JP2011009830A - Image reader and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing an original from being forgotten to be taken without deteriorating printing efficiency.SOLUTION: The image reader includes an image read part for irradiating an original mounted on its own original platen with illumination light and reading the image of the original on the basis of the reflected light of the original, and is provided with a notice control means for notifying the remaining of the original by the illumination light after the image is read and stopping light emission when the cover of the original platen is lifted.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a multi-function machine including the image reading apparatus.

  When copying by a copying machine without using an ADF (automatic document feeder), the user places the document on the flat bed reading unit and presses the document with the ADF, and then copies the document. Have the copier run. However, when copying is performed according to the above procedure, since the document is hidden under the ADF, the user often forgets to delete the document after copying.

  For this reason, as an invention for solving such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses an image forming apparatus that can prevent a document from being left behind. The image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads a document image, an image data storage unit that stores the read image data, and an image output unit that prints out image data stored in the image data storage unit. And after the reading of all the image data by the image reading means, a notification means for notifying the user to collect the original after completion of reading, and receiving the notification, the fact that the user has recovered the original is input. Input means and control means for receiving the input and starting print output.

JP 2006-174107 A

  By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art document 1, in order to prevent forgetting to remove the document, after reading the document, the user is notified to collect the document, and the notified user inputs that the document has been collected. The document has been printed. However, in the above-described prior art, since printing is not started until the user inputs that the original is collected, a reduction in printing efficiency for the time required for the operation is inevitable. In addition, the above-described prior art requires a predetermined operation after reading a document, and a user who does not know the operation method cannot start printing until the user understands the operation method. I will invite you.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a document from being forgotten without reducing printing efficiency.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first solving means related to an image reading apparatus, illumination light is irradiated to a document placed on its own document table, and the document is based on the reflected light of the document. An image reading apparatus comprising an image reading unit for reading the image of the image, wherein a notification control means for notifying the remaining of the original by the illumination light after reading the image and stopping the light emission when the cover of the original table is lifted. A means of providing is adopted.

In the present invention, as the second solving means relating to the image reading apparatus, in the first solving means,
The notification control means employs means for notifying the remaining of the original by blinking the illumination light.

  In the present invention, as the third solving means relating to the image reading apparatus, in the first or second solving means, the notification control means adopts means for shortening the blinking cycle with time.

  In the present invention, as a fourth solving means relating to the image reading apparatus, in any one of the first to third solving means, the notification control means adopts means for increasing the amount of illumination light as time passes. To do.

  In the present invention, as a fifth solving means related to the image reading apparatus, in any one of the first to fourth solving means, the notification control means, when a predetermined time elapses after the illumination light is emitted, A means of stopping the light emission is adopted.

  In the present invention, as a sixth solving means related to the image reading apparatus, in the fifth solving means, a sound generating unit is provided, and the notification control means stops emission of the illumination light after the predetermined time has elapsed. Then, a means for generating a notification sound in the sound generation unit is adopted.

  In the present invention, as a first solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus employing any one of the first to sixth solving means is provided, and an image of a document read by the image reading apparatus is included. A means for forming an image based on the above is employed.

  According to the present invention, an image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit that irradiates an original placed on its original table with illumination light and reads an image of the original based on reflected light of the original. In addition, it is provided with notification control means for notifying the remaining of the document by illumination light after the image is read and stopping the light emission when the document table cover is lifted.

  As described above, the image reading apparatus notifies the user of the remaining of the document by the illumination light of the image reading unit after the reading of the image of the document is completed, and does not stop the image forming process unlike the related art. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to remove the document without degrading the printing efficiency.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the image reading unit 5 of the multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment relates to a multifunction machine having a copy function, a print function, a scan function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function, which is one of the image forming apparatuses of the present invention.
First, the configuration of the MFP A according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to the present embodiment.

  The multi-function device A includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1, a read only memory (ROM) 2, a random access memory (RAM) 3, various sensor groups 4, an image reading unit 5, an image data storage unit 6, paper conveyance / image formation. Unit 7, communication I / F unit 8, and operation display unit 9. The CPU 1, the ROM 2, and the RAM 3 constitute notification control means in the present embodiment.

The CPU 1 includes a control program stored in the ROM 2, various detection signals received from the various sensor groups 4, document image data, print image data and facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 6, and a communication I / F unit. The overall operation of the multifunction peripheral A is controlled based on various instructions input from a client computer (not shown) and a public network (not shown) via 8 and operation instructions input from the operation display unit 9. The details of the control process of the CPU 1 will be described below as the operation of the multifunction device A. The public network is a public telephone network and the public Internet.
The ROM 2 is a non-volatile memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 1 and other data.

The RAM 3 is a volatile memory used as a working area serving as a temporary storage destination of data when the CPU 1 executes a control program and performs various operations.
The various sensor groups 4 are necessary for image forming operations such as a document set detection sensor, a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and a cover open / close detection sensor of a housing (not shown). It is various sensors, and outputs various information detected by each sensor to the CPU 1 as detection signals.

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of the image reading unit 5 of the multifunction peripheral A according to the present embodiment.
The image reading unit 5 includes an optional device ADF (automatic document feeder) 20 and a flat bed reading unit 40, and a document sequentially fed by the ADF 20 or on the flat bed reading unit 40 by a user. An image of a placed document is read, and document image data based on the document image is output to the CPU 1. On the other hand, the CPU 1 stores the document image data in the image data storage unit 6.

  The ADF 20 automatically and sequentially feeds a plurality of documents set on the document tray 21 one by one. The platen cover 21, document tray 22, pickup roller 23, registration roller 24, platen roller 25, and reverse roller 26. , A discharge roller 27, a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) 28, a lamp 29, and a document discharge tray 30.

  The platen cover 21 is connected to the flat bed reading unit 40 by a hinge structure so that the platen cover 21 can be opened and closed with respect to the flat bed reading unit 40. The platen cover 21 serves as a document pressing cover when reading a document set on the flat bed reading unit 40, and includes a pickup roller 23, a registration roller 24, a platen roller 25, a reverse roller 26, and a paper discharge roller. It plays a role as a housing for accommodating an automatic paper feeding mechanism such as 27. The platen cover 21 shown in FIG. 2 shows a closed state.

  The document tray 22 is a tray for setting a document. The pickup roller 23 is a roller for picking up documents set on the document tray 22 one by one and carrying them out to the registration roller 24. The registration roller 24 is a roller for conveying the document to the platen roller 25 or the reverse roller 26 at a predetermined timing. The platen roller 25 is a roller for transporting the document to the reversing roller 26 or the paper discharge roller 27 via a predetermined document reading position. The reversing roller 26 is a roller that reverses a document whose front side is read by the flat bed reading unit 40 to the back side during double-sided reverse reading. The paper discharge roller 27 is a roller for discharging the original after reading to the outside.

The CIS 28 is a contact-type image sensor (line sensor) provided in the middle of the conveyance path for reading an image on the back side of the document when reading both sides simultaneously. The CIS 28 outputs document image data of an image read from the back side of the document to the CPU 1.
The lamp 29 irradiates the original with illumination light (white light) having a certain intensity in a scanning manner. The CIS 28 converts the reflected light of the illumination light from the lamp 29 into document image data.
The document discharge tray 30 is a tray from which the scanned document conveyed by the sheet discharge roller 27 is discharged.

  The flat bed reading unit 40 reads a document set on the first platen glass 41 by the user or a document automatically fed by the ADF 20 and set on the second platen glass 42, as shown in FIG. As shown, the first platen glass 41, the second platen glass 42, the white reference plate 43, the document size instruction plate 44, the full rate carriage 45, the half rate carriage 46, the carriage moving rail 47, the condenser lens 48, and the CCD sensor 49. And a reading unit housing 50. The first platen glass 41 is a document table in the present embodiment.

  The first platen glass 41 is a glass plate that is fitted into the upper surface of the reading unit housing 50 and is used by a user to set a document when performing document reading without using the ADF 20. The second platen glass 42 is a glass plate that is fitted into the upper surface of the reading unit housing 50 and sets a document that is automatically fed by the ADF 20. The white reference plate 43 is a white plate that is fitted into the upper surface of the reading unit housing 50 and serves as a basis for white reference data for shading correction. The document size instruction plate 44 is fitted into the upper surface of the reading unit housing 50 and indicates a document setting position when the user sets documents of various sizes on the first platen glass 41.

  When reading the image of the original set on the first platen glass 41, the full rate carriage 45 moves along the first platen glass 41 by moving on the carriage moving rail 47 below the first platen glass 41. Reciprocally move in the left-right direction (scanning direction). The full rate carriage 45 is fixed at a position below the second platen glass 42 shown in FIG. 2 when reading a document fed by the ADF 20. The full-rate carriage 45 includes a lamp 45a that irradiates illumination light obliquely upward, and a first mirror 45b that reflects reflected light of the illumination light toward a half-rate carriage 46 described later.

  Similar to the full-rate carriage 45, the half-rate carriage 46 moves along the first platen glass 41 by moving on the carriage moving rail 47 when reading an image of a document set on the first platen glass 41. Reciprocate in the left-right direction (scanning direction). The half-rate carriage 46 reflects the incident light from the first mirror 24 b of the full-rate carriage 45 downward and the incident light from the second mirror 25 a toward the condenser lens 48. And a third mirror 46b.

  The ratio of the movement amount of the full rate carriage 45 and the movement amount of the half rate carriage 46 is controlled to be 1: 0.5. Thereby, the optical path length of the illumination light until reaching the condenser lens 48 described later is constant. The half-rate carriage 46 is fixed at the position shown in FIG. 2 when reading a document fed by the ADF 20.

  The condensing lens 48 condenses incident light from the third mirror 46 b of the half-rate carriage 46 and forms an image on the light receiving surface of the CCD sensor 49. The CCD sensor 49 operates in synchronization with the timing signal, photoelectrically converts the light received by the light receiving surface, generates document image data corresponding to the read document image, and uses the document image data as the CPU 1. Output to.

  The reading unit housing 50 accommodates a full rate carriage 45, a half rate carriage 46, a carriage moving rail 47, a condensing lens 48, and a CCD sensor 49. 2 indicate a reflection path of light irradiated to the original by the lamp 45a when the original is set on the second platen glass 42. In FIG.

  The image data storage unit 6 is, for example, a flash memory or a hard disk. Under the instruction of the CPU 1, original image data, print image data received by the communication I / F unit 8 from a client computer (not shown), and a communication I / F unit. 8 stores facsimile image data received from a public network (not shown).

  Then, the CPU 1 appropriately operates the lamp 45a and the CCD sensor 49 of the flat bed reading unit 40 together with the registration roller 24 and the reverse roller 26 of the ADF 20 to read the surface of the document with the CCD sensor 49. Reversed reading is performed in which the original is reversed and the back side is read again by the CCD sensor 49. In addition, the CPU 1 operates the CIS 28 and the lamp 29 of the ADF 20 together with the lamp 45a and the CCD sensor 49 of the flat bed reading unit 40 together with the registration roller 24 of the ADF 20 described above, so that the front surface and the back surface of the original are scanned with the CCD sensor 49 and the CIS 28. Execute simultaneous reading on both sides simultaneously.

The paper transport / image forming section 7 includes a print engine (a paper feed roller, a motor for driving the paper feed roller, a photosensitive drum, a charger, a developing device, a fixing roller, a paper discharge roller, a motor for driving the transport roller, and the like. A mechanism for executing a typical image forming process), and under the control of the CPU 1, the printing paper is conveyed from a paper tray (not shown) to a photosensitive drum by a conveying roller, and the original image data and the printed image in the image data storage unit 6 are conveyed. The image formed image composed of toner formed on the photosensitive drum based on the data and the facsimile image data is transferred to the printing paper, the image forming image is fixed on the printing paper by the fixing roller, and the printing after the fixing process is performed by the paper discharge roller. The paper is transported to a paper discharge tray (Figure).
The communication I / F unit 8 is connected to an external client computer and a public network, and transmits and receives various signals between the client computer and the public network.

  The operation display unit 9 includes a copy function switching key, a print function switching key, a scan function switching key, a facsimile function switching key, a start key, a stop / clear key, a power key, a numeric keypad (numeric input key), a touch panel 9a, and other various types. Operation keys are provided, and operation instructions for the respective keys are output to the CPU 1 and various screens are displayed on the touch panel 9a under the control of the CPU 1. The copy function switching key, the print function switching key, the scan function switching key, and the facsimile function switching key are keys for switching the MFP A to the operation mode of each function when the user uses each function. .

Next, the operation of the MFP A according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction peripheral A according to this embodiment.
First, a user who wants to make a copy without using the ADF 20 of the image reading unit 5 in the multifunction machine A places a document on the first platen glass 41 of the flat bed reading unit 40 and presses the document with the ADF 20. When the placement of the document is completed, the user presses the start key of the operation display unit 9 of the multifunction machine A.

  When the operation display unit 9 receives a copy instruction by pressing the start key, the CPU 1 causes the image reading unit 5 to read a document and generate document image data, and based on the document image data, the sheet conveyance / image forming unit 7. Then, image formation is executed on the printing paper (step S1). When the image reading unit 5 completes reading of the image of the original in step S1, the CPU 1 notifies the remaining of the original by blinking the lamp 45a while reciprocating the full rate carriage 45 (step S2).

  After step S2, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the ADF 20 serving as a document pressing cover has been lifted (step S3). If it is determined “YES” in step S3, that is, if the ADF 20 is lifted. In step S4, the reciprocating movement of the full rate carriage 45 and the blinking of the lamp 45a are stopped (step S4). If it is determined “NO” in step S3, that is, if the ADF 20 is not lifted, the lamp 45a blinks. It is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the start (step S5).

  If the CPU 1 determines “YES” in step S5, that is, if a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of blinking of the lamp 45a, the CPU 1 stops reciprocating the full rate carriage 45 and blinking of the lamp 45a in step S4. If “NO” is determined in step S5, that is, if a predetermined time has not elapsed since the start of blinking of the lamp 45a, the process proceeds to step S3.

  As described above, in the MFP A according to the present embodiment, after the CPU 1 completes reading of the image of the document by the image reading unit 5, the CPU 45 blinks on the lamp 45a while reciprocating the full rate carriage 45 until the ADF 20 is lifted. In other words, when the original remains, the lamp 45a blinks while reciprocating to the full rate carriage 45 to notify the user of the remaining original. As described above, the multifunction peripheral A notifies the user of the remaining of the original by blinking the lamp 45a after the reading of the image of the original is completed, and the original does not stop the image forming process as in the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to remove the document without deteriorating the printing efficiency.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above embodiment, when the CPU 1 forgets to take a document, the lamp 45a blinks. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the CPU 1 may notify the user of the remaining document by turning on the lamp 45a. Further, after the CPU 1 starts blinking the lamp 45a, the blinking cycle of the lamp 45a may be shortened as time passes, so that the visibility of the document remaining notification may be improved. In addition, after the CPU 1 starts blinking the lamp 45a, the amount of light emitted to the lamp 45a may be increased with time.

(2) In the above embodiment, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the CPU 1 starts blinking the lamp 45a, the lamp 45a stops blinking. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the CPU 1 may generate a notification sound from the sound generation unit instead when the lamp 45a stops blinking after a predetermined time.

A ... MFP, 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... various sensor groups, 5 ... image reading unit, 6 ... image data storage unit, 7 ... paper transport / image forming unit, 8 ... communication I / F part, 9 ... Operation display part, 9a ... Touch panel, 20 ... ADF, 21 ... Platen cover, 22 ... Document tray, 23 ... Pickup roller, 24 ... Registration roller, 25 ... Platen roller, 26 ... Reverse roller, 27 ... Discharge Paper roller 28 ... CIS 29 ... Lamp 30 ... Document discharge tray 40 ... Flatbed reading section 41 ... First platen glass (document table) 42 ... Second platen glass 43 ... White reference plate 44 ... Document size indicator plate 45 ... full rate carriage 45a ... lamp 45b ... first mirror 46 ... half rate carriage 46a ... second mirror 46b ... third mirror 47 ... Yarijji movement rails, 48 ... condenser lens, 49 ... CCD sensor, 50 ... scanning unit casing

Claims (7)

An image reading apparatus including an image reading unit that irradiates a document placed on its own document table with illumination light and reads an image of the document based on reflected light of the document,
An image reading apparatus comprising: notification control means for notifying the remaining of a document by the illumination light after reading an image, and stopping the light emission when the cover of the document table is lifted.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification control unit notifies the remaining of the document by blinking the illumination light.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the notification control unit shortens the blinking cycle with the passage of time.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification control unit increases the amount of illumination light with the passage of time.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification control unit stops light emission when a predetermined time elapses after the illumination light is emitted. It has a pronunciation section,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the notification control unit causes the sound generation unit to generate a notification sound when the emission of the illumination light is stopped as the predetermined time elapses. An image forming apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image based on an image of a document read by the image reading apparatus.

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