JP2011188252A - Image reader, image forming apparatus, and image read control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the size of an original without performing a lid body moving operation or the like even if the size of the original on an original platen is not detected in conjunction with the operation of a lid body in the start of power supply. <P>SOLUTION: Immediately after turning on a main power switch or recovery from a power saving mode, when detection according to a first detection method for the size of an original to be performed in conjunction with the operation of an opening/closing cover is not performed (step S18:N), it is determined whether it is appropriate to detect the size of the original according to the first detection method by a determination table in accordance with the state of the opening/closing cover before and after pressing a start button (step S19). In accordance with a result of the determination, the original size is detected according to the first detection method or a second detection method (steps S20, S21). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image reading control program.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228688 discloses a technique for performing size detection by relaxing (changing) the detection conditions when no detection signal is output from the detection means when detecting the document size.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561 describes means for improving the accuracy of document size detection by automatically changing the reflectance distribution pattern of the document pressing surface.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-257255 JP 2009-200903 A

  Since the object of the present invention is at the start of power supply, even when the dimension of the document on the mounting table linked to the operation of the lid is not detected, the operation of moving the lid is not performed. It is to be able to detect the size of a document.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting table on which a document is mounted, an openable / closable lid that covers the document on the mounting table, an image reading unit that reads an image of the document on the mounting table, and the lid An open / closed state detecting unit for detecting an open / closed state of the body; a first dimension detecting unit for detecting the size of the document on the mounting table in conjunction with an operation of moving the lid detected by the open / closed state detecting unit; When the power supply for reading the image is started, a request for reading the image of the document is accepted even though the size of the document on the table is not detected by the first dimension detection unit. In this case, the image reading apparatus includes second dimension detecting means for detecting the dimension of the document on the table.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the second dimension detecting unit is configured to detect the open / closed state of the lid by the open / closed state detecting unit. The size of the original on the mounting table is detected by any one of a plurality of methods for detecting the size of the upper document.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the second aspect, the first dimension detecting unit detects a dimension in the main scanning direction of the document by the image reading unit, The document size is detected by a first detection method for detecting the size of the document in the sub-scanning direction by a plurality of document detection means arranged along the scanning direction, and the second dimension detection unit is configured to detect the open / closed state. When the detection of the open / closed state of the lid by the detecting means is in a closed state or an intermediate position between the open state and the closed state before and after the execution request for reading the document, Instead of the first detection method, the size of the document is detected by a second detection method for detecting the size of the document by reading the entire surface of the document with the image reading means and recognizing the image.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting table on which a document is mounted, an openable / closable cover that covers the document on the mounting table, an image reading unit that reads an image of the document on the mounting table, and the lid An open / closed state detecting unit for detecting an open / closed state of the body; a first dimension detecting unit for detecting the size of the document on the mounting table in conjunction with an operation of moving the lid detected by the open / closed state detecting unit; When the power supply for reading the image is started, a request for reading the image of the document is accepted even though the size of the document on the table is not detected by the first dimension detection unit. A second dimension detecting unit that detects the dimension of the document on the table, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a print medium based on the image read by the image reading unit. The image forming apparatus.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the front and back movements of the lid detected by the open / closed state detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the openable / closable cover that covers the document on the placement table on which the document is placed are linked. The first dimension detecting means for detecting the dimension of the document on the mounting table and the first dimension at the start of power supply for reading the image by the image reading means for reading the image of the document on the mounting table. In the case where a request for reading the image of the original is received despite the fact that the detection means has not detected the size of the original on the table, the second is to detect the size of the document on the table. A computer-readable image reading control program for causing a computer to execute dimension detection means.

According to the first, fourth, and fifth aspects of the present invention, even when the detection of the size of the document on the mounting table in conjunction with the operation of the lid is not performed because the power supply is started, the lid It is possible to detect the size of the document without performing an operation of moving the body.
According to the second aspect of the invention, even when the detection of the size of the document on the mounting table in conjunction with the operation of the lid is not performed because the power supply is started, the size of the document is detected. Among the plurality of methods, the size of the document can be detected from the beginning by a method according to the operation of the lid.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the second detection method should be selected from the first detection method based on the open / closed state of the lid, the size of the document can be detected by the second detection method.

1 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an optical system of an image reading apparatus in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of an image reading apparatus in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a left side view of an image reading apparatus in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a left side view of an image reading apparatus in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of an image reading apparatus in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart of processing for automatically detecting the size of a document in conjunction with detection of an open / close state of an open / close cover in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 8 is a flowchart of processing for automatically detecting the size of a document when automatic detection of the size of the document by the processing of FIG. 7 is not performed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the determination table in the image forming apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 performs image formation based on a main control unit 2 that controls the entire apparatus, an image reading device 3 that reads an image of a document, and image data such as an image of a document read by the image reading device 3. From a printer engine 4 serving as image forming means, a facsimile control device 5 that transmits and receives facsimile data between the public telephone line 8, a magnetic storage device (HDD) 6 that stores various data such as image data, and the like. An operation panel 7 that receives various operations and displays various messages, and a power supply circuit 8 that supplies power to each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 are provided.

The main control unit 2 includes a CPU 11 that centrally controls each unit, a ROM 13 that stores a control program 12 executed by the CPU 11 and various fixed data, and a RAM 14 that is a work area of the CPU 11.
The printer engine 4 forms an image on a print medium such as paper using an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or other printing methods.

  When the main power switch of the image reading device 3 is turned on, the power supply circuit 8 supplies power to each unit so that the image reading device 3 can execute various processes such as copying, scanning, printing, and facsimile transmission / reception. In addition, the image reading device 3 has a so-called power saving mode. When the image reading device 3 is not used for a certain period of time, power is supplied to only a minimum necessary part such as a part of the function of the operation panel 7. Save power and save power. Then, during the power saving mode, the operation panel 7 is touched to return from the power saving mode and the power supply to each unit is resumed.

  The control program 12 includes an image reading control program, and is set up from the beginning of manufacture of the image forming apparatus 1, but is later downloaded and set up via communication means such as the Internet, or later. You may make it set up by reading from the storage medium which stored the control program 12. FIG.

Next, the image reading device 3 will be described in detail.
2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an optical system of the image reading device 3, FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof, FIGS. 4 and 5 are left side views thereof, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of the image reading device 3. is there.
The image reading device 3 includes a translucent contact glass 21 that serves as a placement table on which a document to be read is placed, and a lid that covers the document placement surface side of the contact glass 21 when it can be opened and closed. And an opening / closing cover 22.

  The first scanning body includes a first scanning body 23 having an illumination lamp 23a and a first mirror 23b and moving in the sub-scanning direction along the contact glass 21, and a second mirror 24a and a third mirror 24b. A second scanning body 24 that moves in the sub-scanning direction at a speed 1/2 that of 23, an imaging lens 25 that condenses the reflected light from the second scanning body 24, and the collected reflected light A CCD sensor 6 that performs photoelectric conversion, and a reading control unit 31 (see FIG. 6) that performs processing on the electrical signal obtained by the CCD sensor 26 and operation control of the entire image reading device 3 are provided as image reading means. Yes.

Among these, the opening / closing cover 22 has a rectangular document cover surface 22 a formed on the surface facing the contact glass 21. The document covering surface 22a has a white surface.
The CCD sensor 26 is provided with a color filter (not shown) on the light receiving surface side in order to cope with reading of a color image. The CCD sensor 26 operates in synchronization with a synchronization signal sent from the reading control unit 31.

  In the image reading apparatus 3 having such a configuration, a document is placed on the contact glass 21 with the opening / closing cover 22 opened, and then the first scanning body 3 is contacted when the opening / closing cover 22 is completely closed. The original moves on the contact glass 21 by moving in the sub-scanning direction along the glass 21. When the first scanning body 23 scans the document, the optical image from the document obtained by the irradiation of the illumination lamp 23a of the first scanning body 23 is obtained from the first mirror 23b of the first scanning body 23 and the second scanning body 24. After the optical axis direction is changed by the second and third mirrors 24 a and 24 b, the light enters the CCD sensor 26 through the imaging lens 25. Then, photoelectric conversion is performed by the CCD sensor 26, and an electric signal obtained by the photoelectric conversion is output as image data after being processed by the reading control unit 31. In this manner, this image reading apparatus reads image data from a document on the contact glass 21.

  In this image reading apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, since the opening / closing cover 22 covers the document placement surface side of the contact glass 21 so that it can be opened and closed when closed, the opening / closing state of the opening / closing cover 22 is changed. As an open / close sensor for recognition, a first open / close sensor 29a and a second open / close sensor 29b are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first opening / closing sensor 29 a has a moving element that protrudes from the upper surface position of the contact glass 21 toward the opening / closing cover 22 and is biased toward the opening / closing cover 22. When the open / close cover 22 is rotated from the fully open state to the fully closed state by a certain angle or more, the open / close cover 22 is in a half-open state (a state between the fully open state and the fully closed state) through the pressing of the moving element. Detect that there is.

The second open / close sensor 29b is a photo sensor, a limit switch, or the like provided on the document cover surface 22a side (or the opposite surface side) of the open / close cover 22, and when the open / close cover 22 is completely closed, the open / close cover 22 is provided. Is detected to be in a fully closed state.
The reading control unit 31 is configured around a microcomputer, and is connected to various sensors 32 and various actuators 33 in addition to the CCD sensor 26. The reading control unit 31 is controlled by the main control unit 2 and is connected to the image reading device 3. To control the whole.

  In particular, a plurality of detection sensors 34 are provided as part of the various sensors 32. The plurality of detection sensors 34 are arranged at a certain interval along the sub-scanning direction on the lower side of the contact glass 21 (document reading side). The detection sensor 34 is a sensor that detects a document on the contact glass 21 and detects the size (dimension) of the document in the sub-scanning direction depending on which sensor detects the document.

  As an example, if only the leftmost detection sensor 34 can detect a document when the three detection sensors 34 are arranged, the size of the document in the sub-scanning direction is B5. It is determined that the long side size. When only the leftmost and middle detection sensor 34 toward the image reading apparatus 3 can detect the document, the size of the document in the sub-scanning direction is determined to be the long side size of A4. Further, when all the detection sensors 34 can detect the document, it is determined that the size of the document in the sub scanning direction is the long side size of A3.

  In the image reading apparatus 3, the size of the document on the contact glass 21 is detected by detecting the size of the document in the main scanning direction with the CCD sensor 26 and detecting the size of the document in the sub-scanning direction with the plurality of detection sensors 34. It has a function to do. This size detection is automatically performed in conjunction with the detection of the open / close state of the open / close cover 22 by the first open / close sensor 29a and the second open / close sensor 29b. That is, when the operation of opening and closing the open / close cover 22 is detected, it is considered that the document is placed on the contact glass 21 in many cases. In conjunction with this, the size of the document is automatically detected.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for automatically detecting the document size in conjunction with the detection of the open / closed state of the open / close cover 22.
First, when the reading control unit 31 detects “full open” of the opening / closing cover 22 (Y in step S1), the reading control unit 31 erases the result of automatic detection of the size of the document detected last time (step S2). Thereafter, when “half-open” of the open / close cover 22 is detected (Y in Step S3), it is determined that the document is placed on the contact glass 21, and the CCD sensor 26 detects the size of the document in the main scanning direction. Further, the size of the document in the sub-scanning direction is detected by the detection sensor 34 (step S4). Thereafter, when “full-close” of the open / close cover 22 is detected (Y in step S5), the size of the original in the main scanning direction is once again detected by the CCD sensor 26 (step S6), and the main scanning direction of the original in steps S4 and S6. The result of detecting twice the size of the document is compared to determine the result of detecting the size of the document in the main scanning direction (step S7).

  As described above, the size detection in the main scanning direction of the document is performed twice, that is, “half open” and “fully closed” of the opening / closing cover 22 for the following reason. That is, in a black-edge document with a black peripheral edge, if the document on the contact glass 21 is covered with the opening / closing cover 22, the document cover surface 22a is white, so the edge portion of the document in the main scanning direction is This is clear, but when the document on the contact glass 21 is not covered with the open / close cover 22, nothing is covered on the outside of the black border document, so that when the CCD sensor 26 reads, a black image is read, This is because the boundary between the black border portion of the document becomes unclear and it is difficult to specify the document size.

  As described above, the document size is automatically detected in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 22. However, there is a case where such document size cannot be automatically detected. That is, immediately after the main power switch of the image reading device 3 is turned on or immediately after returning from the power saving mode, the document size is automatically set such as initialization of the first opening / closing sensor 29a and the second opening / closing sensor 29b. It takes time to complete the preparation process for detection. Nevertheless, the user can open the open / close cover 22 and place the document on the contact glass 21 before and after turning on the power switch or before and after returning from the power saving mode. 22 may be closed.

  In such a case, even if the user presses the start button on the operation panel 7 to instruct execution of image reading of the document, the image forming apparatus 1 cannot recognize the document size, and the operation panel 7 displays “document”. A message such as “Indefinite size” will be displayed. In this case, the user must operate the operation panel 7 to input the size of the document manually or to open and close the opening / closing cover 22 again, which is a complicated operation for the user. .

Hereinafter, a process performed by the image reading apparatus 3 to prevent such a problem will be described.
First, in the image reading apparatus 3, in addition to the above-described document size detection means by the CCD sensor 26 and the detection sensor 34, the first scanning body 23 and the second scanning body 24 are driven to read the entire surface of the document. Means for performing size detection are also provided. That is, this means drives the first scanning body 23 and the second scanning body 24 to read an image on the entire surface of the document with the CCD sensor 26, recognizes the read image, and thereby where the edge of the document is. Is recognized to detect the size of the document in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. Hereinafter, the means for detecting the size of the document by the CCD sensor 26 and the detection sensor 34 is referred to as “first detection method”, and the means for detecting the size of the document by reading the entire surface of the latter document is referred to as “second detection method”. " In the following description, in the “first detection method”, document size detection is not necessarily performed twice, and the document size is determined by one document size detection.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process for automatically detecting the document size when the document size automatic detection by the process of FIG. 7 is not performed.
The process of FIG. 8 starts when power supply to the reading control unit 31 is started by turning on the main power switch of the image forming apparatus 1 or returning from the power saving mode. That is, when the reading control unit 31 initializes various devices (step S11) and initializes the first opening / closing sensor 9a and the second opening / closing sensor 9b (step S12), the first opening / closing sensor 9a and the second opening / closing sensor 9a. Monitoring of the open / close state of the open / close cover 22 by the sensor 9b is started (step S13).

  Then, the open / close state of the open / close cover 22 is detected by the first open / close sensor 9a and the second open / close sensor 9b, and the detection result is stored as "first state" (step S14). Next, the first scanning body 23 and the second scanning body 24 are moved to positions where the CCD sensor 26 can detect the size of the document in the main scanning direction (step S15). Even if the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 22 is performed before this processing, the document size detection processing by the first detection method in the processing of FIG. 7 is not performed.

  Next, when the start button on the operation panel 7 is pressed to instruct execution of image reading of the document (Y in step S16), the open / close state of the open / close cover 22 is set to the first open / close sensor 9a and the second open / close sensor. 9b, and the detection result is stored as "second state" (step S17). Then, it is determined whether or not the document size detection process by the first detection method by the process of FIG. 7 has already been completed (step S18), and when it has been completed (Y of step S18), the process of FIG. The process ends. In this case, the scanning operation of the image reading device 3 is executed based on the document size specified by the document size detection by the first detection method by the process of FIG.

If not completed (N in step S18), the document size is detected by the processing from step S19 onward regardless of the processing in FIG.
In this case, it is conceivable to detect the document size by the first detection method as in the process of FIG. 7, but the document by the process of FIG. 7 despite pressing the start button of the operation panel 7. The size detection is not performed immediately after the main power switch of the image reading device 3 is turned on or immediately after the return from the power saving mode is performed. Therefore, the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing cover 22 is performed. However, it is also conceivable that preparation for document size detection by the first detection method was not completed in the processing of FIG. Therefore, when it is not appropriate to perform document size detection by the first detection method, it is preferable to perform document size detection by the second detection method. Note that the document size detection by the second detection method requires more time than the document size detection by the first detection method.

In this case, it is conceivable that the document size is detected by the first detection method in the following processing, and if there is a problem, the document size detection is again performed by the second detection method.
However, in this case, the detection processing of the first detection method and the second detection method is performed twice in the following processing, and it takes an unnecessarily long time for document size detection. Below, the process which prevents these malfunctions is demonstrated.

  That is, when the document size detection processing by the first detection method by the processing of FIG. 7 has already been completed (N in step S18), the detected first state and second state are shown in FIG. With reference to the determination table, it is determined which one of the first detection method and the second detection method is appropriate (step S19). When the first detection method is appropriate (Y in step S19), the document size is detected by the first detection method (step S20), and when the second detection method is appropriate (step S20). In step S19, the original size is detected by the second detection method (step S21), and the process is terminated. In this case, the scanning operation of the image reading device 3 is executed based on the document size specified by the first detection method by the processing of FIG. 8 or the document size detection by B.

Next, the process of step S19 performed with reference to the determination table of FIG. 9 will be described. In step S19, referring to the determination table, the open / close state of the open / close cover 22 in the first state and the second state is “full open”, “half open”, and “full closed” depending on the combination. The first detection method or the second detection method is selected.
First, when the first state is “fully open” and the second state is “fully closed”, the document size is detected by the first detection method in the process of FIG. Since it is considered that the reason why it was not possible was because preparation was not completed, the second detection method is selected.

If the first state is “fully open” and the second state is “fully open” or “half open”, it is considered that a thick booklet cannot “open” the open / close cover 22 with a document. 1 detection method is selected.
When the first state is “half-open” and the second state is “fully open”, it is considered that the opening / closing cover 22 is opened and a document is to be placed from now on. If the original size is not detected by this detection method, the original size is detected by the first detection method.

When the first state is “half-open” and the second state is “half-open”, it is considered that a thick booklet is placed on the contact glass 21 as a document. Since it is considered that the document size could not be detected by the detection method because preparation was not completed, the second detection method is selected.
When the first state is “half-open” and the second state is “fully closed”, it is considered that the document is normally placed on the contact glass 21, but the first detection method is performed by the processing of FIG. 7. If the document size is not detected by (2), it is considered that the preparation has not been made. Therefore, the document size is detected by the second detection method.

When the first state is “fully closed” and the second state is “fully open”, it is considered that the opening / closing cover 22 is opened and a document is to be placed from now on. If the document size is not detected by the first detection method, the document size is detected by the first detection method.
If the first state is “fully closed” and the second state is “half-open”, it is impossible to assume the situation, so the second detection method is used instead of the first detection method. It is considered safe to do.

  When the first state is “fully closed” and the second state is “fully closed”, the document is placed on the contact glass 21 before the main power switch is turned on or the power saving mode is restored. Since it is considered that the document size could not have been detected by the first detection method in the process of FIG. 7 because it was not ready, the second detection method was used. Performs document size detection.

Note that the document size detection process by the first detection method according to the process of FIG. 7 has already been completed (N in step S18), but the detected document size is indefinite form other than a standard size such as A4 or A3. If the document size is too large, the document size may be detected again by the second detection method even though the document size detection process has been completed.
By the above processing, since the main power switch is turned on or the power saving mode is restored, the size detection of the document on the contact glass 21 in conjunction with the operation of the opening / closing cover 22 by the processing of FIG. 7 is not performed. Even in this case, it is possible to detect the document size without performing an operation of moving the opening / closing cover 22 or the like.

  In addition, among the first detection method and the second detection method for detecting the size of the document, the size of the document can be detected from the beginning by means corresponding to the operation of the opening / closing cover 22.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 3 Image reading apparatus 21 Contact glass 22 Open / close cover 26 CCD sensor 29a First open / close sensor 29b Second open / close sensor

Claims (5)

A mounting table on which a document is placed;
An openable / closable lid that covers the document on the table,
Image reading means for reading an image of a document on the mounting table,
Open / closed state detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the lid;
First dimension detecting means for detecting the dimension of the document on the mounting table in conjunction with the operation of moving the lid detected by the open / close state detecting means;
When the power supply for reading the image is started, a request for reading the image of the document is accepted even though the size of the document on the table is not detected by the first dimension detection unit. The second dimension detecting means for detecting the dimension of the document on the table,
An image reading apparatus comprising:   The second dimension detecting unit is any one of a plurality of methods for detecting the size of the document on the mounting table according to the detection of the opened / closed state of the lid by the opened / closed state detecting unit. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size of the document on the mounting table is detected by one of the two. The first dimension detecting means detects the dimensions of the document in the main scanning direction by the image reading means, and a plurality of document detecting means arranged along the sub-scanning direction of the mounting table in the sub scanning direction of the document. The first detection method for detecting the size of the document detects the size of the document,
The second dimension detecting means is a closed state or an open state and a closed state in which the detection of the open / closed state of the lid by the open / closed state detecting unit is performed before or after the execution request for reading the document. In the case of the intermediate position of the document, instead of the first detection method, the second detection method of detecting the size of the document by reading the entire surface of the document by the image reading means and recognizing the image is used. Detect dimensions,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 2. A mounting table on which a document is placed;
An openable / closable lid that covers the document on the table,
Image reading means for reading an image of a document on the mounting table,
Open / closed state detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the lid;
First dimension detecting means for detecting the dimension of the document on the mounting table in conjunction with the operation of moving the lid detected by the open / close state detecting means;
When the power supply for reading the image is started, a request for reading the image of the document is accepted even though the size of the document on the table is not detected by the first dimension detection unit. The second dimension detecting means for detecting the dimension of the document on the table,
Image forming means for forming an image on a print medium based on the image read by the image reading means;
An image forming apparatus. The size of the document on the mounting table is detected in conjunction with the movement of the lid detected by the open / close state detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the openable / closable cover that covers the document on the table on which the document is placed. First dimension detecting means for
When the power supply for reading the image by the image reading means for reading the image of the document on the mounting table is started, the size of the document on the mounting table is not detected by the first dimension detecting means. Nevertheless, when receiving a request for reading the image of the original, second dimension detecting means for detecting the dimension of the original on the mounting table,
A computer-readable image reading control program for causing a computer to execute the above.

Images