (reader unit) 200, a printer device (printer unit) 300, an operation unit 150, and an image storage unit 160. Moreover, it has the control apparatus (controller part) 110 which consists of a single electronic component which is connected to these each component and controls this component.

  A reader device (reader unit) 200 reads image data and corresponds to the image reading device of the present invention. The printer device (printer unit) 300 performs image data output processing.

  The operation unit 150 includes a keyboard for inputting and outputting image data, and a liquid crystal panel for presenting / setting image data and various functions. The operation unit 150 includes a touch panel, and can accept operations and instructions from the user via the touch panel.

  The image storage unit 160 can store / save image data read by controlling the reader device 200 and image data generated from code data received from the host computers 601 and 602 via the LAN 600.

  The reader device 200 includes a document feeding unit 250 that transports document paper, and a scanner unit 210 that optically reads a document image and converts it into image data as an electrical signal.

  The printer apparatus 300 includes a paper feed unit 310, a marking unit (part) 320, and a paper discharge unit (part) 330. The paper feed unit 310 includes a plurality of stages of paper feed cassettes that store recording paper. A marking unit (unit) 320 transfers / fixes image data onto a recording sheet. The paper discharge unit (unit) 330 performs sort processing and stapling processing on the printed recording paper, and discharges the recording paper to the outside.

  The control device 110 controls the reader device 200 to read image data of a document, and controls the printer unit 300 to output the image data to a recording sheet to provide a copy function. In addition, it has a scanner function of converting image data read from the reader device 200 into code data and transmitting it to the host computers 601 and 602 via the network 600. Furthermore, it has a printer function that converts code data received from the host computer via the network 600 into image data and outputs it to the printer unit 300, and other functional blocks.

  FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus, and shows details of the reader device 200 and the printer unit 300.

  In the reader device 200, the original sheets stacked on the original supply unit 250 are sequentially fed onto the platen glass 211 one by one from the top in accordance with the stacking order. Then, after a predetermined reading operation is completed by the scanner unit 210, the original on the platen glass 211 is discharged to the discharge tray 219. When the original paper is conveyed onto the platen glass 211, the lamp 212 is turned on, then the movement of the optical unit 213 is started, and the original paper is irradiated and scanned from below. The reflected light from the original paper is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 218 via a plurality of mirrors 214, 215, 216 and a lens 217, and the scanned original image is read by the CCD 218. Read. The image data read by the CCD 218 is transferred to the controller unit 110 after predetermined processing.

  When the document feeding unit 250 has a document feeding reading function, the document sheets stacked on the document feeding unit 250 pass through the document feeding reading position 240 at a constant speed. In this case, the optical unit 213 moves to the document flow reading position 240, irradiates the document conveyed at a constant speed by the lamp 212, and reads the image by the CCD 218 as needed to generate image data. The generated image data is transferred to the controller unit 110.

Next, in the printer unit 300, laser light corresponding to the image data output from the controller unit 110 is issued from the laser issuing unit 322 driven by the laser driver 321. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 323, and a developer is attached to the electrostatic latent image portion by the developing device 324.
On the other hand, recording paper is fed from any of the cassette 311, the cassette 312, the cassette 313, the cassette 314, and the manual paper feed stage 315 at a timing synchronized with the start of laser beam irradiation. The fed recording sheet is conveyed to the transfer unit 325 by the conveyance path 331, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred to the recording sheet. The recording sheet on which the image data is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 327 by the conveying belt 326, and the image data is fixed on the recording sheet by the heating / pressurizing process in the fixing unit 327. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 327 passes through the transport path 335 and the transport path 334 and is discharged to the paper discharge bin 328. When the print surface is reversed and discharged to the paper discharge bin 328, the recording paper is guided to the transport path 336 and the transport path 338, from which the recording paper is transported in the reverse direction, passes through the transport path 337 and the transport path 334, and is discharged. It is discharged to a paper bottle 328. Although not shown in the figure, a paper discharge unit can be mounted instead of the paper discharge bin. The paper discharge unit bundles the discharged recording papers, sorts the recording papers, and staples the sorted recording papers. And so on.

  In addition, when performing double-sided recording of image data on a recording sheet, first, after passing through the fixing unit 327, the recording sheet is guided from the conveyance path 336 to the conveyance path 333 by the flapper 329. Thereafter, the recording paper is conveyed in the reverse direction and guided to the conveyance path 338 and the refeed conveyance path 332 by the flapper 329. The recording sheet guided to the refeed conveyance path 332 passes through the conveyance path 331 and is fed to the transfer unit 325 in the same manner as described above.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating details of the controller unit (control unit) 110 shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 110 denotes a controller unit. The controller unit 110 is connected to a reader device 200 (shown as “scanner” in the figure) that is an image input device and a printer unit 300 that is an image output device. Connect to a line (WAN) 650. In this way, input / output of image information and device information is performed.

  A controller 111 controls the entire system with a CPU. A RAM 112 is a system work memory for the CPU 111 to operate, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. A ROM 113 functions as a boot ROM and stores a system boot program. A hard disk drive (HDD) 160 can store system software, image data, and the like. Reference numeral 114 denotes a shared folder that shares a storage area with a host computer (601 or 602 in FIG. 1) connected on the LAN 600, and each can hold a readable / writable data file. An operation unit I / F 116 functions as an interface unit with the operation unit 150 and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 150 to the operation unit 150. Also, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the user of the system from the operation unit 150 to the CPU 111. Reference numeral 120 denotes a network, which is connected to the LAN 600 to input / output information. Reference numeral 121 denotes a modem which is connected to a public line (WAN) 650 to input / output information. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 117. Reference numeral 115 denotes an image bus I / F (Image Bus I / F), which is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 117 and an image bus 118 that transfers image data at high speed, and converts the data structure. Reference numeral 118 denotes an image bus, which is composed of a PCI bus or IEEE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 118. A raster image processor (RIP) 123 develops the PDL code into a bitmap image. An image compression unit 124 compresses and decompresses multivalued image data using JPEG and binary image data using JBIG, MMR, and MH. A device I / F unit 125 connects the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300, which are image input / output devices, and the controller unit 110, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. A scanner image processing unit 126 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. A printer image processing unit 127 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. An image rotating unit 128 rotates image data. Reference numeral 122 denotes an IC card slot, which performs user authentication using an IC card medium. The user at the time of job execution is specified by this user authentication. Also, by inputting an appropriate PIN (Personal Identifier Number) code after inserting the IC card medium, it is possible to input / output keys used for encryption / decryption. An encryption / decryption processing unit 130 is a hardware accelerator board that performs data encryption / decryption processing using a key of the IC card slot 122 or a device-specific key. Reference numeral 131 denotes an OCR / OMR processing unit that performs processing for decoding character information and two-dimensional bar codes included in image data into character codes.

[Configuration of Operation Unit 150 Corresponding to an Example of UI Unit of Image Processing Apparatus 100]
An operation unit 150 corresponding to an example of a user interface unit (hereinafter referred to as a UI unit) included in the image processing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 150 includes a key input unit 402 that can accept user operations using hard keys, and a touch panel unit 401 as an example of a display unit that can accept user operations using soft keys (display keys). Have.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the operation unit 150 includes an operation unit power switch 501. In response to a user operation of the switch 501, the control unit 110 is in a standby mode (normal operation state) and a sleep mode (a state in which the program is stopped in an interrupt waiting state in preparation for network printing or facsimile to reduce power consumption. ) Is selectively switched. The control unit 110 controls the switch 501 so that it can accept user operations while a main power switch (not shown) that supplies power to the entire system is in an ON state. The operation unit 150 includes a card I / F 170 and an external media I / F 171. An example of a card that can be inserted by the card I / F 170 is a storage device that generally stores a photographed image of a digital camera. On the other hand, the external media I / F 171 can accept insertion of a USB memory, for example. By using these external storage devices, it is possible to realize a function of storing a scanned image in the external storage device, reading out an image already stored in the external storage device, printing it, and transmitting it.

  A start key 503 is a key for enabling the user to accept an instruction to start the type of job processing instructed by the user, such as a copy operation or a transmission operation of a job to be processed. A stop key 502 is a key for enabling the user to accept an instruction to interrupt the processing of the accepted job to the printing apparatus. A numeric keypad 506 is a key for making it possible for a user to execute numerical settings for various settings. A clear key 507 is a key for canceling various parameters such as a numeric value set by the user via the key 506. A reset key 504 is a key for receiving from the user an instruction to invalidate all the various settings set for the job to be processed by the user and return the setting values to the default state. A user mode key 505 is a key for shifting to a system setting screen for each user.

  The processing flow of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Each step in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is performed by the CPU 111 executing a program stored in the ROM 113.

  First, in step S10001, the CPU 111 starts the flowchart when a storage medium is inserted into the external memory I / F 171.

  In step S10002, the CPU 111 determines whether the reader apparatus 200 is in a standby state where it is not preparing to read a document. If the CPU 111 determines that the reader device 200 is in a standby state, the CPU 111 advances the process to step S10003. On the other hand, when it is determined that the reader apparatus 200 is not in the standby state, since the optical unit 213 has already started lighting in the image processing apparatus 100, the CPU 111 does not perform lighting of the light source and performs the processing shown in the flowchart. finish.

  In step S10003, the CPU 111 turns on the light source of the optical unit 213 included in the reader device 200.

  Effects that can be achieved by the printing system 1000 of the present embodiment as described above will be exemplified below.

  For example, the following document reading apparatus can be provided to cope with the problems assumed in the past. For example, in an office environment where many functions exist, the light source can be turned on in advance when an external memory is inserted as well as when a document is detected or when a key is operated. Therefore, also in the ScanToMedia function, it is possible to reduce the waiting time of the user from when the light source is turned on until the light quantity is stabilized.

  As an embodiment of the present invention, an image processing apparatus including a document reading apparatus (reader apparatus) performs the following operation. The light source for reading a document is turned on by login with a login authentication contact card.

  The processing flow of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Each step in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is performed by the CPU 111 executing a program stored in the ROM 113.

  First, in step S20001, the CPU 111 starts the processing of the flowchart from the point where the login contact type card is inserted into the Card I / F 170.

  In step S20002, the CPU 111 determines whether the login authentication card inserted in step S20001 is a user's card that permits login. If the CPU 111 determines that the card inserted in S20001 can be logged in by authentication, the CPU 111 advances the process to step S20003. If it is determined by authentication that the card inserted in S20001 cannot be logged in, the CPU 111 proceeds to S20005 and does not turn on the light source.

  In step S20003, the CPU 111 determines whether the reader apparatus 200 is in a standby state where it is not preparing to read a document. If it is determined that the reader device 200 is in a standby state, the process advances to step S20004. When it is determined that the reader apparatus 200 is not in the standby state, the image processing apparatus 100 exits the flowchart without executing the lighting of the light source because the optical unit 213 has already started lighting.

  In step S20004, the CPU 111 turns on the light source of the optical unit 213 included in the reader device 200.

  In step S20005, the CPU 111 displays on the operation unit 150 that the user has failed to log in.

  By performing the control as described above, for example, the following problems can be dealt with, and the following document reading apparatus can be provided. For example, in an office environment where many functions exist, not only when a document is detected or when a key is operated, but also when a login authentication card is inserted, the light source can be turned on in advance. Therefore, also in the login function, it is possible to shorten the waiting time of the user from when the light source is turned on until the light quantity is stabilized.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the light source is not turned on when the user login fails, but the present invention may be applied even when the light source is turned on when the CPU 111 of the image processing apparatus 100 recognizes the login authentication card. Can be implemented.

1 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus to which a document reading apparatus according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the image processing apparatus. The block diagram for demonstrating the structural example of an image processing apparatus. The figure for demonstrating one example of UI part. The figure for demonstrating one example of UI part. The flowchart explaining the process at the time of external memory insertion of an image processing apparatus. The flowchart explaining the process at the time of the login authentication card insertion of an image processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

100 Image processing device 110 Controller unit (control device)
111 CPU
112 RAM
113 ROM
150 Operation section 170 Card I / F
171 External memory I / F
200 Reader device 300 Printer

Claims (6)

An original reading apparatus that uses a light source for reading originals,
Having detection means for detecting a lighting trigger of the light source;
An original reading apparatus, wherein the light source is turned on when a lighting trigger is detected by the detecting means. The document reading device according to claim 1,
An original reading apparatus, further comprising receiving means for receiving an instruction from a user, wherein the lighting trigger is reception of an instruction by the receiving means. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
It further has a display means for presenting information to the user,
The document reading apparatus, wherein the lighting trigger is lighting of the display means. A document reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A document detecting means for detecting a document placed on the reading unit;
The document reading apparatus, wherein the lighting trigger is a document detection by the document detection means. A document reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A log-in means for allowing a specific user to use the document reading device;
The document reading apparatus, wherein the lighting trigger is a login by the login means. A document reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connection unit that connects a storage medium, wherein the lighting trigger is that the storage medium is connected to the connection unit.

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